Secret Billionaire’s Contract Bride: Marrying My Enemy’s Lover

Chapter 1

*Adelaide

“To the future bride and groom!” My father raised a glass of champagne in the festive air, a proud smile on his lips as he gestured to my half-sister and her fiance. “This is a proud day of union for the Hildebrand and Steyns!”

“Cheers!”

I needed a drink.

My now ex-boyfriend leaned down to kiss his beautiful fiance, and I ducked behind the wall, fists clenched so tightly I felt my nails as they dug into my palms.

The b’stards hadn’t even invited me.

Perhaps, that shouldn’t have been what stung the most, but it was something else that drove a perfectly manicured nail in the coffin that was my heart. I had been completely blindsided.

Then, there was that patent he’d been after… I shook my head, not wanting to think about that at the

moment.

When I first heard the news, I hadn’t believed it. I had been in the airport as I waited for my flight in Los Angeles to fly to New York for a business meeting. The news had been the only channel blaring on every lounge TV.

“Ashton Steyn, the youngest member of Nevada’s First Congressional District, has officially announced his engagement tonight. His engagement to Corinna Hildebrand is being celebrated at a private affair at Caesars Palace,” the blonde on the nightly news had reported.

I should’ve just gotten on the d’mn plane to New York!

Instead, I’d changed my flight and came here in some misguided hope that all of this was some cruel practical joke. The worst part was that I couldn’t even march in there and slap him across the face as he deserved.

“I don’t want my position to affect you.” That’s what he had told me every time I asked why he kept our relationship a secret. And just last night, the exact day before the engagement party here, he called me honey and I said goodnight.

I was too foolish to look past my rose-colored lenses.

To the rest of the world, our grandparents were friends and nothing more. If I had stormed in there, I’d have only humiliated myself further.

I watched as my half-sister, Corinna, smiled, her cheeks pink as the crowd adored her, just like they always did. Her perfectly practiced smile and curled blonde hair were the epitome of the fiancee he’d always wanted. Ashton’s arm wrapped around her shoulders as he held her close for the

cameras.

An inferno had raged inside my chest. It had boiled over until my heart had shriveled up and died. Every moment I’d shared with Ashton went up in flames and left behind nothing but ashes and me.

I snatched a champagne glass from a tray of a passing waiter. I ignored the nasty look he sent my way for snatching the glass, pulled my mask below my lips and downed the champagne like it was water.

I swallowed the bubbly liquid and with it, any remnants of my pride.

With one last resentful glance at the happy couple in their joyous moment, I tugged my mask back into its spot and had just turned to go to the bathroom to calm down when I met a brick wall of a man

Chapter 1

to the face.

on my elbows and as on

arms and hopped up. When I faced the

dark smothering eyes and dark hair. Underneath his black suit was a wall of muscle, his white shirt was left messy and untucked. The first two buttons of his collar were undone with just a hint of the tan skin underneath. He had a small black freckle underneath his right eye and the realization hit

pushed my sunglasses as far back on my face as I could and hoped to whatever universe was out there that he hadn’t recognized

around his tall figure to leave, but he stepped in front of me. I frowned

in

way,” I snapped,

he

smug face. Instead, I breathed out to calm

hissed through my teeth.

arm. I eyed him, and the path he made for me to the exit, and before

should’ve known better.

fast as a viper, he snatched my wrist, and I yelped as I was yanked backward. A large warm hand on my back stabilized my balance, but the stranglehold on my

grip on my wrist, but it was useless. He had always been stronger than me. The warmth of his hand on my back

on his face. He twirled my

weren’t even going to say hello, Addie?” he

Damon!” I shouted. A few guests turned to look at us, and I flinched, trying not to

Ashton’s half-brother who’d always been

I might have said we were childhood friends if he hadn’t

eyes flickered over me, unimpressed. “You came to

looked down at the business suit I’d been planning to wear to my meeting

I said bitterly at the

Chapter 1

was 1, but I don’t look like I’m going to work.”

at how flippant

knew didn’t you?” I stepped into his personal space. “You knew what

guess that my girlfriend would suddenly get engaged to my

“you don’t look

his warm breath on my cheek.

to reply, but a bunch of girlish giggles reached my

rounded the corner with champagne

hands.

in a short green dress called out.

see

from me with a polite

giggled as she stumbled forward to

come to see me,” she

the situation before anyone else recognized me, but I was too late.

a huge grin on her face. “Is that

had it out