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

Chapter 19

Home is where the heart is. That’s what everybody used to tell me.

“What a lovely home,” they’d say with jealousy at our million-dollar mansion with fancy cars and butlers and maids.

I never understood it.

Standing in front of my father’s mansion as it loomed over me as a nightmare did to a child, I realized this place never felt like home to me.

My father decked out the mansion in artwork and vases and a thousand things that I was not allowed to touch. I remembered every rule as Piers welcomed me into the house.

When I lived here, I felt more like the mosaic my father hung on the wall than a daughter. It was no wonder this place had never felt like mine. I never belonged there.

As I entered the large room for gatherings, I spotted every member of our extended family laid out before me. Cousins and distant aunts or uncles that I had barely spoken a word to in my entire life. Why on earth were all these people here?

Corinna and Ashton were here, much to my dismay. They were talking away with my father and stepmother, Tabitha with their plastic smiles. They were all faking their enjoyment in each other, that was plain to see.

I grabbed a champagne glass from one of the tables set up and sipped it, noticing how Ashton looked over at me.

His smile fell as he stared at me intensely, but I didn’t really care. He was nothing to me anymore. And I wanted nothing to do with him.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t in a bad mood just from seeing him. I didn’t feel a rush of anger or resentment toward them.

I just felt nothing.

I shrugged, continuing to search through the wide area until I found who I was looking for.

My grandmother sat on one of the sofas, looking as prim and proper as ever. She looked regal, fitting as the head of our family. I ducked behind

Chapter 19

one of the servants as I snuck up behind her with a grin.

Just when I was right behind her, the guests spotted me before she ever did- I breathed in, ready to scare the bejeebers out of her, reaching with my hands to grasp onto her shoulders.

“Hello, Adelaide,” she said, knowingly without even turning around.

I gathered rushed out of me, and my hands fell to my side.

was me?” I laid my head on the back of the couch as she glanced back at me.

dear. Now, come over here

“Yes, Grandma.”

couch. She’d cleared a spot for me right next

noticed Ashton’s gaze was back on me, even though his father was clearly trying to catch his attention, but it

have him staring at me, but I didn’t really have a choice in the matter. I’d rather not argue in front of Grandma’s

My grandmother wrapped an

grandmother’s age but looked just as timeless. “Last time I saw you, you

was the ambassador for France. She used to spend a lot of time here due to your grandfather’s job but moved back to France when you were

nice to meet you,” I smiled brightly at her.

heard about your engagement,”

“Thank you.”

about her

Chapter 19

Corinna interrupted. I tried my best not to roll my eyes at the sound of her

see me as she and

appearance.

frowned, “Did Maelyn have another

went cold. I

innocently. “She’s the daughter of my father’s second wife, not my

looking between the two of us. “But you are of similar ages? Maelyn did not pass away until…”

to dawn in her eyes before they went cold.

she said, simply, the disapproval

complicated,” Corinna giggled nervously, her arm wrapped around

do?” Gretchen asked

be my maid of honor at my

and then Gretchen’s. I took a sip of my champagne, not really feeling as angry as

was different today. Or I

and the texts

always considered him my enemy. But I did had to admit, his teasing was always harmless. And the way he looked

didn’t know how to stop, Damon never

Chapter 19

my wife, that’s what

I was being truly honest,

tricky, but he was also