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.

me, and my

my head on the back of the couch as she

everything, dear. Now, come over here and meet my friends.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

the couch. She’d cleared a spot for me

trying to catch his attention, but it was like Ashton couldn’t

I didn’t really have a choice in the matter. I’d rather not argue in front of Grandma’s guests.

grandmother wrapped an arm around my

accent. She was near my grandmother’s age but looked just as timeless. “Last time I saw

time here due to your grandfather’s job but moved back to France when you

meet you,” I smiled brightly

as well. I have heard about your

“Thank you.”

I could ask Gretchen anything about

Chapter 19

best not to roll my eyes at

like she was happy to see me as she and Ashton approached. “I’m a

at their appearance. “This is my other granddaughter,

“Did Maelyn have

the air immediately went cold. I smirked, shooting at glance

half-sister,” I told her, innocently. “She’s the daughter of my father’s second wife, not

the two of us. “But you are of similar ages? Maelyn

seemed to dawn in her

the disapproval in her eyes not hidden

wrapped around Ashton’s.

asked me, looking doubtful.

at my wedding, didn’t you, Addie?” Corinna

I took a sip of my champagne, not really feeling as angry as I thought I would. I still had no intention of

today. Or I was different.

peaceful even. My mind kept going back to Damon and the texts he

had to admit, his teasing was always harmless. And the way he looked at me hadn’t changed a bit.

never went far enough that

Chapter 19

that’s what he’d

was being truly honest, I couldn’t say I

and demanding and tricky, but he was also intelligent and always stood up for