Accidental Marriage With Mr Billioniare
Chapter 143: THE NEW ASTRID

Chapter 143: THE NEW ASTRID

The party was winding down, guess are already leaving now remaining the family and friends.

Rowan continued to chat with Astrid, despite noticing her obvious discomfort. He didn’t want to force himself on her, so he decided to give her some space.

"I think I should go have a conversation with Uncle Desmond," Rowan said, pulling forward his chair. Astrid nodded slightly, her eyes fixed on some point beyond him.

With a polite smile, Rowan excused himself and walked over to Uncle Desmond, who was engaged in a heated discussion with Donald. Astrid watched him go, her expression unreadable.

As Rowan joined the conversation, he couldn’t help but steal glances at Astrid, wondering how much she had changed.

She seemed so refined and elegant, a far cry from the cheerful, playful girl she used to be.

Just then, Maren’s voice cut through the chatter. "I think it’s time for everyone to go home." The crowd had begun to disperse, and Astrid’s gaze drifted back to Rowan.

But then, her expression changed, and she turned to Maren. "Maren, haven’t you seen Miles around? Isn’t he supposed to be at the party?" Astrid’s voice was laced with a mix of concern.

Maren’s eyes flashed with anger, and she took a step forward. "Don’t ask about him from me. He traveled without telling me?" Astrid eyes widened at this.

"He’s been trying to get my attention all this while, and I have been pretending not to be interested. As he just felt it’s best to travel without informing me" Her voice rose, and the room fell silent.

Astrid eyes locked onto Maren, and she could see the pain and anger simmering beneath her surface.

She took a step forward, his hand reaching out to her, but she shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears.

"I don’t care about him anymore," she whispered, her voice cracking.

"You say you don’t care about him, but I see you are getting mad that he traveled without telling you," Julian said, appearing out of nowhere.

Maren and Astrid turned to him, and that lingering feeling left in Astrid’s heart appeared.

"What are you doing here?" A hint of annoyance in her voice.

Julian smiled, his eyes locked on Astrid. "Maybe I wanted to talk about the divorce. What do you think?" He took a step closer to Astrid, his voice low and menacing.

Maren’s eyes widened in shock. She knew he was bold but this bold step immediately landed his eye on Astrid.

"I didn’t wait for you to get back so you can be with another man?" his voice turned.

Astrid’s eyes met Mattie’s, who was standing behind Julian. She recalled how she was still using a wheelchair before she left.

"The last time I checked, you had someone you loved," Astrid said her voice firm. "So, I don’t see why you’re getting obsessed with me."

Julian’s face twisted in anger. "Enough of that," he spat, his voice venomous. "And I didn’t bother disturbing you all these while because I wanted you to get over your pain."

He grabbed Astrid’s arms, his fingers digging deep into her skin. "Julian, everyone knows you are Mattie’s man. I just got back. I don’t want to be all over the place, saying I am taking my cousin’s husband."

Still, he didn’t let go and it was beginning to hurt her, "Don’t you think you are going to cause news that might affect your job?" Astrid’s voice was calm, but her eyes flashed with warning.

Julian’s face turned red with rage. "I don’t care what anyone says. You are my wife, and the certificate is with our lawyer. So..."

He leaned in close, his breath hot against Astrid’s ear. "Be careful how you mingle with men, or you might just get me pissed."

Astrid’s fury knew no bounds. How dare Julian try to claim her as his when all he had ever done was make her feel bad about herself when she was still with him?

If he had done this months ago he would be grateful not now when she is trying to get over the remaining feeling left in her heart.

Donald, on the other hand, watched the exchange with great enthusiasm. He had probably made that announcement knowing how much his granddaughter pretended to despise Julian.

He couldn’t forget the night he had first met Astrid, how she had cried bitterly about Julian not caring about her, but only about Mattie, and how selfish her heart was for wanting to be with him. He still remembered the night she had left, how much she had wailed.

Astrid pushed Julian away, slapping him across the face. Julian’s expression didn’t change, but he muttered, his hands rose to his cheek and a smile appeared on his lip leaving everyone astounded.

Becky and her husband can’t help but scoff at their son’s reaction. He hates being slapped and here he isn’t even reacting to being hurt by Astrid.

"Your anger is still in check," he said with a teasing smile.

Astrid tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. "I will never be yours again," she spat.

Julian’s smile grew wider. "I won’t divorce you and let you go to the man you..." He paused, his eyes glinting with malice. "I will do my best and will try to make you mine."

Astrid’s eyes widened in shock. "I might have always let you get away with things easily because I wanted you to be comfortable with me," she said, her brow furrowed.

"But if I want to get you out of Eldrida, I will get you once and for all. Don’t think I don’t know where you’ve been all these months."

Astrid was lost for words, her mind reeling from Julian’s threats. Mattie stared at him in shock, his words ringing in his head.

"Julian, I am still right here. Enjoy. Already running up to women! Have you no shame?" Mattie yelled in pain.

Julian’s gaze shifted to Mattie, his expression unreadable.

"I have always let things go easily because I never wanted to hurt you," he said, his voice low. "But I don’t think I will continue to make my own heart hurt. I’m ready to get the woman I want to be with."

Mattie’s face twisted in anger. "If you see me as someone who doesn’t seem to be on your mind, then you can leave me!" He yelled, this got her mad as she stormed towards him about to slap him.

But Julian was quick to grab her hands, his eyes flashing with warning.

"The only one who gets to hit me is her," he said, his voice firm as he gestured to Astrid "I have never given you the chance, and I never will."

With that, he pushed Mattie away, his eyes locking onto Astrid’s for a brief moment before he turned and walked out of the building.

Maren’s eyes widened in shock. "Woah... he hardly ever gets mad at Mattie," she stated, staring at Astrid.

Astrid felt a surge of satisfaction at seeing Julian stand up to Mattie. She let out a small smile as she took a long stride towards Mattie, who was still shaken.

"I can see you are now walking straight," Astrid said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"What?"

Mattie’s face turned red with rage. "Astrid, how dare you expect me to use the wheelchair for the whole year you’ve been gone?" she yelled.

Astrid’s smile grew wider. "Yes, you’re good at pretending, so I expect you to use your whole year pretending to be crippled to get him."

Mattie’s hand trembled with rage. "You witch!" she yelled, and immediately, a slap landed on her face.

Mattie’s head snapped back, her eyes welling up with tears. She stumbled backward, her hand flying to her cheek.

Astrid’s eyes flashed with a warning. "Don’t think you can play games with me, Mattie. I am not the same person I was before."

Tonia saw this now sprinting toward them, "How dare you slap..." Astrid pulled Mattie roughly toward her.

Astrid’s eyes locked onto Tonia’s, as he whispered behind Mattie’s ears her voice firm. "You seem to forget something when you first meet me. I am Astrid Daniels, with no one to fight for her..." She paused, a sly smile spreading across her face. "But now, the Astrid you know is Astrid Gilbert."

With a swift motion, Astrid pushed Mattie away, sending her tumbling to the ground, where Tonia rushed to help her up.

Tonia’s face twisted in anger. "You little brat, how can you hurt your cousin? You should have at least been a bit of a good child, since today is grandfather’s birthday."

Donald sighed, relieved that this confrontation had at least been delayed until after the party. He didn’t want any more fights.

Astrid called out to Tonia with a sneaky smile. "Aunt Tonia, she acted rudely to me first."

Tonia moved forward, but Astrid stopped her. "I only taught her to respect her elders next time."

Astrid glanced back at Mattie, her eyes flashing with warning. "The title you keep fighting for me, I advise you to think twice before doing so."

With that, Astrid shot them a small smile before strolling back to her grandfather. Rowan and Maren were left speechless, unsure of what to make of the new Astrid.

They exchanged a glance, both of them thinking the same thing.

Astrid was no longer the timid, submissive girl they once knew. She had transformed into a confident, fierce woman who wouldn’t back down from a fight.