I Slapped My Fiancé—Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis
Chapter 129 - 130 Miss Davis

Chapter 129: Chapter 130 Miss Davis

‘No, no, that’s not what I meant!’ Priya looked on the verge of tears again. ‘I just didn’t put it very well...’

She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. Her fingers were red and cracked, the skin flaking near the knuckles. Some of the patches looked raw.

‘It’s only November,’ I said, frowning. ‘What the hell happened to your hands?’

She jerked her arms back into her sleeves. ‘It’s nothing. I’m used to doing chores back home.’

I stared at her. She looked small again, hunched in that oversized coat, trying to disappear into it. I let out a breath.

‘You’d be better off staying here and getting a job. You can’t keep playing maid for those people. Your mum was talking about marrying you off just now, wasn’t she?’

She nodded. ‘They found some guy, forty years old. They’d come to sort of arrangement before we left.’

‘Are you fucking serious?’ I was incredulous. ‘They’re trying to sell you off? That’s it. You’re NOT going home with them!’

Priya swallowed. ‘Mirabelle, you should call the police. Don’t let them mess up your flat any more. If they’ve got nowhere to go, they’ll have to go back home.’

‘And what about you?’

She hesitated. ‘Do you think someone like me could get a job in Skyline?’

She had a limp. Her voice still came out hoarse from the damage she’d had before. She’d barely finished school. It wouldn’t be easy.

But I’d seen worse make it. She just needed a chance.

She glanced away again. ‘Never mind. They’ll never let me stay. They still need me to go back and cook and clean.’

The lift doors opened.

We stepped out into the marble lobby. I turned to her and didn’t let her look away.

‘Think it through. Then tell me straight. Do you really want to stay in Skyline City? Away from your parents? All alone in the big city with no friends, no family?’

Her mouth twisted. She didn’t speak. Her eyebrows creased tightly.

Then, finally, she nodded. ‘Yes, I do.’

I smiled. ‘Good. I’ve got a way to get your parents and your brother out without dragging you with them.’

Her eyes widened. She looked like she didn’t believe me.

‘I’ll make a call.’

Oakwood Apartments were LGH property.

I called Ashton. Told him everything.

He didn’t even pause. ‘It’s being handled. Don’t worry about it.’

‘Thanks.’ I hung up and turned to her. ‘Come on. We’re going shopping.’

It took a while. At first, Priya stayed glued to my side, flinching any time someone brushed past.

But after about twenty minutes and two food samples, her shoulders started to loosen. She even smiled when I dared her to try on a ridiculous yellow hat with sequins.

We were halfway through the food court when my phone rang again.

‘It’s sorted,’ Ashton said. ‘They’re out. Got them tickets and had someone watch them board. They’re halfway back to whatever dusty place they came from.’

‘Wait—seriously?’ I stopped walking. ‘How the hell did you manage that so fast?’

‘Thirty grand. Told them to leave the girl and take the cash. Dominic went with a few people. If they’d said no, he had... cheaper methods ready.’

I grinned. ‘You can’t see me now, but I’m giving a big thumbs-up.’

His voice was light. ‘Anything for you, Mrs Laurent.’

My ear against the phone suddenly felt hot. I cleared my throat. ‘You’re probably busy with a million things. Thanks, and see you later.’

After I hung up, I turned to Priya. ‘They’re gone. You’re staying.’

She didn’t seem thrilled by the news. ‘They gave me up for thirty thousand,’ she said quietly. ‘That’s all it took.’

‘That’s a small price to pay to get your life back,’ I said. ‘Take the win. Start fresh. Go look for a job when you’re ready. I’ll ask around too.’

She looked up. ‘Thank you. I mean it. I’ll pay you back. Every cent.’

In the afternoon, I took her to get a new bank card.

Then I called Hannah and told her to reroute Isobel Brooke’s settlement money to the new account.

The old one was in her dad’s name. If it landed there, she’d never see a penny.

Now it was hers. Finally.

Just before sunset, I dropped her back at Oakwood.

‘Stay here for as long as you want. You’ve got the space, no one’s breathing down your neck—’

She unlocked the door, and we both stopped talking.

The place was spotless. Counters wiped, floor swept, junk gone.

Even the busted lamp had been replaced.

It looked the way it did the day I moved out.

I didn’t need to ask.

I pulled out my phone and texted Ashton: [Thanks for the clean-up crew. Big smiley face emoji.]

He replied immediately: [Don’t mention it. I’m out tonight. Dinner plans.]

[Cool.] I typed, then locked my screen.

Just as I started to put it in my bag, it rang. I looked down.

Caroline.

I hadn’t spoken to her or anyone in the Vance house for months.

Her name on my screen already gave me a headache.

I declined the call.

A second later, a message came through. Voice note.

I hit play.

Her voice chirped out.

‘Mirabelle! Why didn’t you pick up? Guess who I ran into today?’

I didn’t reply. She’d tell me anyway.

After I settled Priya in—extra blankets, stocked fridge, new padlock on the inside of the door—I left her alone and got into the lift.

The second voice note came through before I hit the lobby.

‘I saw Miss Davis! You remember Miss Davis, don’t you?’

Of course I did.

There’d only ever been one Miss Davis in my life.