I Slapped My Fiancé—Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis
Chapter 221 - 222 Snake in the Grass

Chapter 221: Chapter 222 Snake in the Grass

‘You do realise the woman Rhys was into was Catherine, right?’ I said, staring at Daniel. ‘Why did you come here?’

His mouth pulled tight.

‘I didn’t know that at first. I just knew he had a fiancée. I got back to Skyline and found out he’d married someone else. But I followed him and Catherine for a while. They fought all the time. I don’t think he gives a damn about her. I think he’s still into you.’

I shook my head. ‘You’re reading into things. He’s not.’

‘We’re related. I know how he thinks. He regrets it. He wishes he hadn’t married her.’

I couldn’t be bothered to argue. ‘That’s between them. Let’s talk about you. I don’t buy that you came here just to see what I looked like. What else were you after?’

He stared at the floor. ‘Nothing. I had nowhere to go. No money. I didn’t know anyone here. I saw the job listing and took a shot.’

I folded my arms. ‘You’re Clive Granger’s son. Don’t tell me you were broke.’

His whole expression changed.

Something mean flashed across his face, then vanished.

His eyes welled up.

‘Clive wanted us gone. After he shipped us overseas, he stopped answering calls. He paid my tuition and nothing else. My mum and I moved flats five times in two years. I worked three jobs just to cover groceries. Every designer label I wear is fake. I couldn’t even afford a bloody phone when mine broke.’

He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. ‘Clive didn’t want me back. That’s why I came. Just to piss him off.’

He looked up. ‘Mirabelle... I know I say I hate Rhys, but I must have the same type as him, because I think I like you too. And I don’t want to lie about it.’

He lunged forward and clung to my arm, full-body sobbing.

I shoved him back, but he just came at me again.

‘I mean it. You looked out for me. You treated me like I mattered. No one’s ever done that. I barely got through the last few years. This is the first time I’ve felt—’

He cut himself off, sniffling hard.

‘I like you. Properly. And I’m not trying to use you or mess anything up.’

He wouldn’t let go.

His nails pressed into my sleeve.

My elbow ached where he was squeezing it.

‘Let go of me.’

‘I know you’re married. I know I shouldn’t feel like this. But don’t send me away, please. I don’t have anywhere else. I won’t say anything again. I’ll act normal. Just don’t kick me out.’

He hugged my arm tighter.

I tried to yank free, but he locked both hands around it.

The front door banged open.

We both turned.

Ashton stood there, coat half-open, eyes fixed on the scene in front of him.

He looked ready to murder someone.

I tried to stand, but Daniel had me pinned.

My forearm throbbed where his grip tightened.

‘What are you doing here?’ I asked.

Ashton strode in front of us, grabbed Daniel’s wrist, yanked hard.

‘Ow!’

Daniel stared up at him, tear-streaked and red-faced.

Ashton caught a fistful of Daniel’s hair, hauled him to his feet, then flung him backwards with a shove.

Daniel stumbled and crashed into the edge of the drafting table.

The thud rattled a jar of pens off the side.

‘Ow—fuck!’ he yelled. ‘My back!’

He flopped down against the table like his spine had snapped clean in half.

He hunched over and whined, ‘Mirabelle, I think my spine’s broken... Can you help me up?’

‘Don’t.’ Ashton’s voice snapped across the room before I could twitch a finger.

They both stared at me.

‘I wasn’t going to,’ I said, rising to stand next to Ashton, arms folded.

Daniel was still slumped by the edge, wheezing for attention.

From this angle, I had a clear view of the red patch spreading through his shirt where it had hit the table.

Nothing looked broken.

His nose had stopped running.

His eyes were dry now, but puffed up like a toddler who’d just lost a toy.

I didn’t move. ‘You didn’t hit that hard. You barely bumped it. And my arm still aches from how tight you grabbed it, so no, I’m not helping you.’

Daniel shut up.

He pushed himself up slowly, one hand clamped around his lower back, the other braced on the table edge.

He made a show of exhaling through clenched teeth.

Once upright, he turned to Ashton. ‘You’ve got a heavy hand, man. I think you misunderstood—me and Mira, we were just talking. I got a bit worked up—’

‘Didn’t misunderstand,’ Ashton cut in. ‘I just wanted to hit you.’

Daniel’s mouth hung open. No comeback.

Ashton turned to me. ‘Did you know he’s Rhys Granger’s brother?’

His voice cracked slightly on the name.

He’d clearly tried to keep it even, but failed.

He’d shown up out of nowhere, looking ready to throw someone through a window, and now I knew why.

‘I know,’ I said.

His head jerked slightly. ‘You know?’

His jaw clenched.

He reached up and yanked open the top button of his shirt like it was suffocating him. ‘You know he’s Rhys Granger’s bastard brother and you still gave him a job? Let him cry on you like some pathetic—’

‘I just found out,’ I cut in. ‘He told me himself. And I didn’t let him do anything. The idiot grabbed me so hard I couldn’t shake him off. My arm still hurts.’

Ashton’s mouth pulled tight, but the line between his brows eased a little. ‘When did he tell you?’

‘A minute ago. Right before you burst in.’

His eyes narrowed, scanning my face like he was trying to work out if I was holding something back.

Then his gaze flicked to Daniel, who hadn’t moved.

‘He’s not here to work,’ Ashton said flatly. ‘He’s here to dig. He’s got an angle, and he’s not staying.’