Chapter 209 Interrupted, Again
+15 BCNUS
Chapter 209 Interrupted, Again
He reached across the sheets and nudged my shoulder. They’re discreet. I promise. No smirking, no awkward looks. You won’t see it in their eyes.”
I didn’t reply, just pulled the duvet over my head and stayed buried.
The mattress dipped again.
Ashton slid under the covers and kissed my ear.
“They dropped it off hours ago. You were asleep… But you’re not asleep now.”
I knew exactly where this was going.
I felt his arm stretch across me, heard his fingers skim across the nightstand.
Foil crinkled.
Last night had been… impulsive.
I got caught up in the moment.
The way he looked at me, the way he said those three little words–it was all heat and no brakes.
But morning light did something to that kind of madness.
I could tell it was bright out.
I could almost feel the sunshine warming the edges of the room.
Whatever courage I’d had last night had vanished.
But his body was hot against mine.
His scent filled every breath I took.
I knew if he kissed me like he did last night, we’d pick up right where we left off.
Then my phone lit up and pinged.
The sound cut straight through the silence under the duvet.
Neither of us moved at first.
It was the only noise in the room.
Then I bolted, yanked the covers off, scrambled across the bed, and grabbed it. “I messaged Yvaine last night. Could be her.”
Ashton sat up behind me with a grunt and shoved the covers off.
I felt his stare drilling into my spine.
“Is it her?” he asked flatly.
I didn’t answer straight away. I was too busy reading.
1/4
Chapter 209 Interrupted Again
“Yeah, it’s her. Apparently, we trended last night.”
I’d completely forgotten.
After reposting Ashton’s post, things had escalated.
Then I got… preoccupied.
Ashton reached over for his phone.
+15 BCNUS
We sat there, shoulder to shoulder, backs against the headboard, phones in hand, horny plans aborted.
Yvaine had sent screenshots of the comments with the most replies and likes.
[The Rowan–Ashton tag got yanked fast. LGH’s PR team must’ve squashed it.]
[So it’s fake then?]
[Could be, but then, so could the Mirabelle–Ashton tag. He’s a famous dude. Lots of posts tag him.]
[Maybe Rowan used him for clout, and he cut her off.]
[What about the @MVanceJewels one? She posted a shot of their matching rings. That’s clearly Ashton’s hand.]
[I saw @MVanceJewels in person once. She’s stunning. Honestly, way more suited to Ashton than Rowan Hale ever was.]
[Nah. Rowan Hale’s hotter, no contest.]
[@MVanceJewels is just using him to boost her brand. Classic social climber move.]
[They’re similar rings, that’s it. And the guy’s hand in her post doesn’t even match Ashton’s.]
[It does. Right side of his hand has a mole. Brighten the image and it’s identical.]
[I don’t buy it. They’re not even in the same league. She’s clout–chasing.]
[Who even is this @MVanceJewels? No–name designer suddenly blowing up? Someone’s pulling strings.]
[If she’s really his wife, that design contest she won was rigged.]
[Agreed. Rowan and Ashton made sense. This @MVance jewels came out of nowhere.]
(They got a full shot of Rowan with him. All anyone’s go of @MVanceJewels is that one photo with two hands. No faces. Could’ve been anyone.]
[So obvious she’s faking it. Embarrassing.]
I heard from someone inside LGH–it’s Rowan. Always has been. Just wait, LGH’s legal team will make it official.]
There were three kinds of replies: people who didn’t believe it and wanted me cancelled, people stuffing popcorn in their faces, and a tiny minority who actually wished us well.
I’d expected it when I posted last night.
2.4
Chapter 209 Interrupted, Again
+15 BONUS
Seeing it now didn’t hit that hard.
Ashton looked worse.
He kept scrolling, jaw locked, tapping the screen harder than necessary.
His own feed was clean.
Mine looked like a bin fire.
Mockery, name–calling, and every third post accusing me of chasing clout.
When I reposted him last night, the replies were tame–people arguing about whether the rings matched.
By morning, it had turned into a full–blown takedown.
LGH’s PR had probably tried to smother it, but someone was clearly fanning the flames.
He kept reading, eyes narrowing.
Then he started typing.
I leaned over.
He was about to repost my photo, the one with our hands and rings.
I grabbed his wrist. “Don’t.”
He paused, thumb hovering above the screen.
“It’ll only make it worse. You say anything now, they’ll twist it. You know how this goes. The more you explain, the more they dig. You’re too high–profile. You engage, you’ll only be fanning the flames.”
“So we just let them shit all over you?” he muttered.
“Let it cool down. The spike’s already dying. Last night it was everywhere. Now it’s barely top ten. If we go quiet, people will move on. If you post again, it’s another round of proof–hunting.”
He shook his head. “I can’t just sit here and let them drag you like this.”
Before I could answer, his phone buzzed.
He unlocked it, stared at the screen, then let out a sharp exhale that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.
“What?” I asked, leaning closer.
He tilted the screen towards me.
LGH’s official account had just reposted my photo.
The caption read: [Mrs Laurent says hi!)
A flood of comments hit almost instantly.
Less bile, more awkward backpedaling-
The tone flipped like someone had yanked the room lighing from fluorescent to studio warm.
3/4
Chapter 209 Interrupted, Again
He looked smug and vindicated.
His thumb hovered, then started tapping again.
“Ashton-”
Too late.
He hit post.
I swiped his phone out of reflex.
He didn’t stop me.
I read the new post:
[This is my wife @MVanceJewels.]
The new wave of comments hit within seconds:
[@MVanceJewels and Mr Laurent look insane together. Match made in heaven.]
[Think about it. If this was fake, it would’ve fallen apart by now. Obviously real.]
[Where’d all the shit–talkers go? Suddenly shy?]
[Still think Rowan Hale suits him more, but whatever.]
[Let it go, freak. Even Rowan said they’re just friends. You lot are embarrassing yourselves.]
[Who cares if Rowan’s famous abroad? She’s irrelevant Here. @MVanceJewels‘ followers will soon outnumber hers. Sit down.]
[Is that really Ashton posting? Or did @MVanceJewels make a fake account to hype herself up?]
[Yeah, sure. And I’m Beyoncé. Check the gold tick, you moron.]
+15 BONUS
4/4
Chapter 209 Interrupted, Again
He looked smug and vindicated.
His thumb hovered, then started tapping again.
“Ashton-”
Too late.
He hit post.
I swiped his phone out of reflex.
He didn’t stop me.
I read the new post:
[This is my wife @MVanceJewels.]
The new wave of comments hit within seconds:
[@MVanceJewels and Mr Laurent look insane together. Match made in heaven.]
[Think about it. If this was fake, it would’ve fallen apart by now. Obviously real.]
[Where’d all the shit–talkers go? Suddenly shy?]
[Still think Rowan Hale suits him more, but whatever.]
[Let it go, freak. Even Rowan said they’re just friends. You lot are embarrassing yourselves.]
[Who cares if Rowan’s famous abroad? She’s irrelevant here. @MVanceJewels‘ followers will soon
outnumber hers. Sit down.]
[Is that really Ashton posting? Or did @MVanceJewels make a fake account to hype herself up?]
[Yeah, sure. And I’m Beyoncé. Check the gold tick, you moron.]
+15 BONUS
4/4
Chapter 210 No Time
