149 Ashton’s POV: The Exception
iton glanced at Mirabelle, sensing the weight of her mood.
didn’t dare push her further.
tead, his thoughts swirled with curses aimed at Cassian Langford.
ice Mirabelle’s birthday a few days ago, Ashton had been able to feel the shift in her behaviour.
e’d been warmer, more open.
could almost swear there was a flicker of something deeper in her eyes when she looked at him.
t love, but definitely more than mere friendliness.
t Cassian had ruined it all.
e progress he’d made in drawing her closer had been demolished in one move by that idiot.
hton knew, if it came down to a choice between him and Yvaine Carlisle, Mirabelle wouldn’t even hesitate.
e’d choose Yvaine in a heartbeat.
hen he’d chased her out of the club earlier, his chest had tightened with panic.
‘d been terrified that Mirabelle would start blaming him for Cassian’s behaviour.
ankfully, it hadn’t gone that far, but it didn’t feel great either.
he seethed silently, his phone buzzed.
irabelle glanced over and saw the caller ID, immediately turning her head away.
hton’s eye twitched, and he quickly rejected the call, silencing his phone before it could ring again.
ss than a minute later, a message from Cassian popped up.
ow was I supposed to know that Yvaine tells your wife everything? I thought no one knew I was seeing Harper.]
hton swore silently.
ssian: [I’m just trying to help your wife, alright? We talked the other day about her opening the studio, and I thought I could fer some support.]
hton didn’t bother responding.
le messages kept coming, so he blocked Cassian’s number.
ck at the house, Mirabelle waved off Carmen’s offer of dinner with a quiet ‘I’m tired.‘
e turned to head upstairs.
lirabelle,‘ Ashton said, stopping her with just his voice.
e paused halfway up the staircase.
m not like Cassian,‘ he said.
know,‘ she replied at once.
nodded slowly. ‘But your eyes say different.‘
Lat got her.
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Chapter 149 Ashton’s POV: the Exception
She hesitated, fingers curling slightly against the bannister, then dropped her gaze.
‘I’m not like him,‘ Ashton said again. ‘Don’t lump us together.‘
‘I know. I believe you. It’s just…‘
‘Just what?‘ he pressed, stepping closer.
She exhaled through her nose. ‘You two have been friends for a long time.‘
‘Doesn’t mean I share his views on relationships.‘
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Mirabelle tilted her head, trying to put something into words she clearly didn’t want to say aloud. ‘It’s not just you. Or just Cassian. It’s the way guys like you…‘
Ashton’s brow lifted. ‘Guys like us?‘
‘Rich. Young. Good–looking. The kind of men who have everything–and know it. The ones who can snap their fingers and have women throw themselves at their feet.‘
“They can throw themselves all they like,‘ Ashton said, his tone clipped. ‘I’m not catching.‘
Mirabelle gave the smallest smile. It didn’t reach her eyes. ‘I’m not casting accusations. I just…‘
She paused. Looked away.
Ashton watched her, waited.
‘You know why I liked Rhys so much?‘ she said finally. ‘Even when everyone kept telling me he was wrong for me?‘
Ashton’s chest tightened at the name.
‘Why?‘
‘Because Rhys doesn’t play around.‘ She let out a breath that was part laugh, part sigh. ‘I know how stupid that sounds. He cheated on me with Catherine. But that’s the thing–he only wanted her. His heart was always with her. Never me. That’s what proves my point.‘
Ashton didn’t see the point, but he kept quiet.
‘Rhys was self–centred, pampered, emotionally stunted… Pick a flaw, he had it. But not that one. He never chased women just to prove he could. If he loved Catherine, that was it. It was always going to be her. Even when he did me wrong, he wasn’t… scattered. Cassian is. Men like him always are. He’s already flaunting his new girl like Yvaine’s yesterday’s news. He didn’t even think it was going to be awkward for me to know. He doesn’t feel guilty because… well, why should he? It’s just the way it is. It’s the way everybody acts.‘
‘So Rhys was the exception,‘ Ashton said, trying not to let the bitterness show in his voice.
She nodded slowly. ‘Yeah. Cassian–he’s the rule. To men like him, women are like fast cars, new yachts, just something shiny and interesting to have. But only for a while. Then it gets old, and it’s time to move on. Yvaine says she’s over it, but I know she isn’t. Because the same thing happened to me.‘
‘Does that mean you’re still not over it? Over Rhys?‘ Ashton wanted to ask.
But he never asked a question if he wasn’t ready to hear the answer
She’d given him one when she was drunk in the car that day.
But what if it changed now that she was sober?
And he couldn’t promise her he’d never be like Cassian.
Not convincingly.
Chapter 149 Ashton’s POV: The Exception
Words were cheap.
So instead, he stepped aside and let her pass.
She went into her room and closed the door behind her.
Ashton stood there for a long while, heart heavy, gaze fixed on the space she’d just left behind.
Then, as if shaking himself from a trance, he pulled out his phone
He unblocked Cassian’s number.
+15 BONUS
[Keep your woman in check. If you make Mirabelle upset again, we’re done. I don’t care how long we’ve been friends–I won’t let you screw this up for me.]
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