I went upstairs to a suite reserved for the party guests, after grabbing a change of clothes from one of Ashton’s men who had fetched it from the car.
The red wine had dried sticky on my skin, clammy and unpleasant.
I tossed the ruined dress over a chair along with my purse, then headed into the shower.
Minutes later, I came out, dressed, grabbed my purse, and immediately felt something was off.
I’d left it dangling from the back of the chair, caught on the strap. Now it was neatly resting on the seat.
Who touched my purse?
I glanced at the closed door. Who had come in while I was in the shower?
I checked inside. Everything was still there: phone, wallet, compact, lipstick.
I unlocked my phone. Two messages had been sent while I was in the shower.
[Me]: I need to talk to you. Come see me in Suite 302. Come alone.
[Me]: You were right. My marriage to Ashton was a mistake. I did it to piss you off because you chose Catherine over me. But now that you and she are no longer together, I... Just come. We need to talk.
Both were sent to Rhys Granger.
‘Fuck,’ I muttered, a word I almost never used.
How did they get into my phone? Passcode? Or had they lifted my fingerprint from a glass?
No reply yet, but too late to retract the messages.
I called Ashton. ‘You got a moment? Can you come up to the suite?’
He caught the tone in my voice. ‘I’ll be there in a minute.’
I paced. Would he believe me if I said his childhood sweetheart was setting me up?
Only two people at this party hated me enough, and were shameless enough, to pull something . Serenna, desperate to hook Rhys, wouldn’t sabotage herself.
But what proof did I have?
When Ashton walked in, I looked him over from head to toe and shook my head. ‘Maybe I should’ve married someone less hot.’
He frowned. ‘What are you talking about? What’s wrong?’
I touched his freshly shaven cheek, then, as a petty revenge, pinched it.
He winced but didn’t pull away.
‘Why do you attract women like moths to a flame?’ I sighed. ‘Rowan Hale, Lea, and now Genevieve. When will they stop drooling over you and realise you’re taken?’
He caught on immediately. ‘What has she done?’
‘Disclaimer first—I have no evidence.’
‘I keep my distance from other men because I’m married to you. But will you do the same and refuse every woman who throws herself at you? Because the thought of you with Genevieve earlier still stings.’
I checked the message, then made sure the front door wasn’t fully shut but left ajar. ‘Come with me.’
I led Ashton into the bathroom. He followed with questions in his eyes.
‘Just wait a couple of minutes. You’ll see.’
He stayed silent, watching.
Soon, the front door swung open. Rhys walked in with a spring in his step.
‘Mira! I knew it. I knew you only married Ashton to get back at me. I’ll never hold it against you. As long as you’re willing to leave him and come back to me, I’ll love you like before. It’s not serious with Serenna. I feel nothing for her. She’s the one chasing me.’ His voice was breathless with excitement.
He checked the bedroom first, then came towards the bathroom and knocked softly. ‘Mira, are you in there?’
‘Just wait,’ I whispered. Chapters first released on NovєlFіre.net
The front door banged open again, much louder this time.
‘Oh my God, there really is a man in here.’
‘And it’s not Ashton.’
‘I’m sure I just saw Ashton’s date go into this suite.’
‘Shameless. She must be hiding from us.’
‘Mirabelle, you’re my cousin!’ Serenna cried, her voice breaking with well-rehearsed tears. ‘You broke up with Rhys first. How could you try to seduce him now?’
‘Serenna, what are you doing here?’ Rhys’s tone was tight with annoyance.
‘What am I doing here? If I hadn’t come, you two would already be rolling around in bed.’
‘Stop talking nonsense,’ Rhys snapped.
‘Mirabelle, come out! Hiding in there won’t solve anything. Get out here and explain yourself!’ Serenna hammered on the bathroom door.
I stayed quiet. There was still one more actor who hadn’t taken the stage.
‘Come out! Or are you too ashamed?’ Serenna’s voice climbed to a shrill pitch.
I shook my head. ‘Wait. There’s one more player.’
‘Bulls-eye. But she’s smarter than Serenna. Probably won’t show.’ I felt a flicker of disappointment.
Ashton’s phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen, then his expression darkened. He angled the phone for me to see.
[Genevieve]: Ash, where r u? Been looking everywhere for u. Ur wife’s in suite 302 with her ex. Thought u should know.
I smiled. A moment ago I’d been worried I had no proof to tie this mess to Genevieve. But she’d gone and confessed without even realising it.
I gave a little shrug and patted his shoulder. ‘Maybe tone down the charm a bit. It was amusing watching women twist themselves into knots trying to get close to you, but now it’s just exhausting.’
Ashton’s expression stayed grim.
‘Mirabelle, come the hell out, you bitch! Or I’ll smash this door down, I swear I will!’ Serenna was still shrieking. ‘You can’t hide in there forever!’
‘Serenna, enough!’ Rhys barked.
‘Time to make our entrance,’ I said to Ashton.
When I pulled open the bathroom door, I felt at least a dozen eyes lock on me.
‘Who’s that behind her?’
Ashton’s appearance silenced the entire room.
Bet you didn’t see that coming, did you?