Betrayed, Then Back For Blood

Chapter 289

2,

12:55 vouchers

Upon hearing Reece's words, the others quickly got up and headed for the door one after another.

Soon after, only Ashton and Briar were left in the living room.

Still in Ashton’s arms, Briar watched the others disappear before her gaze fell to his arms, which were tightening

even more firmly around her.

“Um, Ashton, I'd like to go see, too. Could you letgo?” Briar asked hesitantly.

“What do you think?” Ashton chuckled softly as he noticed Briar’s face filled with guilt. “Babe, you can run, but

you can’t hide. There are sthings | still want to hear from you.”

“Say what?” Briar asked.

“Harith Lopez is dead, and we watched him blow up with our own eyes. Surely you have other thoughts?” Ashton

pressed, not giving Briar a chance to beat around the bush.

Briar pressed her lips together, about to deny it, but she faltered under his knowing gaze. “Alright, | do have

other plans.”

Knowing she couldn't hide it from Ashton, she gave up and lowered her head in admission.

Ashton placed his hand on Briar’'s head, and she immediately felt the warmth from his large palm.

“Briar, we're legally married now. If you dare ditchand go off on your own again, I'll have to enforce some

family rules.” Ashton’s tone was fierce and threatening, but the tenderness in his eyes was almost tangible,

enveloping Briar.

‘It was another blatant use of his good looks. What else could | say?’ Briar thought.

She nodded obediently. “Okay, | get it.”

“That's my girl.” Ashton was extremely pleased. He lifted Briar’s chin in one hand slowly and leaned down to

give her a rewarding kiss.

Briar tilted her head back, surrendering to Ashton’s passionate kiss. But in an instant, her eyes widened, and she

struggled to break free from his embrace.

“K-kissing is fine, but don’t be a rascal!” Briar placed her palms on Ashton’s arms, trying to force her way out

Ashton chuckled, grabbing Briar’s hand with one hand to stop her from fleeing.

“We're legally married. This shouldn't be a word between spouses.” Ashton smiled slyly, ‘It’s called emotional

communication.”

“You rascal!” Briar exclaimed.

Ashton held her soft hand to prevent her from pulling away, while she struggled desperately to do so. She was

6:04 Sat, Sep 27

Chapter 289

clearly no match for Ashton’s strength, and their position was far too intimate.

55 chec

However, Briar’s struggles seemed like a token resistance, as though she was playing hard to get, especially in

the eyes of Ashton.

“Mmph... This is the living room!” Briar exclaimed in surprise when she felt Ashton’s actions getting bolder.

“Yes, just like that, Briar. Hold on tight and don’t let go.” Ashton whispered into Briar’s ear.

Strange rustling and intimate, hesitant whispers echoed through the spacious living room.

Ashton had her pinned to the sofa, neglecting the fact that there was a group of friends outside who could burst

in at any moment, doing as he pleased.

Briar was feeling thrilled, excited, nervous, and shy altogether, and was so exasperated with this shameless

man, who seemed to get turned on anytand anywhere, that she couldn't help but laugh.

‘Ashton really knowswell. Especially when he had his suspicions that | might try to escape, he would

shamelessly use any means necessary to makesubmit to him. Briar thought.

Briar found herself swept into Ashton’s relentless embrace, caught between resistance and surrender as his

affection consumed every corner of her world.

From one end of the sofa to the other, from the stairs to the landing, he gave her no escape. Her breathless

pleas only carried them further-to the bedroom at last—yet the moment the door closed behind them. Ashton

cast aside all restraint.

Everywhere bechis territory: the door against her back, the carpet beneath her knees, the wide sill of the

window, even the marble counter of the bathroom. There was nowhere untouched, no surface that hadn't borne

witness to his unyielding devotion.

Tblurred. Day dissolved into night, rooms melted into one another. Briar no longer remembered how many

times he had claimed her-only the dizzy sway of ceilings and curtains, the trembling of glass and water, the

tremor that left her pleading for mercy.

Her lips were parched, her body aching, her strength undone. She could not recall when exhaustion overtook

her-only that, in the end, she was carried back to bed. The instant her cheek touched the pillow, memory

dissolved into darkness.

This time, she was exhausted beyond thought-too drained to scheme, too weary to repeat what had happened

before, when Ashton had barely stepped away and she had gone chasing after him again.

‘Ashton, that damned man... that brute!" Briar thought.

When Briar stirred awake the next morning, bleary-eyed and aching, it was barely half past five. The bedroom

door creaked open, just a sliver, and half a head poked in.

“Briar, you're awake?” It was Alexia, grinning from ear to ear.

Briar didn't answer and shifted uncomfortably, wincing as she sat up, exposing the skin along her arm and

collarbone.

6:04 Sat, Sep 27

Chapter 289

210, pirk

It was a patchwork of red and purple, bruises scattered like confessions-evidence enough of just how fierce the

battle had been the night before.

Alexia, unfazed by Briar’s frosty silence, walked in with all smiles, leaned toward the bed, reached for the quilt

and was eager to tug it back.

She wanted to see if Briar was still dressed beneath the covers, and also wanted a glimpse of just how thorough

Ashton had been in his conquest the night before.

But before she could peel back the quilt, Briar's hand shot out and pressed it firmly down and warned, “Get that

filthy nonsense out of your head.”

Alexia only chuckled. “Heh, con-we're both women. What's wrong with looking? I'll even let you look at

mine. See? Don’t you think my chest has gotten bigger?”

With an exaggerated motion, she puffed out her chest, the curves beneath her clothes swaying provocatively.

Almost against her will, Briar's gaze dropped.

No wonder Alex couldn't keep his hands off them. They were truly eye-catching.

“You didn’t call the way here this early just to show off your chest, did you?” Briar snapped herself back to

reality and asked, her face set in a stern expression.

“Of course not!” Alexia suddenly remembered why she had come-this wasn't a social visit. “Last night, while

you

and your man were busy having fun, something big happened in Shoneport...”

“What happened?” Briar asked, still weak in her limbs from just waking, too groggy even to check her phone for

messages.

Alexia lowered her voice, her eyes glinting with secrecy. “Mountain View Villas-you know, the one Harith Lopez

lives in? There was a sudden fire last night. The flames devoured most of the mountainside, and Harith’s villa,

it’s gone. Reduced to ashes.”

Briar narrowed her eyes, quickly piecing together the implication behind the news. “It was reported that he died

in the fire?”

AD

Comment