Chapter 278

I clutched the leaf dress tighter against my chest. I didn’t understand. Ashton didn’t wait for me to move but reached forward himself. My body stiffened. Surely he wouldn’t try to strip me by force? They say desperate situations bring out the worst in people. But I refused to believe Ashton would do something like that. Confusion filled me. I tightened my grip on the leaf dress and raised my other hand defensively into a fist. His hand came closer. But at the last second, it bypassed me and reached behind. A moment later, he pulled something free. My wetsuit. I blinked, realising I must have slept on top of it without noticing. Ashton shook out the wetsuit to dry it. But as he did, something dropped from the pocket and landed at his feet with a soft thud. We both looked down at once. For a heartbeat, we both froze, then excitement sparked. A phone. I had forgotten I had taken it with me into the water. I practically leapt to snatch it up, pulling it from the waterproof pouch. I had ch