Chapter 30

Rhys, shocker, actually took the hint and left. Silence dropped over the room like a heavy curtain. I knew Ashton had just gone full Gladiator mode for me. Which was… weirdly touching, considering we were basically strangers who just happened to have a fake engagement contract and three awkward encounters under our belts. ‘Thanks for that,’ I mumbled. Ashton shrugged. ‘Don’t thank me. He was pissing me off.’ He stood up, gaze flicking to my wrist where Rhys’s Neanderthal grip had left faint marks. He frowned. My phone started screaming. Caroline’s name lit up the screen like a warning siren. Yeah, no thanks. I hit decline without blinking. Five seconds later, the phone started ringing again. Persistent like a debt collector. Sighing, I stabbed the answer button and held it to my ear. ‘What?’ I barely got the word out before a full-on banshee shriek exploded from the speaker. ‘Mirabelle! How dare you hit your sister in front of everyone at the party?!’ Ah. Serenna or Catherine must have