Three Years Forgotten, Why Go Crazy When I Say Goodbye? novel Chapter 601

His smirk twisted into something vulgar and predatory. His eyes raked over her delicate figure with blatant, unapologetic lust, stripping her bare with his gaze.

Vivienne stiffened, a wave of pure disgust hitting her so hard she almost gagged.

She knew exactly what Ashton wanted.

After all these years, his greedy, sleazy nature hadn't changed a bit. He was just as revolting as ever.

But that was fine.

She had been worried about how to control him, but now she could just use his own lust against him. She would play along, trapping him into doing her dirty work until he was nothing more than a weapon in her hands.

Vivienne looked up, forcing a weak, submissive smile. "I understand. Get it done, and I'll give you whatever you want. But remember, Ashton—you have to succeed."

That night, Ashton took her to a hotel.

Hours later, the room still smelled of their heavy passion. Ashton was fully dressed, his expression icy and detached. The intense heat he had shown in bed was completely gone.

He stood by the bed, looking down at Vivienne curled up in the sheets. His voice held zero affection. "Stay here. I've already covered the room. Don't go anywhere for the next two days. Wait for my call, I'll get back to you soon."

It wasn't until the lead officer read her rights and explained that Ashton Lockwood had contacted Silas Thorne directly—handing over all the evidence of her crimes—that reality finally crashed down on her.

She stumbled backward, hitting the wall in sheer disbelief. She couldn't process it. That night, she had seen the lust in Ashton's eyes; he had been completely under her spell. How could he just turn around and throw her to the wolves?

And what about Toby? She had been so sure the boy was her ultimate insurance policy, the one thing that would tie Ashton to her forever. Did he really not care about his own flesh and blood?

Vivienne's nails bit into her palms. She had schemed and calculated, using her body and her child to manipulate Ashton into doing her bidding. Only now, as her world burned, did she realize she had never been the one in control.

She thought she was the chess master, but Ashton had just been playing along, using her desperation for his own gain, right up until the very end.