You Had Me, You Lost Me, You'll Never Find Me novel Chapter 10

"Have it your way. Do you honestly think I can't find a million women better than you?"

He loomed over her, his sneer dripping with disgust. "You're just a pathetic small-town girl. The only thing you were ever good for was warming my bed."

Sylvia's chest heaved, his vicious insult stabbing straight into her soul. Whenever they fought, he wielded his words like daggers, expertly slicing her apart. He had never once shown her mercy.

Hearing that horrifying truth out loud, any lingering shred of love Sylvia had for him evaporated.

Her lips trembled with pure, unadulterated rage. "Ashton, I must have been out of my mind to ever love you!"

Ashton let out a condescending scoff. "Whatever you say, wildcat. We both know who came crying into my arms in the beginning."

Now that the facade had shattered, they both dug their claws into each other's deepest insecurities.

Ashton had never coddled her during arguments, and right now, he was unleashing his full cruelty.

"You hate me? Good. Because I never loved you, either. I never once said I did."

His baritone voice was laced with profound contempt. It didn't sound like a petty retort born of anger; it sounded like a dark truth he had harbored for years.

Sylvia felt as if he had just backhanded her across the face. An icy terror flooded her veins.

This was the reality. He had only kept her around because the sex was phenomenal. But the moment his precious childhood sweetheart returned, Sylvia had immediately become a burden to be discarded.

Just two days ago, he had pinned her to the mattress, showering her with affection and making her pledge her devotion. Now, she was just some random 'wildcat' he had never cared about.

Firing her to promote Reina was proof enough of his betrayal. Sylvia was the idiot who had demanded verbal confirmation.

Or rather, she just wanted to watch him pull the trigger.

Surprisingly, the absolute peak of agony brought a strange, numbing clarity.

A hollow smile graced her lips. "Is that so? Well, then congratulations on your freedom. I had no idea you were forcing yourself to pretend all these years. That must have been exhausting for you."

"Don't worry. You'll never have to see my face again."

Reina held up her hand, her enormous eyes welling with dramatic tears. She had a minuscule paper cut on her fingertip, and she whimpered like a wounded animal.

"I tried to give Sylvia a purse to apologize, but she got so angry. Ash, please tell me you two didn't fight because of me? I would die if my joining the cast ruined your relationship."

Ashton's voice turned ice-cold. "Don't worry about it. Her acting career is just a stupid hobby anyway. It's completely irrelevant."

Reina feigned a massive sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God. But Sylvia seemed really obsessed with this part. Maybe I should just drop out? I really love the script, but if Sylvia wants it that badly, I'll let her have it."

"Absolutely not," Ashton ordered. "Focus on your acting. I'll handle her."

The image of Sylvia's retreating back flashed through his mind. A sudden, overwhelming urge to chase her down and explain himself gripped his chest. But the stinging slap on his cheek anchored him in place.

...Forget it.

He could always deal with her when he got home tonight. If he chased her now, they would just end up screaming at each other again.

He would just let her cool off.