You Had Me, You Lost Me, You'll Never Find Me novel Chapter 30

He used to frequently tell Ashton to bring her over for dinner, treating her with the genuine warmth reserved for a beloved granddaughter-in-law.

Ashton urged her again. "I wouldn't joke about something like this. Get in the car."

Having a rare, custom-plated Maybach idling outside a cheap motel was already drawing too much attention. Passersby were starting to stare.

Knowing Ashton would never lie about his grandfather's health, Sylvia hesitated for a moment before sliding into the passenger seat.

She was only going to pay her respects to the old man. It had nothing to do with reconciling with Ashton.

Watching the conflict play out across her delicate features, Ashton knew exactly what she was thinking. A dark amusement flickered in his chest. His voice was heavy as he spoke.

"His health has been deteriorating lately, and his leg pain is acting up again. He specifically asked for you yesterday. I originally planned to tell him the truth—that you're a fickle woman who dumped me. But I didn't want the shock to worsen his condition."

Sylvia glared at him, furious. "This is pure emotional blackmail, Ashton. We broke up. There's no need to drag innocent people into this. I'm only going back to see him because he was always incredibly kind to me. And how dare you call me fickle? You're the one who can't commit!"

A cruel sneer twisted Ashton's lips. "You think I'm blind? I saw you flirting with Dr. Sterling."

Sylvia bit her tongue, swallowing the urge to scream, 'You think I'm blind to you practically dry-humping Reina?!'

If she let that bitter accusation slip, he would instantly realize how deeply the betrayal still stung her. It would just give him another weapon to use against her.

But since they were already over, none of it mattered anymore.

His absence that night, the leaked photos of him holding Reina—they were like jagged shards of glass buried in her chest.

Sylvia balled her hands into fists, taking a slow, steadying breath. "If that's what you want to believe, fine. Let's go with that."

Regardless of the truth, he had abandoned her twice to run to Reina. His actions had already proven exactly who held the most weight in his heart.

"Unlock the door."

Ashton violently stubbed out the cigarette, grabbed her wrist, and yanked her hard against his chest. His voice dropped, vibrating with pure, unadulterated jealousy.

"Oh? So it's not a recent development, is it?"

Sylvia was wearing a cream-colored knit camisole she had picked up on sale. The quality couldn't compare to the designer pieces Ashton used to buy her, but it fit perfectly. It highlighted the luminous expanse of her collarbones and the delicate curve of her waist.

"Stop projecting your own guilt onto me! You're the one stringing women along. You're an absolute jerk!"

Her furious glare only made her look more breathtakingly vibrant.

Ashton leaned in, his fingers roughly gripping her chin. "So fierce. Makes me want to kiss you into submission."