You Had Me, You Lost Me, You'll Never Find Me novel Chapter 31

He dipped his head to capture her lips, seamlessly stealing her breath.

She tried to push him away, but he was prepared, easily pinning her arms with one hand in a dominant, predatory move, kissing her as if he wanted to devour her alive.

His hot breath fanned across her cheek, and the temperature inside the car instantly skyrocketed.

Sylvia was locked in his embrace. What started as a ravenous plunder slowly melted into a lingering tenderness, the man savoring her lips inch by inch with the same deep affection as before.

She had to admit she still craved his touch, but her rational mind knew all too well that they were truly over.

So, she pulled back slightly and said, "Ashton, let me go."

Ashton held her tightly against his chest, his voice husky and magnetic. "Where are you going to go if I let you go? You still love me, don't you? Sylvia, Sylv... I was wrong before. I shouldn't have fought with you. You can punish me however you want later, just don't break up with me."

His soft murmurs brushed against her ear, sounding as deeply devoted as ever.

Sylvia answered point-blank, "No."

Her rejection was swift and clean. There wasn't a single trace of hesitation.

The thick, sensual tension in the car shattered instantly. Ashton narrowed his eyes slightly, a flicker of mockery and desolation flashing in his gaze.

"Fine. Whatever you say. If you don't want to get back together, I can't exactly force you, can I?"

"But Grandfather Wyatt doesn't know about this. His heart has never been strong, and you know that. If you refuse to play along when we go in there, we can just lay all our cards on the table. At worst, I'll just have the family doctor stand by."

His tone carried a faint, almost imperceptible trace of bitterness.

It was blatant emotional blackmail. Sylvia replied flatly, "I'll let it slide this time. Once your grandfather is better, you can tell him the truth yourself."

She pushed Ashton away, unlocked the door, and stepped out of the car, smoothing out her slightly rumpled clothes.

After a moment's thought, she added, "Ashton, a breakup is a breakup. Let's keep our distance from now on, and stop having Finley follow me. It's best for both of us if we draw a clear line."

Ashton acted as if he hadn't heard a single word. Ignoring her boundaries, he grabbed her hand and led her forward.

Sylvia struggled slightly. "Did you hear me?"

He folded the paper and casually shoved it into his pocket. "We'll talk about it later."

As he lowered his head, a trace of weariness lingered in his eyes.

The words Sylvia had been about to say died in her throat.

Later meant later. In the end, he wasn't going to change a thing anyway.

When they returned to the old Wyatt estate, the grand living room was already packed. It was a room full of distant relatives and extended family, all circling like vultures to gauge Elder Wyatt's condition.

After all, the old man was the anchor of the Wyatt family. His health directly dictated the company's stock prices.

Seeing Ashton arrive with Sylvia in tow, the crowd's expressions shifted. Many of them were secretly watching this starkly mismatched romance with amusement, waiting for the inevitable trainwreck.

After all, Ashton's volatile, noncommittal nature was infamous. Plus, there had once been rumors of an arranged childhood engagement between the Wyatts and the Winslets. From a societal standpoint, Reina Winslet was far more suited for him.

Ashton swept his cold gaze over the crowded room and dropped a single question: "Don't you people have your own homes?"