You Had Me, You Lost Me, You'll Never Find Me novel Chapter 9

Ryan gladly accepted and asked her to add his contact so he could send over the audition script.

"Will do. Thank you so much," she replied.

Hanging up the phone, Sylvia let out a long sigh of relief.

A sudden gust of cold wind made her sneeze. A second later, a heavy, expensive overcoat was draped over her shoulders, enveloping her in warmth.

A deep, mocking chuckle sounded right beside her ear. "I told you to stay home, but you just couldn't sit still, could you? You had to come all the way out here just to freeze and let people walk all over you."

Sylvia whipped her head around, but before she could react, the man leaned in and bit her lower lip. It was a fleeting, possessive kiss, gone before she could even summon her fury.

She stumbled back, her breath hitching in her throat. After just one night, the man standing in front of her felt like a total stranger.

She certainly couldn't be like him—ruthlessly ending their relationship over the phone, only to kiss her like nothing had happened.

Nor could she destroy someone's career, parade her rival onto the set, and then smile in her face as if it were entirely normal.

But she needed absolute confirmation. So, she asked the question directly.

"Did you fire me?"

Her gaze was dead calm, though the rims of her eyes were betraying a hint of red.

"You mean that tiny supporting role?" Ashton looked at her aggrieved expression and smirked, thoroughly amused. "It was a worthless part anyway. Let it go. I'll buy you a lead role next time."

His attitude was entirely flippant. To him, destroying her livelihood was less significant than stepping on a bug.

He genuinely believed throwing a shiny new lead role at her was more than enough compensation.

Hot tears spilled over Sylvia's lashes. "So it really was you."

Her voice cracked on the final word.

Ashton froze, his dark eyes narrowing dangerously. "Are you throwing a tantrum?"

He phrased it as if she were the villain for refusing his pathetic apology.

Even when begging for forgiveness, the man was an arrogant tyrant.

Smack! She violently slapped his hand away. "Get away from me."

She hadn't held back. A bright red welt instantly flared across the back of his hand. Ashton's jaw clenched in fury. "Sylvia, you're crossing a line. I'm giving you an out, and you'd better take it. Keep pushing this, and things are going to get very ugly for you!"

Sylvia was so blindingly furious that another sharp cramp hit her abdomen. Staring at the monster in front of her, she decided to burn the bridge completely. She swung her arm and slapped him squarely across the face. The explosive crack echoed across the parking lot.

"I don't need your damn out," she spat venomously.

Caught entirely off guard, Ashton's head snapped to the side. A brilliant red handprint blossomed across his immaculate cheek, looking as if a feral cat had just mauled him.

They were standing in the middle of a busy production lot. Dozens of crew members instantly turned to stare.

Ashton Wyatt had never been struck a day in his life. He was a billionaire heir, treated like royalty wherever he went. Yet here he was, a towering titan, being publicly humiliated by a tiny actress. Remembering all the years he had spoiled her, only to be repaid with this disgraceful scene, his heart turned to stone. His voice dropped to an absolute, terrifying freeze: