Chapter 224
Chapter 224:
Ashton didn’t bother responding.
The messages kept coming, so he blocked Cassian’s number.
Back at the house, Mirabelle waved off Carmen’s offer of dinner with a quiet, “I’m tired p>
She turned to head upstairs.
“Mirabelle,” Ashton said, stopping her with just his voice. She paused halfway up the staircase.
“I’m not like Cassian,” he said.
“I know,” she replied at once.
He nodded slowly. “But your eyes say different.” That got her.
She hesitated, fingers curling slightly against the bannister, then dropped her gaze.
“I’m not like him,” Ashton said again. “Don’t lump us together p>
“I know. I believe you. It’s just p>
“Just what?” he pressed, stepping closer.
She exhaled through her nose. “You two have been friends for a long time p>
“Doesn’t mean I share his views on relationships p>
Mirabelle tilted her head, trying to put something into words she clearly didn’t want to say aloud. “It’s not just you. Or just Cassian. It’s the way guys like you…” Ashton’s brow lifted. “Guys like us p>
“Rich. Young. Good-looking. The kind of men who have everything—and know it. The ones who can snap their fingers and have women throw themselves at their feet p>
“They can throw themselves all they like,” Ashton said, his tone clipped. “I’m not catching p>
𝗟α𝗍𝖊𝓼𝓉 ςhαρ𝖙𝖊𝗋𝖘
Mirabelle gave the smallest smile. It didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m not casting accusations. I just…” She paused. Looked away.
Ashton watched her, waited.
“You know why I liked Rhys so much?” she said finally. “Even when everyone kept telling me he was wrong for me?” Ashton’s chest tightened at the name.
“Why p>
“Because Rhys doesn’t play around.” She let out a breath that was part laugh, part sigh. “I know how stupid that sounds. He cheated on me with Catherine. But that’s the thing—he only wanted her. His heart was always with her. Never me. That’s what proves my point p>
Ashton didn’t see the point, but he kept quiet.
“Rhys was self-centered, pampered, emotionally stunted… Pick a flaw, he had it. But not that one. He never chased women just to prove he could. If he loved Catherine, that was it. It was always going to be her. Even when he did me wrong, he wasn’t… scattered. Cassian is. Men like him always are. He’s already flaunting his new girl like Yvaine’s yesterday’s news. He didn’t even think it was going to be awkward for me to know. He doesn’t feel guilty because… well, why should he? It’s just the way it is. It’s the way everybody acts p>
“So Rhys was the exception,” Ashton said, trying not to let the bitterness show in his voice.