Chapter 439
Chapter 439:
Both their heads whipped around.
Ashton stepped in first. “Well. Cozy. You two know each other p>
I walked in after him.
Rowan tried to smile. “Ashton! What a surprise p>
“To you, maybe,” he said coolly. “You haven’t answered my question p>
“Well, um… your mum was my sponsor back in school. She helped me a lot. When I heard she wasn’t well, I came to visit.” Rowan hastened to add, “I only just found out she’s your stepmother. Total coincidence p>
“Right. She came to see me,” Gwendolyn added quickly. “I just found out you two went to school together in Wessexia. What are the odds, huh? Small world p>
Ashton looked pointedly at the empty bedside table. “You come to visit a patient and show up empty-handed p>
Rowan hesitated. “I left in a rush. I forgot p>
“We’re close. There’s no need for gifts,” Gwendolyn muttered.
“Stop bullshitting,” Ashton cut her off.
He raised his phone and hit play.
The audio poured out, tinny but clear.
Their voices filled the room, every word from the earlier argument.
Gwendolyn went rigid.
Rowan looked at the floor.
Ashton let it run a few more seconds, then stopped the recording. “Still sticking with the hospital visit excuse p>
Rowan recovered first. “It wasn’t me, Ashton. Your mum made me do it. She paid for my tuition, owed her. She told me to come here. She said I had to mess with you two. She planned everything! Gwendolyn came up with the photos. I just… followed instructions. She told me exactly what to do p>
“You lying bitch!” Gwendolyn tore the blanket off, climbed out of bed, and slapped Rowan hard across the face. “You begged me to help you. Every part of it was your idea. Don’t you dare dump it on me p>
gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com is where your journey begins
Rowan clutched her cheek, which was rapidly turning red. Tears streamed down on command. “It’s not true! You used me p>
“Bullshit p>
Their voices clashed.
I stuck close to the door and wished I had popcorn in hand.
Ashton’s voice cut through the overlapping accusations. “Guess my father’s extending his safari. You’ll have plenty of time to explain all this when he gets back p>
Gwendolyn stopped mid-shout and turned to him. “It wasn’t me! You heard what I said. I told her to stop. I didn’t want any of this. I’ve been trying to fix things so your father can come home p>
“That’s not what happened!” Rowan burst out between sobs. “She told me what to do p>
They both kept talking over each other, each louder than the last.
My head ping-ponged back and forth between them, and I could barely track who was accusing who of what anymore.
Ashton raised a hand, silencing them. “Don’t repeat yourselves. I don’t give a damn which one of you came up with it. You both did it p>
His gaze landed on Gwendolyn. “You want to keep lying? Fine. Then your husband can rot in Africa for another three years p>