Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Adelaide POV

“SOS.”

The message was straightforward, but I was still suspicious. I didn’t want to see Ashton, but the SOS

message… I felt like I couldn’t ignore it.

When we were kids. Damon came up with the SOS signal for when there was an emergency we

couldn’t go to anyone else about. Even after everything, I couldn’t leave him alone.

All of us knew it-Damon, Ashton, Corinna, and I. We’d all used it, and we’d all responded to it. It was a

rule that we would always answer it, no matter what. No questions asked and no refusing.

And that made it all the more suspicious. Why would he reach out to me after everything that’d

happened?

I sighed, knowing I shouldn’t have lied to Damon, but I didn’t want him following me. I knew he wouldn’t

want me to go see Ashton.

This was a bad idea. A really bad idea. I think he knew I wasn’t telling him the truth.

I stood in front of penthouse door number three.

I took a deep breath and knocked. There was no turning back now.

To my surprise, the door swung open immediately, but it wasn’t Ashton behind it.

It was Corinna. She leaned against the open door, her arms crossed, and a smirk on her face. Her hair

was wet as if she’d just gotten out of a shower. She was wearing only an oversized T-shirt, leaving her

legs bare.

I stiffened as I noticed exactly what T-shirt she was wearing. It was the one from my first date with

Ashton at the amusement park, I had the matching one in my closet.

My blood boiled, but my head remained calm. Why was she here? Why would he let her lure me here

like this?

“I knew you were still a lovesick puppy over Ashton,” Corinna taunted me. “Couldn’t resist rushing over

here at the littlest text.”

“I assume you sent the message then?” I said, coldly. We both knew it had been her, but I wanted to

hear it from her mouth.

Corinna grinned, “He left his phone behind this morning, and I just couldn’t resist the urge to toy with

you.”

“Classy trick,” I said, sarcastically. “Now what do

you want?”

“Just to prove something.” Corinna eyed her nails, casually.

“And what’s that?” I narrowed my eyes at her, fuming at the knowledge that this was a trap.

“That you’re still hung up on my fiance,” Corinna grinned. I twitched at her emphasis on the words. ‘my’

but otherwise remained cool.

Corinna was a master of stabbing weaknesses, however. I didn’t know if I was more angry at her for

doing this or at myself for falling for her trick.

“Oh, poor Addie. Can’t stand having your crush taken away from you?” Corinna taunted me, a gleeful

grin on her face. “My sister, the little homewrecker.”

I narrowed my eyes at her, stepping forward until we were almost nose-to-nose.

“For your information, my sister, Ashton, and I were dating for over a year. We were still dating

Chipin ||

when he proposed to you. Who’s the actual homewrecker?” I said, my voice icy.

Corinna didn’t look surprised one bit, nor upset like I thought she might be

*still you,

Adelaide.” Corinna bit out, throwing up her hand. The shiny diamond gleamed in the light like it was

taunting me. He proposed to me. Not you

I shook my head. What had I even expected from her? She didn’t love Ashton, that much was clear.

She was using him to hurt me like she had everything else in her life.

This was just like when we were kids and I had a toy she wanted. She’d try to take it, and I wouldn’t let

her, so she’d go to our dad and cry until he forced me to hand it over.

I was too tired for this, I sighed. I had to stop letting her get to me. I fled our family to get away from her.

I had no intention of continuing this spat. I was done with her.

I pulled a key out of my pocket and dangled it in front of her.

“I didn’t come here because I’m still in love with Ashton. I came here to return this.” I handed the key

over, and Corinna glared at it.

She snatched it away from me, her nails scratching my palm, and I pulled away, hating even the

thought of her touching me.

She glanced up at me, and a smirk crossed her lips.

“How’s the baby-making with my boyfriend coming along?” she said sarcastically. “Going well, I hope?”

If I thought my blood was boiling before, this was the eruption. I couldn’t stop myself from retaliating

“Go f*ck yourself, Corinna,” I snarled, as I spun on my heel to leave.

Corinna grabbed my wrist before I could move another inch, her long nails digging into my skin. She

pulled me to face her, a snarl on her ruby lips.

“You better not be doing anything to mess up our plans, Adelaide. Ashton isn’t yours anymore; he’s

mine.”

That caught my attention. I narrowed my eyes at her, my suspicions quickly rising.

“Why would you call your relationship a plan?” I said with a calm tone.

I watched as she blanched and let go of my arm like she’d been burned.

“I didn’t mean to say it like that,” Corinna bit out, her skin turning pale.

“Then what did you mean, Corinna?” I stepped forward, using my height advantage against her.

Something was up. I wanted to know exactly what these two had planned, and I wanted to know now.

“Just get out!” Corinna shrieked, stomping her foot as she pushed me over the threshold. Before I could

ask anything more, she shut the door in my face.

I glared at the door, my mind whirling with possibilities.

A plan. What plan?

I was lost in my thoughts as I headed back to my car, not paying attention to anything.

The message ending up being from Corinna didn’t surprise me one bit. She liked to make my life h’ll in

whatever way she could.

The shirt was too easy, and I hated myself for getting worked up about it. I was going to have to remind

myself to burn the matching one.

Chapter 11

It was just a reminder of the betrayal they’d caused me. I didn’t need any more physical reminders, the

mental reminders were plenty.

What did intrigue me about this little visit was Corinna’s slip-up.

If Ashton and Corinna were planning something, I needed to know what it was. They couldn’t get

control over our families’ money.

It was sunset by the time I got into my car. I sat in the passenger seat and breathed out as I slammed.

my head against the car wheel.

Interactions with my sister always took a lot out of me. She was just… too much.

I reached into my pocket and fished out my phone. I searched the contacts and pressed the one I

wanted.

He picked up on the first ring.

“Are you all right?” Damon’s smooth voice came from the phone.

I raised an eyebrow, looking over at the time. Shouldn’t he be at work or something?

“Of course, I’m fine. Why even ask? Do you think I’m out doing something dangerous?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” he retorted.

“Are you going to hold everything against me?” I huffed. “I was sixteen for crying out loud.”

“I was talking about the time when you snuck out at night to rescue a baby squirrel you swore you saw,

but sure, the other time works too,” he said with a chuckle.

“Not fair,” I laughed. “And besides, we did rescue the baby squirrel.”

“After you

led us into a skunk den.”

*I still can’t stand tomato soup,” I chuckled. I was surprised at how easy it was to laugh with him.

I sighed, the voice on the other end falling silent. The brief levity faded away as I remembered why I

had called.

“Where were you really?” he asked, quietly. His tone let me know that he knew I’d lied about where I

was going.

I smiled to myself. Really, for being enemies, he sure knew me better than anyone else. I should’ve

known my lies wouldn’t fly with him.

But he still let me go. I couldn’t help but wonder why he didn’t push me about lying.

“I saw my sister,” I told him, seriously.

“I assume that went well,” he said sarcastically.

“About as well as ever,” I said and rolled my eyes on the other end of the phone. “But that’s not why I

called you. She said something interesting while I was there.”

Silence fell over the phone, and I knew I had his attention.

“I think she and Ashton are up to something.