<h4>Chapter 332: Chapter 332 Her ce In His Heart</h4>


    Ashton nodded.


    A pleased smile touched Carmen’s lips. ‘Good. I’ll leave you to it. Just ring when you’re finished.’


    She hesitated for a moment, then added, ‘Mrs Laurent, it’s so good to have you back. You should have seen Mr Laurent while you were gone. I’ve never seen him like that. He just looked... utterly lost, he really did.’


    That word, ‘lost’, felt like a cold de slipping between my ribs.


    There it was again, that ache for him.


    I knew I was pathetic. This man had hurt me over and over again for another woman, and yet here I was, feeling that familiar pang of sympathy for him.


    ‘Carmen, that’s enough. You can go. I’ll call if we need anything,’ Ashton said.


    ‘Of course, of course. Just ring if you need me,’ Carmen said with a quick nod. She gave me onest nce before leaving.


    I only drank the soup, leaving the other dishes untouched.


    When I’d finished, Ashton spoke softly, yet his tone left no room for argument. ‘Rest for a bit, then take your medicine. After that, get some more sleep. You’ll feel brand new by tomorrow. I know you’re worried about your studio, but you can only go back to work when you’re well and have your strength back. Understood?’


    ‘I know.’ I didn’t mention Genevieve anymore. There just didn’t seem any point.


    After our meal, he watched me take the pills and then urged me to lie down and rest. ‘Try to sleep. I’m just going to take a quick shower.’


    I watched him leave.


    I knew Ashton was trying his best to make things right, but a wounded heart isn’t so easily mended with a few kind gestures.


    I must have been truly exhausted, and the fever still had its grip on me, because I was already asleep by the time he finished his shower.


    I woke up to find myself in Ashton’s arms, my skin damp and sticky with sweat. I’d been sleeping so fitfully that I was drenched, and yet he’d held onto me the whole time.


    Maybe it was the sweat finally breaking my fever, or maybe it was just the deep sleep, but whatever the reason, I felt noticeably more clear-headed.


    ‘You’re awake?’ His voice was a low, rough whisper.


    ‘Mmhmm. I’m all sweaty. I feel disgusting. I need a shower.’


    ‘You shouldn’t shower straight after sweating like that. You’ll catch a chill.’


    I frowned. ‘I’m having a shower.’


    He tried to talk me out of it, but I was adamant. Finally, he let me go.


    When I came out, he wasn’t in bed.


    He’d probably gone to his study to deal with work. He must have let so much pile up over the past few days while he was searching for me and then looking after me. The sacrifice was undeniably significant.


    But even this version of him, who was willing to make such grand sacrifices to find me and care for me, still wouldn’t punish Genevieve for what she’d done.


    Did that mean her ce in his heart was far more important than I had ever imagined?


    I changed into fresh clothes, found my new phone, and sent a text to Yvaine to give her the new number.


    Her call came through almost instantly, asking if I was feeling any better.


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    I told her I was, that the fever had broken.


    ‘Well, that’s a relief. I wanted toe over yesterday, but I was afraid that terrifying man of yours wouldn’t let me in.’ Once she was satisfied on that front, her tone turned serious. ‘So, have you really thought it through? You’re going to stay with him?’


    ‘I haven’t decided yet,’ I said.


    Yvaine muttered something under her breath, no doubt anotherint about me not having a backbone.


    The truth is, that’s just how I am. On the surface, I seem decisive, like I can get things done in a sh. But when ites to matters of the heart, I’m all hesitation and second guesses.


    It was the same back then with Rhys. I knew perfectly well that Catherine was the only one on his mind, but I still couldn’t bring myself to let go. We just kept torturing each other, trapped in that cycle, until his p finally jolted me awake.


    And now, what Genevieve has done to me, not just once but several times, has hurt far more than Rhys’s p ever did.


    So why can’t I just steel myself and leave Ashton?


    ‘Well, you keep thinking about it, then,’ Yvaine said with a sigh. ‘When you’ve made up your mind, let me know. I’ve got a list of golden bachelors ready to go. Every one of them has a six-pack, a worth in the billions, and looks that absolutely pass muster.’


    I had tough. ‘They’re not all your ex-boyfriends, are they?’


    ‘Of course not,’ she retorted. ‘I told you, they’re bachelors.’


    ‘Does that list include your brother, Emmett?’


    ‘I’d love to add him to the mix, but you said you weren’t interestedst time, remember?’


    ‘I didn’t say I wasn’t interested. I said I wasn’t good enough for him.’


    ‘So, you ARE interested, then?’ she pressed.


    I was just about to answer when Ashton came into the room.


    ‘That’s not what I meant,’ I said quickly. ‘Gotta go now. Talk to youter.’


    I hung up.


    ‘Who was that?’ Ashton asked.


    ‘Yvaine.’


    ‘I thought I heard Emmett’s name.’


    I stared at him. ‘Were you eavesdropping?’


    ‘No.’ Ashton looked at me. ‘Why are you so defensive?’


    ‘I get defensive when I get grilled about private phone calls.’


    ‘I’m not grilling you.’


    ‘Sure sounds like it.’


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