Chapter 544: Slap Incoming

"Dealing with her was a good pastime."

Ashley’s mind went blank for a second, her eyes widening as she stared at him.

She didn’t want to believe what she had just heard.

How could she?

The June she knew was a kind, gentle soul. Someone who wanted to go against his family’s political legacy and become a good public servant—someone untouched by corruption, bribery, or connections to people in the underworld like Marshal.

After all, one of the people tied to Marshal was June’s grandfather.

That was how their families became connected in the first place.

Still smiling, June looked at her.

"Haha." He chuckled at the shock plastered across her face. "Look at you. I thought you knew what I was doing. I thought you had some common sense in you."

Ashley blinked.

"I’ve always enjoyed my time with you and Isabella, Ash," he continued in the same gentle tone he had always used with her. "Isabella knew I was interested in her, and she made it clear that she only saw me as a friend. And yet, every time I shifted even a little bit of that attention toward you, she started doing all sorts of things."

He smiled, chuckling again.

"That’s why whenever I got bored, I made sure she saw me looking at you instead of her." His smile widened. "She’d lose her mind."

"Hah." Ashley let out a shallow scoff as her mind slowly pieced things together.

"Did that surprise you?"

"No. I mean... yes," she admitted. "I’ve never seen this side of you before. But go on. I might need to add this one to my toolkit."

June chuckled. "You’re funny."

She shrugged.

"I was a little worried you’d hate me for it," he said, offering her another smile. "But at the back of my mind, I was hoping you wouldn’t hold it against me. Or rather, I was hoping you already had your suspicions."

No.

Ashley hadn’t suspected a thing.

She had never once suspected that the person she considered a friend was this good at deceiving people.

How had she missed it?

Then again, perhaps she should’ve known.

June came from a political dynasty filled with people who were nothing like the personas they presented to the public. Ashley had seen firsthand how hypocritical his family could be.

She had always wondered how June had somehow turned out differently.

Turns out, he hadn’t.

He had simply mastered the act earlier than everyone else.

"God." Ashley shook her head and gripped the armrest, pushing herself to her feet. "I pity the taxpayers in your country once your grandfather takes office."

She had heard that June’s grandfather was running for president. She also knew there had been growing problems between Marshal and the old man before Marshal’s downfall—something involving their respective cuts from an illegal business.

Ashley had already gained far more clarity than she ever asked for.

And before this conversation made her see red, she decided it was better to walk away.

She had only taken a few steps when June rose to his feet.

"Where is Isabella?"

Ashley stopped dead in her tracks. Her brows knitted together.

Slowly, she looked back at him.

June merely raised his brows.

"It’s okay," he said with a smile. "I don’t judge you for taking down your own father. All I want to know is where Isabella is."

His smile remained. "I’m not done with her yet."

Ashley stared at him.

June paused as though considering how best to convince her.

"Even though I never saw a future with her, I still want to see her face when she has nothing left and has to crawl to my feet." His eyes brightened slightly. "Maybe I’ll make her lick my boots. Or get her pregnant and keep her hidden somewhere, where she can raise our child..."

His smile deepened. "Or kill it. Whichever she wants."

The longer June spoke, the more excited he sounded.

As if none of the things coming out of his mouth were disgusting.

Even though Ashley herself could slit Isabella’s throat without a second of hesitation, hearing June talk about her like that made her stomach turn.

Ashley simply stared at him.

For the first time, she felt as though she was finally seeing June for who he really was.

No wonder Lucian had never liked him.

Even after hearing that June had always been "kind" to Ashley, Lucian had said there was something off about the man.

Now she understood why.

A second later, Ashley smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

"I’m going to walk this way." She pointed her thumb over her shoulder. "And I strongly advise you to walk the other way."

Her smile disappeared. "Say no more, June. It’ll be better for both of us."

With that, Ashley turned on her heel, but she stopped. She ran her tongue along the inside of her cheek before glancing back at him.

"June."

He raised his brows.

"The times you helped me escape..." she trailed off, staring at him. "You knew Lucian would catch us."

June tilted his head slightly. Then he smiled.

"Of course." His eyes squinted as his smile widened. "I made sure he would."

Ashley fell her mouth open.

From the very beginning, June had offered to help her again and again. Right until the last time she tried to escape.

That was why, no matter how carefully Ashley planned, something always went wrong.

She always got caught.

Because the person who was supposed to be helping her had been making sure she would never succeed.

"Huh." Ashley rocked her head slowly. "Thanks for that, then."

June blinked. "Huh?" ℴ

Ashley smiled.

"Good thing you sabotaged everything." She shrugged. "Otherwise, I never would’ve discovered how fun Lucian is."

Having said that, Ashley turned her back on him and resumed walking.

She didn’t bother looking back.

Did this encounter surprise her?

Absolutely.

She had thought June came to see her because he wanted to talk about Isabella. Perhaps mourn her. Perhaps ask what had happened.

Who would’ve thought she’d end up meeting the psychopath hiding behind that gentle face?

Meanwhile, June remained where he was, staring at her back.

"Give Isabella back," he said, but Ashley didn’t stop.

"Ashley, give her back to me or..." June paused. "I’ll take your husband away from you."

Ashley stopped dead in her tracks.

A shallow breath slipped through her nose. Her eyelashes fluttered ever so slowly. Then one brow rose.

She turned around.

"Say that again." Her voice was frighteningly calm.

June sighed.

"I didn’t want to resort to this, but please." He nodded at her. "Hand Isabella over to me. If you don’t, then... you might regret it."

His expression softened. "For old times’ sake, Ash."

Silence descended between them as Ashley stared at him.

Then she took one step forward—back at him.

"Okay," she said.

A smile slowly appeared on her face as she approached him.

June watched her come closer. "Great!"

When only a small distance remained between them, Ashley stopped.

"Grit your teeth," she said casually. "A slap is coming."

"Huh?"

June furrowed his brows.

Out of instinct, he gritted his teeth and started raising an arm toward his face.

At the same time, Ashley stomped one foot forward.

Her elbow pulled back, and her fingers curled tightly into a fist.

And instead of slapping him, she drove that fist straight into his stomach.