Tempted By My Ex’s Brother-In-Law - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Aria’s POV
How did he even find out about me and Grayson? I didn’t even tell May.
“Say something, Aria!” Jace roared. “So this is how you betray me, huh? You were never pure and innocent—you were just saving precious pussy for the richest guy who’d land you!”
His hand clamped tighter around my throat, making it hard to breathe.
“Stop…” I choked out. “It’s not what you think. Me knowing Grayson… it’s just a coincidence…”
“A coincidence?” he sneered, his voice dripping with hate. “Yeah, right. More like you planned this from the start. Because that’s what you are—a gold-digging bitch.”
“No…”
“What did you tell him, huh? Did you tell him about us? Is he helping you get revenge on me now? Don’t tell me even that prenup crap was also your doing!”
I had absolutely nothing to do with that prenup. But it didn’t matter. Jace would never believe it. He needed someone to blame, and I was the easiest target.
“You’re a fucking slut, Aria, you know that?” he spat. “We were together for four fucking years and you didn’t let me touch you. Yet the moment we broke up, you jumped right into Grayson’s fucking bed!”
“…F-Funny,” I hissed, still gasping for air. “You’re calling me a gold-digger, but aren’t you the one who married Delilah for her money? I…If anyone’s for sale here, it’s you.”
His eyes widened like he couldn’t believe I just said that. “What the fuck did you just say?”
“You’re mad I’m with Grayson, but you’re the one who ditched your girlfriend and marry into money. Don’t talk to me about morals, Jace. You’re the one who’d sell his soul for a fat bank account.”
“Shut up! SHUT UP!” he yelled, his face twisted with fury. “That’s different! Delilah and I—we’re in love—”
“You love her money,” I cut in. “That’s the only kind of love a selfish bastard like you could ever understand.”
His grip on my throat tightened, like an iron chain around my neck.
“Don’t act like you fucking know me!” he growled. “Now you fucking listen. Leave Grayson. And don’t even think about messing with my life. You might think you’ve landed a rich guy, but I’ve got ways to crush you.”
I stared him down, refusing to flinch. “Then I’ll go straight to your darling wife. I bet Delilah would love to hear how you dumped your long-time girlfriend and married her in less than a week.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” His eyes went red with rage.
“Stop playing dirty, Jace,” I snapped. “We both work in the marketing department now. It’s a fair game. Let’s see who’s the one surviving off connections.”
He’d burned me once before. I wasn’t giving him a second chance.
I would face him head-on. And I’d win.
He suddenly let out a cold laugh. His lips twisted into something cruel.
“You against me? Please. You are just a dump little girl with nothing but a pretty face! All the achievements you’ve got so far is because you know when to separate your fucking legs. You know what? Now that Grayson had popped your virginity, you wouldn’t mind me taking the second round, would you?”
His other hand slid around my waist, grabbed me hard, then started moving up toward my breast.
“Get off me!” I screamed, thrashing violently.
He pressed his knee between my legs, pinning me in place.
“This suit,” he hissed, “he bought it for you after sex? It had to be a pretty rough fuck for him to get you something this pricey.”
“NO—fuck off!”
“Oh, come on, Aria. Isn’t this what you like? I got money too now. Come on, open those legs for me—”
“GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!”
The voice exploded from nearby.
Before I could react, someone rushed in and smacked Jace in the head with a swing of a heavy umbrella. Jace groaned, stumbling back, and loosened his grip.
May stepped in front of me, gripping the umbrella like a sword, trembling with fury.
“Back the hell off, you sick psycho!” she roared.
“Fuck! You crazy bitch—”
“I already called the cops! Keep going and we’ll take a little trip downtown. I’m sure your lovely wife Delilah would love to come bail you out.” She swung the umbrella again. “now get lost!”
Jace clutched his head, shooting a venomous glare at me. He hesitated for a second, then finally stepped back.
“This isn’t over,” he spat before turning and leaving the alley.
“Oh my God, are you okay?” May dropped to her knees beside me, frantic.
I grabbed her in a tight hug, nodding as my body trembled. “Yeah…Oh thank God…How did you even find me?”
“You weren’t picking up your phone, and when I got to your office, they said you already left. So I started looking. Damn it, Aria, I thought Jace was just a dick—I didn’t know he was an actual psychopath!”
I took a shaky breath. “Did you really call the cops?”
“No. I just said that to scare him off. But you have to tell someone.”
“Tell who?” I muttered. “He’s Delilah’s husband. An upper-class golden boy now. No one will believe me.”
“Are you kidding me? You’re just gonna walk it off?” she cried. “Aria, he’s obsessed. He’ll come after you again. You have to tell Alpha Grayson. He’ll help.”
“Grayson is Delilah’s brother. Who do you think he’d side with?”
“You, of course! You’re together, right?”
I sighed.
I’d promised Grayson not to tell anyone about our contract. So all I said to May was that I was his assistant and was currently staying at his house to better assist him.
And while May was always a romantic, always dreaming up love stories, she didn’t buy it. To her, the moment I said I was living under the same roof with Grayson, it meant we were in some kind of fairy tale romance.
“I’m fine, May,” I whispered. “I’m not afraid of Jace.”
“I know you’re brave. But this isn’t just about being brave. It’s about being safe.”
I pulled her into another hug. “And I will be safe. Come on, we’re both soaked.”
She grumbled, still furious as she cursed out Jace under her breath. I linked arms with her, and we walked out of the alley together.
Just as we were about to cross the street, headlights cut through the rain. Out of nowhere, a sleek black car swerved to a stop in front of us.
“Hey watch it!” May cried angrily.
The driver jumped out, holding an umbrella as he opened the back door.
And then, like he stepped straight out of a dream, Grayson emerged from the car.
I froze in shock, mouth slightly open like an idiot.
He was supposed to be on the other side of the world.
Yet here he was.
He took the umbrella from the driver and held it over my head, blocking the rain. His brows were furrowed, face unreadable but definitely stern.
“The driver said you never showed up at the pickup spot.”
“Oh, um, right.” I scrambled to find my voice. “I didn’t need a ride today. Forgot to tell him. Sorry.”
“And the umbrella?” he asked, eyeing my soaking wet clothes.
“…Forgot that too,” I muttered.
Yet his face only got darker. “Lying is a bad habit, Aria.”
“W-What? I don’t understand…”
“There are fresh finger marks on your neck.”
His voice was icy. And there was a storm looming in his eyes. I shivered under his intense gaze. Just while I was hesitating what to tell him, May blurted out beside me:
“It was Jace Carter! He attacked her. Right in that alley!”