Money Can’t Fix This

Ashley’s phone buzzed loudly, pulling her away from the tabloids. She glanced at the screen, her eyes narrowing as a credit alert flashed in bold letters.

“$10,000,000 transferred to your account.”

She let out a short, humorless laugh.

Really? Demitri thought a few zeros could fix this? A laugh bubbled up inside her, but it was a mix of disbelief and bitterness.

Her fingers hovered over the phone. Another message from him.

“I’m outside. Please come out.”

Ashley rolled her eyes, tossing her phone onto the couch. What exactly does he think this is? A transaction?

He must have figured out her identity. Everyone knew the heiress to the Donaldson family was based abroad and unknown to the media. No one knew it was her, except her close families and the domestic staff.

A knock resounded at the door. The maid stepped in, looking slightly uneasy. “Miss Emerald, there’s a Mr. Demitri Gonzales waiting outside the gate. He insists on speaking with you.”

Ashley didn’t even glance up from her coffee. “Tell him to go away.”

The maid hesitated, and left.

And then, as if on cue, another alert from her bank.

“Another $10,000,000.”

Ashley’s eyes flared with anger. She didn’t need his charity, and he damn well knew it.

“Are you serious?” she muttered, standing up so abruptly the chair scraped the floor. “He thinks money can fix this?”

Her heart raced, frustration boiling over. She stormed to the door, ignoring the maid’s concerned glance.

Outside, the expensive black car was parked just beyond the gate. There he was—Demitri. In all his designer glory, like he had the right to show up whenever he pleased.

She marched past the guards without a second thought.

Demitri stepped out of the car the moment he saw her. His expression softened, as if he was expecting her to run into his arms.

But Ashley wasn’t having any of it. She stood there, arms crossed, glaring at him.

He hesitated. “Ashley… I—”

“Shut up!” She cut him off before he could finish. Her tone was cold, flat, as she looked him up and down like he was a stranger. “Just shut up!*

Demitri opened his mouth again, but she raised a hand to stop him. “You think you can buy me off with money? No, you don’t. And if you know what is good for you, leave right now before I call the guards to pounce on you.”

He looked at her, a mixture of confusion and regret flashing in his eyes. But it was too late. She wasn’t that woman anymore.

She turned on her heel and walked away, her steps firm and final, leaving Demitri standing at the gate with no words left to say.