Ditching My Cheating Finacé For My Worst Enemy

Chapter 2: Rejected at Midnight

AVEN

“Marry me.”



Ian raises a single, slow eyebrow, looking at me like I’ve completely lost my f*****g mind. Honestly, maybe I have.



My dress is drenched, and the floor is a mess of droplets. f**k, I’m cold and pathetically proposing to my lifelong enemy at midnight. My eyes automatically look down, and it’s a shitshow there.



Meanwhile, he just stands there in a black dress shirt with the top buttons undone, looking way too calm for someone who just got a midnight marriage proposal from his family’s worst enemy.



“Excuse me?” he says finally.



“You heard me.”



A low chuckle leaves him, quiet and sharp. “What is this? Some new Arden family scheme to drag the Draviers down?”



“I’m serious,” I snap, clenching my fists. “f*****g marry me.”



That gets a real reaction out of him, though it still looks mocking. He leans one shoulder lazily against the doorframe, dark eyes deliberately taking their time running over my soaked clothes, ruined makeup, and entirely homicidal expression. I’m pretty sure my face is a mess now.



“Don’t you already have a fiancé?” he asks. “Aesthen? Ashton? Whatever his name is.”



“It’s Ethan,” I say through gritted teeth. “And he cheated on me.”



Ian goes silent for exactly two seconds before scoffing. “So let me understand this correctly.” His mouth twitches like he’s holding back another laugh. “Your lovely fiancé steps out on you, and your brilliant revenge plan is to run to my front door past midnight?”



“Yes.” The answer comes out immediately, sharp and defensive.



Ian stares at me for another second, then shakes his head slowly. “For your information, if your family never bothered to teach you basic manners, let me make it clear: I’m not something you use to replace another man.”



“That’s not what this is—”



“Really?” he cuts in, his voice dropping into something dangerous. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks exactly like that. Go home, Aven.”



My temper spikes instantly. “Wow,” I laugh harshly. “Didn’t realize Ian Dravier was scared.”



That finally wipes the amusement off his face.



He steps closer slowly, crossing the threshold until he is right in front of me. The wind blows the rain inside around us while his guards suddenly look very interested in the dark driveway.



“You should be very careful using that tone with me when you’re standing alone on my property past midnight,” he says quietly.



I open my mouth to argue, but he suddenly grabs the edge of the heavy door and slams it directly in my face.



He actually shut me out. Ian f*****g Dravier just rejected me!



My face burns. My chest feels so tight I can barely breathe, and then the embarrassment snaps, turning into pure, rage. No one has ever dared to treat me like this. 



The sheer anger twists tightly in my chest, suffocating me for a second before it turns into anger. a slow, dark smile spreads across my face because he thinks he can humiliate an Arden and get away with it.



Turning around calmly, I walk back to my car through the heavy rain while the guards watch me carefully. I slide into the driver’s seat, but I do not shift into reverse to leave. Instead, my eyes lock onto his brand-new luxury sports car parked right in the driveway.



If he wanted to humiliate me, I will show him what real destruction looks like. I slam my foot down on the gas pedal.



My car flies forward and smashes straight into the side of his expensive vehicle. The loud metal crash shakes my entire body, but I don't care. Looking at his ruined car only makes me laugh, washing away every bit of the humiliation I just felt.



I quickly shift into reverse, pull back, and speed out through his open gates into the dark night.



As I drive away, I look up at his bedroom window with a smirk. Have fun fixing your car, Ian. 



____________________



“What? You asked to marry who?”



Reina practically screams the words, bolting upright on my mattress. I immediately regret the massive amount of whiskey currently staging a violent coup against my brain. The morning is already ruined.



I groan and shove my face deeper into my silk pillow. “I think I was sick. Temporary insanity.”



“You were definitely insane,” she says, throwing a decorative pillow directly at my head.



“How dare you step inside the Dravier estate? Do you even understand what happens if your family finds out? Forget your family—his grandfather will actually have us assassinated. Even imagining it gives me goosebumps.”



I rub my temples aggressively. “What else could I do? I want revenge on that asshole Ethan and definitely Vanessa.”



“To get revenge on Ethan Moretti, you don’t need a man like Ian. And you know that too,” Reina says, standing up to casually sort through my closet for something to wear.



“Ethan is a sociopath. He was literally sleeping with someone else before he even signed your engagement contract. Everybody knew except you.”



She winces slightly, suddenly looking very interested in her manicure. “Okay… maybe I shouldn’t have said everybody.”



I freeze, staring at her. “You knew?”



“Aven, that engagement was just a giant transaction for Moretti Holdings shares!” she defends, throwing her hands up.



“Nobody expected you to actually go and fall in love with the guy.”



I grab the pillow and hurl it back at her face. “You’re a terrible friend.”



“I’m an honest friend.” She tosses it aside.



“And honestly? Seeing him with another girl after acting obsessed with you for a year is psychotic. You should’ve killed him right there.”



“I still might.”



“That’s the spirit.”



I don’t know what Grandfather would do if he found out I went to the Dravier heir and proposed to him. He would definitely kill me and bury me so deep no one could dig me up.



Reina suddenly narrows her eyes at me, abandoning the closet. “You know what’s weird, though?”



“What?”



“You went to him.”



I frown. “I was drunk and angry.”



“No, I get that. But there are plenty of powerful men in this city who would love to spite your ex. You specifically drove all the way to Ian’s estate.”



I point a finger at her warningly. “Don’t make this psychological.”



“I’m just saying—” Reina pauses, looking at my serious expression, and wisely shuts up. But it doesn't last long. 



“Isn’t Ethan your first kiss? You haven’t even dated anyone else before, and I was really surprised to hear that your family arranged a marriage with the Morettis.”



Something coils tightly inside my chest. Reina stares at me, catching the brief shift on my face. 



“What’s that look?” she asks with pure curiosity.



“He’s not my first kiss.” The shock on her face is incredibly satisfying.



“Then wh—”



My phone suddenly vibrates violently against the nightstand. Both of us freeze. Unknown number. Reina dives across the bed and grabs my arm. “Answer it.”



“It’s probably Ethan trying to apologize.”



“If it’s Ethan, I’ll curse his entire bloodline personally. Answer it!” I snatch the phone and answer it with the worst attitude possible. 



“What?”



Silence stretches over the line for a heavy, agonizing second. Then that familiar, irritatingly calm voice says,



“As you said, let’s get married.” I freeze. Reina’s eyes widen to the size of saucers from across the bed.



“…Ian?”