Game of Love and Deception: The Billionaire's Ex Wife
Chapter 45: Consequences

Chapter 45: Consequences

Ashley started cooking as soon as she got home. The kitchen staff were surprised to see the heiress cooking, some even more shocked that she actually knew what she was doing. She got Madison and two other maids to assist her.

After pouring the cupcake batter into liners, she placed them in the oven and instructed one of the maids to keep an eye on them. Then, she moved on to preparing the burrata. Halfway through the second batch, Ashley’s attention snapped to the door when she heard the maids greeting Michelle.

Michelle’s gaze swept across the kitchen, her surprise evident as she realized her granddaughter was the cause of the tantalizing aroma that had the entire house salivating.

"Grandma," Ashley greeted her with a smile. "I didn’t know you were already up."

"I am, dear. My nose couldn’t ignore this delicious smell much longer," Michelle said. Just then, her stomach growled, making Ashley and the maids laugh.

"You see what I mean? Are those burrata?" Michelle pointed at the cheese neatly arranged on the long kitchen table.

"Yes, Grandma. And those ones are ready to be eaten. Should I get you some?" Ashley asked, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.

Michelle nodded, her eyes gleaming. She barely had appetite for food these days, but the burrata before her looked far too tempting to pass.

Ashley served two burrata, and a maid took the dish to the dining room for Michelle.

"Grandma, I also baked some cupcakes if you’d like to try them," Ashley said as she checked the oven, noting that the tops were just beginning to brown.

"Let me finish what you’ve already served, then I’ll decide on that," Michelle replied, making her way to the dining.

Ashley felt warmth settle in her chest. Seeing Michelle willing to eat even if the sadness in her eyes was still obvious was an improvement.

Once she finished cooking, she left the maids to tidy up and joined Michelle at the table.

"This is the best burrata I’ve had in as long as I can remember," the older woman said sincerely.

Ashley smiled. "Thank you, Grandma. I’m really glad you like it."

"No, I love it," Michelle corrected with a smile. "I never knew you could cook so well. Have you ever thought about opening your own restaurant? Because with just this, you’d make a fortune," she joked, making Ashley laugh.

What Michelle didn’t realize was that Ashley had been secretly nursing that very idea, dreaming of the day she’d own her own restaurants. In fact, she had already started setting aside a portion of her salary toward it. But her reasons went beyond a passion for cooking. She wanted to become one of Christian’s biggest competitors in the market.

Michelle hesitated before saying, "Since this is so good, I’m thinking of sharing some with Margaret. Do you think there’s enough?"

Ashley gave a quick nod. "Of course, Grandma. I made plenty, and there will still be leftovers even after the workers take their share," she replied, though she couldn’t help but wonder who Margaret was.

As if reading her thoughts, Michelle explained, "Do you remember the young man who was your plus-one at your inauguration party?"

Lorenzo Grey?

Ashley tried not to frown and gave a hesitant nod. Her heart raced as she waited for Michelle to continue, struggling to hide how nervous Lorenzo’s name made her.

"Margaret is his mother. I forgot to mention it before, but she’s actually a good friend of mine," Michelle continued.

Ashley’s mind instantly flashed back to her conversation with Lorenzo that night.

"I’m Michelle’s granddaughter’s plus-one. Turns out it’s you," Lorenzo said.

"What’s your connection to her?"

"She’s a friend of my mom’s," he replied.

She had meant to confront Michelle about it after the party, but with everything that had happened since then, she had completely forgotten.

Michelle took another bite of her burrata, washing it down with a sip of juice before speaking again.

"You know, I haven’t really had the chance to ask you about him since the party," she said, pulling Ashley out of her thoughts. "Did he mention that he likes you?"

Huh?" Ashley nearly choked on her food, coughing violently as she reached for her water glass. She took a long gulp before setting the glass down a little too hard.

Seeing her reaction, a small smile spread across Michelle’s lips. "I’m sorry if you’re not ready to talk about it, dear," she said gently. "It’s just that, from the way he was looking at you that day, I could tell he really likes you."

"Uh, I... I highly doubt that." Ashley countered. "I mean... we barely know each other."

Michelle’s gaze lingered on her, as if she could see right through her weak attempt at denial. Ashley wished for the ground to open up and swallow her.

Fortunately, as if the universe had decided to rescue her, Michelle’s phone chose that moment to ring. She excused herself to answer it.

Ashley had never been more grateful for a phone call in her life. Left alone, she replayed Michelle’s words in her mind.

’If Lorenzo really liked me, then Why had he refused to help me unless I agreed to his outrageous terms? That’s not affection’.

She didn’t have time to dwell on the thought, as Michelle soon returned. Ashley noticed the shift in her expression and knew it had everything to do with the phone call.

******

Lorenzo Grey stood with a gun in hand, his back to a man who was desperately begging for his life.

"You know the rules, Jamie," Lorenzo said in a tone devoid of emotion. "You taught me some of these rules."

"Please, I know I fucked up, but give me a chance to make it right," Jamie pleaded, spitting blood onto the concrete floor.

He had known his fate the moment Rafael’s men intercepted him on his way to meet the cop he had tipped off about the shipment coming through Lorenzo’s company. They had dragged him to this abandoned building, but he still clung to a tiny hope that Lorenzo would spare him for old times’ sake.

Lorenzo turned, his gaze darkening as he took in Jamie’s state—badly beaten, tied to a chair secured to a pole. One of Jamie’s eyes was so swollen it was completely shut.

He rubbed the gun in his hand watching Jamie stiffen. "Please, I have a family. They’re expecting me home soon." He suddenly regretted his actions.

Lorenzo’s jaw tightened. Jamie knew the consequences of betrayal—especially against Rafael Vincenzo.

"You had a family, Jamie. A wife. A kid. And you still chose to be a greedy bastard."

Jamie swallowed hard. "Please," he choked out. "They don’t know anything. My little girl—she’s innocent."

"Rhodi," Lorenzo called without looking away.

"Boss," one of the men answered immediately.

"Tell me why I can’t let Jamie or his family live."

Rhodi didn’t hesitate. "Because he didn’t just steal from Rafael—he’s a rat."

Lorenzo cocked his gun.

Jamie’s head dropped, all hope vanishing in an instant. His breathing turned shallow. "Please... spare my family." he whispered.

The gun pressed against his forehead. But then there was a brief pause. A flicker of hesitation from Lorenzo.

Jamie felt it.

For a second, his hope sparked back to life—but then two bullets burst through his skull. His body jerked forward, blood spraying across Lorenzo’s arm and shirt.

Lorenzo stared at the lifeless body, something flickering in his expression, but it was gone before anyone could see it.

He turned to the men. "Clean this up."

Without another word, he slipped Jamie’s phone from his pocket and walked away. Out of sight, he typed a message to his wife:

"Babe, there’s trouble. Take our daughter and leave the country immediately. Say nothing to anyone until I call you. I love you."

He sent the message, then dropped the phone and smashed it under his heel.

Then, pulling out his own phone, he dialed Rafael.

"It’s done."

Without waiting for a response, he hung up and got into his car.

Lorenzo drove to one of his penthouses at high speed, his grip tight on the steering wheel. This wasn’t his first kill, but this time was different. He and Jamie had once been close. When he first started working for Rafael Vincenzo, Jamie had been his guide, showing him the ropes.

Still, sparing him hadn’t been Lorenzo’s choice to make. Jamie hadn’t just betrayed him—he’d betrayed Rafael and the entire gang. And now, Lorenzo was doing the same.

By choosing to protect Jamie’s family, he was knowingly sealing his own fate if Rafael ever found out.

The moment he reached his penthouse, he headed straight for the shower.

He stood under the running water until he lost track of time, but he kept scrubbing. Hard. Over and over, until his skin hurt. The blood was gone, yet something deeper refused to wash away

When he finally got out, he grabbed his phone and sent a text to one of his most trusted men: "Find Jamie’s family and assign men to discreetly watch over them."

He knew Rafael would send men to Jamie’s house to find them soon. Lorenzo could only hope they were gone before then.

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