Love Game With The Rebel Billionaire

"I expected you to be shocked, but I didn't expect you to scream like you're in a haunted house, bitch!" Evangeline teased me, her laugh echoing through the entire room.

I shot her a glare, and she immediately stopped. Adjusting her position on the bed, she clamped her mouth shut.

Still, I could see her grinning in my peripheral vision.

My hand was trembling as I picked up the weird mask lying on the floor. "This is..."

"Ash's head," she finished my sentence before breaking into another fit of laughter.

I glared at her again, but this time, it didn't faze her.

She seemed to be having the time of her life watching my reaction, forgetting she was supposed to be a comatose patient in a hospital.

I examined the mask. Its skin is eerily realistic. At first glance, I even thought I was holding Ash's severed head. The facial features were disturbingly lifelike. Creating something of this quality would take not just immense resources but also an incredible amount of skill and time.

I was terrified and impressed. I'd never seen anything like it before, and such advanced craftsmanship made it clear the creator must have global influence. Whoever made this was powerful.

"And here," Evangeline called me again, her hand gesturing for my attention. "Look at this."

She pointed to her phone, connected to a USB adapter. I moved closer and watched a video playing on her screen.

It was a conversation between Ash and Senator Windwood. Ash sat on a couch, his hands resting on his knees, fingers intertwined.

Even on video, his presence was chilling, as if a dark aura surrounded him. I'd noticed it before but ignored it, too caught up in believing Ash had tried to kill me.

He smirked while staring at Senator Windwood, saying something I couldn't hear.

I reached to turn up the volume, but Evangeline shook her head.

"There's no sound. Tanner tried to decode it but got nothing. We'll need an expert."

I nodded, thinking of Kesha. She was multi-talented-maybe she could help decode it.

I focused on the video again. Senator Windwood's fear was palpable as he kept swallowing nervously.

His hands gripped the couch tightly, especially when Ash suddenly stood, grabbed a baseball bat, and approached him.

A shiver ran down my spine at the menacing look Ash gave.

If I were in Senator Windwood's shoes, I'd probably forget how to breathe, too.

I gasped when Ash struck the senator on his side with the bat. The man collapsed to the floor, clutching his waist in agony. Blood dripped from his nose as he struggled to catch his breath. Although the video had no sound, I could lip-read Ash's final words before leaving

"You'll die if you do that," he smirked, tossing the bat to the floor. "Don't say I didn't warn you." The video ended.

Evangeline unplugged the USB adapter and slid it under her pillow, keeping the phone to herself.

"It seems Senator Windwood had the guts to reveal something big, but he couldn't follow through because they had him killed," she explained, glancing at me. "I guess everyone wanted him dead. I wonder what they were talking about." I shrugged, though I had an idea. It had to do with what I'd been hiding-the SD card.

Luckily, I'd hidden it in a place no one would think to look. Even if I were kidnapped or tortured, they wouldn't find it.

I'd reveal it at the right time, using it to strike everyone in one fell swoop.

"That guy in the video..." I whispered, pointing at her phone. "That wasn't Ash, was it?"

"You're asking the obvious," Evangeline said, rolling her eyes as she tucked her phone under the pillow. "What more proof do you need? I gave you the creepy mask, the video... Everything makes sense."

She was right. Everything was starting to align-the strange gut feelings, Haze's warnings. It all pointed to one conclusion.

"Someone's impersonating Ash," I stated firmly, staring at the wall as anger brewed within me. "He's being framed at every opportunity."

I remembered the DNA evidence Kesha and Luna had found in the computer room. The imposter was framing Ash again, trying to turn me against him.

Ash was right all along. He'd told me repeatedly he wasn't the one who tried to kill me.

While I still couldn't fully trust him, given his secrets, I couldn't ignore the possibility that something sinister was happening behind the scenes.

"Exactly! But whoever it is, it's too bad for them. I trust my first love," Evangeline declared confidently, grinning. "At first, I'll admit, I thought he shot you. But over time, I realized Ash isn't the type to betray someone." Her words weighed heavily on me. I'd never given Ash that benefit of the doubt.

Even if I had, my anger always overshadowed any rational thought.

Still, I wouldn't let my guard down. My instincts had always been sharp, and I trusted them now more than ever.

Something was deeply wrong, like the dark aura I felt every time I encountered the imposter.

The man in Mason's office and the one on the rooftop... I was sure now they weren't Ash. But what if my instincts failed me someday?

They were so alike-the same build, face, and even mannerisms.novelbin

"I didn't trust him..." I muttered, lowering my head as thoughts swirled in my mind.

"It's understandable. Don't worry," Evangeline comforted me.

Our conversation was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Startled, Evangeline quickly feigned sleep while I composed myself just as the door opened. "Haze," I greeted, raising a brow as he entered. "It's late."

"What are you doing here?" he asked, sitting beside Evangeline and leaned his head back against the headrest. "I'll take care of things here. Go home."

I opened my mouth to argue, but his sharp glare silenced me. Haze's serious side unsettled me-I was more used to his reckless, playful nature.

So, I kicked him squarely in the cheek.

"Don't tell me what to do," I said coldly, staring him down. "I'm not your employee."

He scowled, rubbing his cheek, but chose to stay silent. Smart move.

"Take care of her properly, Haze," I said as I left.

Walking to the parking lot, my mind raced with possibilities. I wanted to clear Ash's name, but what if Evangeline was wrong?

What if Ash really did want me dead, and the imposter was trying to save me?

I shook my head. I'm choosing to trust Ash this time.

Whoever that imposter was, I know they're close to us. They wouldn't be able to use Ash if they didn't know us. They even had the guts to get Ash's blood and frame him. Good thing I've finally realized what's happening. We finally have a lead.