Page 89 of One Night in Hawaii

“Yes, who’s this?”

“This is Ashley Carmichael.”

I didn’t know an Ashley Carmichael, but I knew Archer’s ex was named Ashley. I had to assume it was the same woman. I hadn’t expected to hear from her at all. The mere sound of her voice sent a wave of discomfort through me.

I decided to play dumb. “I’m sorry, who?”

“Archer’s fiancée,” she snapped.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t believe Archer is engaged,” I replied calmly.

“I know who you are,” she sneered. “And you know damn well he was engaged to me when you slept with him.”

I didn’t know how she got my number, but I wasn’t going to take the bait. “I don’t know you.”

“Yes, you do,” she said. “Don’t worry, I’m not trying to get back my ex. You can have him, but I feel like I should warn you.”

Before I could say anything, she launched into a tirade of insults, attacking both Archer and me. Her words were filled with bitterness and resentment, as if she were determined to tarnish the happiness we had found together.

“He’s a bad guy, you know,” she spat. “You think he’s all that, but he’s just playing you like he played me. He’s a liar and a cheat, and he’ll never change. You are never going to be Mrs. Archer Ryatt. He’ll lead you on and then leave you hanging.”

“Are you done?” I asked.

I felt my heart race, the anger and hurt rising within me. I wanted to defend Archer, to stand up for the man I knew he was, but I also knew that engaging with Ashley would only feed into her negativity.

“Are you?” she sneered. “What kind of prenup did he get you to sign?”

“None,” I replied.

“Read the fine print,” she said. “He’s going to screw you over. That man is only out for one thing. I’m sure you’ve been giving him plenty of that. Girls like you always do.”

She was trying to insult me. I couldn’t possibly be insulted by a woman that had been cheating on her fiancé with his sister’s fiancé. That was despicable in my book. She destroyed two people. Two people I happened to care about a lot.

“I don’t need a prenup, and if he asked me to sign one, I wouldn’t care. I don’t want Archer for his money. I love him. True love. I’m sure you’re not aware of what that is.”

“Of course, you want his money,” she said, snorting. “Don’t act like you’re some naïve country bumpkin. You saw him and you sank your claws in. You pretended you were some simple girl who didn’t want pretty things. It’s a game. Been there, done that.”

“Are you done?” I asked again.

“You better not take him back,” she said. “Just remember, I warned you.” Her voice turned venomous. “You’ll regret it.”

“Take him back?” I laughed. “Ashley, I’m not dumb enough to let him go. I understand he’s a good man. It’s too bad you didn’t.”

“You don’t know me,” she spat.

“And you don’t know me,” I shot back.

“You really are a bitch,” she said.

“You don’t know anything about Archer and me,” I finally said, my voice trembling with emotion. “Our relationship is none of your business, and I won’t let you poison it with your bitterness.”

Ashley laughed, a cold and bitter sound. “Oh, I know all about you two,” she sneered. “I’ve heard plenty. He told everyone he could to make sure it got back to me. You think he loves you, but trust me, it won’t last. He’ll get bored, just like he did with me, and then you’ll see his true colors.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I knew I couldn’t let her words get to me, but it was difficult not to be affected by her venomous accusations.

“Listen, Ashley,” I said, my voice firm. “I don’t want to be a part of your drama. Whatever issues you have with Archer are between you two, not me. I’m happy with him, and that’s all that matters to me.”

There was a brief pause, and I could hear her seething on the other end of the line.

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