<h4>Chapter 554: Chapter 553: The Woman Beside Him is His</h4>


    "Am I an outsider? I’ve known Ashton for over twenty years, and our rtionship is far beyond that of ordinary friends. I care about my friend, and I’m not at ease with him just casually marrying a woman. I’m afraid he’ll be deceived, so I investigated you."


    "Is there anything wrong with what I did?"


    "Weren’t you just attracted to Ashton’s status, coveting the position of the youngdy of the Heath family, that’s why you married him so quickly?! Joanna Lawrence, stop pretending, you may be able to deceive Ashton, but you can’t deceive me."


    At this moment, Reba Kelloway finally broke down.


    All her pretenses have copsed.


    Realizing that Ashton Heath truly had feelings for Joanna Lawrence and that she might not have a chance, shepletely fell apart.


    "You don’t even love Ashton." Reba cried out in despair, "You don’t deserve Ashton treating you so well. Joanna, what right do you have to make him treat you like this?"


    "Simply because she’s my wife, the woman I like."


    Before Joanna could think of a response, Ashton Heath put his arm around her shoulder, his warm hand firmly and possessively pressing on her shoulder, as if dering their rtionship to others.


    This woman by his side was his.


    Looking at Reba, tears streaming down her face and her emotions obviously on the verge of copse, Ashton Heath’s brows furrowed, but in the end, he softened a little. After a few seconds of silence, he calmly said, "Reba, this is thest time I will say these words to you."


    "I don’t take my marriage lightly, and Joanna is not some random woman I picked. She’s the woman I decided to spend the rest of my life with. No one else will be considered for the position of the youngdy of the Heath family."


    "Also, this is my final warning to you. Our affairs aren’t the business of anyone else, least of all yours. If you do something simr under the pretext of having my best interests at heart again, don’t me me for being rude."


    "Even the closest friends should not cross the line and interfere in things they should not. This time, for the sake of our past friendship, I won’t hold it against you. But if there’s a next time, no matter who it is, I will deal with them ordingly."


    "Furthermore, Joanna is my wife, the woman I care about. Anyone who treats her poorly is treating me poorly. You should be clear on what can and cannot be said."


    "Don’t force me to sever our many years of friendship personally, and don’t force me to take action against you."


    Reba opened her mouth, tears streaming down her cheeks, rolling down her lips and into the gaps between them.


    She tasted the salty bitterness of her tears.


    Her heart ached so much she could hardly breathe.


    He was warning her.


    In front of another person, he said these heartless and cruel words to her, trampling her pride and dignity underfoot.


    Without leaving any face for her.


    The past friendship and more than two decades ofpanionship meant nothing to him.


    In his eyes, there was only Joanna Lawrence.


    Even if that woman’s time with him was not even a fraction of hers.


    Even if that woman was with him for her interests.


    Even if that woman’s sincerity towards him was not even a fraction of hers...


    Yet he could do it for that woman, ruthlessly cutting her heart with one knife after another.


    He really... didn’t care about her at all.