I nodded, making a few guesses of my own. Indeed, John was brought back to K City by the Stovalls a few years ago. I didn’t ask him anything about what happened after that, so I didn’t know the details. We were still kids back when he came to R Province, and Grandma never told us about the investor who had committed suicide.
For so many years, I’d never asked John about his origins in detail either.
After an entire night of mingling, I leaned against my seat, feeling sleepy. In my drowsy state, I vaguely noted that the car had entered the residential area.
Marcus stopped the car. Seeing me nod off, he got down and came over to my side to open the door for me. “Do you need me to carry you?”
My eyes flew wide open just then, and I hurriedly shook my head. “I can go up on my own!” Sharon was right. If someone were to take such indecent photos of us, things could get ugly for everyone involved.
I wasn’t surprised to see Ashton at the gate, but a frown appeared on my face. Is this his way of convincing me to go back with him?
He was sitting on the doorstep, looking like an abandoned child.
After several days of not seeing him, he had visibly lost weight. His former defiant and overbearing demeanor was nowhere in sight, and I noticed that his eyes were bloodshot.
Marcus frowned slightly as he informed me, “I’ll head inside first.”
I nodded and shifted my gaze to Ashton, who was slowly getting to his feet, catching a glimpse of the white gauze wrapped around his hand.
If I could change the past, I would make sure that I never crossed paths with Ashton in this lifetime. Even though it meant living an impoverished life, I would be more than willing.
I was physically and mentally exhausted. Within three years, I had become completely unrecognizable.
We stared at each other for a long time. I tried to think of something to say, but nothing came to mind.
In the end, I said curtly, “Go back and don’t come here ever again!” Ignoring his intense gaze, I skirted around him and walked toward the door.
“You’re living together?” he asked with a hint of fatigue in his voice.
I frowned, pausing momentarily. “This is none of your business!”
“Mm.” Then, he continued in a weak and raspy voice, “Is this really how things are going to be between us?”
Is this how things are going to be? I honestly didn’t know. I had thought about a hundred ways to torture him, but I knew I would be the one getting hurt in the end. Thus, I gave up the idea.
“I know that you hate me and blame me! It’s all my fault for not protecting you and our child, but Scarlett, I can’t accept how things are between us now. If you hate me, you can take your revenge however you want, but… come home with me at the very least. We’re husband and wife. We still have to face this together, right?”
Pursing my lips, I felt my heart squeeze in my chest. “Then let’s get a divorce!” I would learn how to let go of my hatred for him. To stop hating the person I once loved would be pushing me to my limits.
My heart felt like it was being shredded to bits, and it hurt everywhere.
Humans are ironic. It’s wrong to love, but wrong to stop loving too.
With nothing more to say to him, I swiveled around to climb the stairs.
“After everything we’ve been through, you’re going to end it with just a simple sentence?” he said in a voice that was so low I could barely detect any emotion in it.
I stopped in my tracks but didn’t look back.
“Scarlett, if you really hate me, are you willing to let me off just like that? The best revenge is making the other person’s life a living hell. Is what you’re doing considered revenge or giving up?”
Mystified as to what would prompt a proud man like Ashton to say something so out of character, I inadvertently looked over my shoulder at him.
With a frown, I said, “You know provocation won’t work on me, Ashton!”
His gaze seemed to pierce into my soul when he urged, “Come home with me. Only then will you have an outlet for your anger and hatred.”
“Aren’t you afraid that I might wake up in the middle of the night and stab you to death?” I would never have entertained that idea in the past, but things were different now. When you were filled with so much hatred, killing wouldn’t even be enough to dispel it.
He pressed his lips together as his eyes flickered with a barrage of emotions. “I guess I’ll just have to wait and see!”
I looked up and saw that the lights upstairs were already switched on, with Marcus’ tall and slender figure by the French windows.
At this distance, I couldn’t see the look on his face, but I could make a rough guess.
When Ashton followed my line of sight, he frowned in displeasure but didn’t comment.
A long moment passed before I glanced back at him, feeling much calmer than just now. “I’ll go back with you, but you must do something for me.”
“Tell me.”
“I want everyone in K City to know who I am to you, and cut all ties with Rebecca while you’re at it. Lastly, don’t question what I do from now on!”
His brows scrunched together as he nodded resolutely. “Alright!”
After a short pause, he continued, “I’ll come to pick you up tomorrow.”
“Mm.”
…
Upon reaching the corridor, I saw Marcus waiting by the door with his arms crossed over his chest.
He looked at me calmly and asked, “All settled?”
I nodded and bent down to change my shoes. “I can’t very well hide behind you forever. Besides, I said I was going to face it myself.”
“Hah!” He scoffed. “You’re just worried that people will spread rumors about the two of us and end up implicating the Fullers and Stovalls, right?”
I twisted my lips together at his choice of words. “Marcus, I’m still Ashton’s wife. Indeed, your mother’s worries are well-founded.”
He was a good man, but I couldn’t be so selfish. Besides, I already had my plate full with Ashton alone. I couldn’t juggle between him and Marcus.
Seeing the downcast look on his face, I leveled my gaze with his and said, “Thank you for these past few months, but I can’t keep playing dumb, Marcus. I’m sorry.”
