I looked away and avoided his gaze, but he took me by surprise with an amorous kiss.
It took me a short while to pull myself together. “Summer is still in Glenwood Apartments! I need to return to her!”
Staring at me, he said, “I have gotten in touch with Jackson. He told me he would look after Summer. Since you’re back, don’t you think you’re supposed to live with me?”
My brows furrowed. “But we’re already divorced!”
“I have never signed the agreement.” He uttered in a hoarse voice.
He then lifted me up and brought me into the villa against my will. It was only then that I noticed we had made our way back to the villa at Peakville Estate.
Apart from the exterior of the villa, nothing much had changed over the past four years.
I felt uncomfortable being carried by him. Hence, I insisted, “I can walk on my own!”
“It’s fine. Just close your eyes and take a break.”
I found his words absurd because it was only a short distance that would take me a few minutes at most.
The moment we entered the living room, I was caught off guard by the presence of Sally and Nancy.
It had been four years since I last saw Sally. In spite of her pale and haggard face, it didn’t impact the noble presence she was blessed with since birth.
The fact that we showed up in such an intimate manner startled the duo who was drinking tea in the living room. They jumped up from the couch.
Sally’s displeasure was written all over her scrunched-up face. Staring at Ashton, she asked petulantly, “Why have you brought her back? You—”
Similarly, Ashton replied with a frown, “Aunt Sally, I believe that’s none of your business.” His tone was flat and emotionless, indicating to her that she should stop poking her nose into his business.
Sally was on the verge of losing her cool. “Ashton, since you guys are divorced, why can’t you move on? It has been four years—”
“Aunt Sally, it’s getting late. I believe it’s time for you to leave!” He made himself clear that he wanted his aunt to get out of his sight at once.
Ashton lowered his gaze and looked at me before uttering in a gentle tone, “If you’re sleepy, go ahead and take a nap.”
I couldn’t help but sigh when I realized I had indirectly offended Sally once again.
He brought me upstairs and asserted, “I have everything you need in the bedroom. Nothing much has changed.”
I caught a glimpse of Nancy’s dejected look. She seemed to be having a hard time pulling herself together.
As a fellow woman, I knew the emotions associated with that look—I was certain she was head over heels in love with Ashton.
Nonetheless, I couldn’t be certain of the sort of relationship she had with Ashton over the past four years.
“Mr. Fuller!” Nancy called out, her voice echoed in the spacious living room.
“What do you need, Ms. Goldstein?” Ashton turned around and queried with a frown. It was evident he was irked by her presence.
Aggrieved, Nancy replied with her lips pursed, “I have something regarding the deal with HiTech to sort out with you.”
Ashton knew the proper way to carry himself as a gentleman. Upon a simple glance, he replied in a callous tone, “Ms. Goldstein, it’s nine o’clock in the evening. Fuller Corporation only operates from nine in the morning till six in the evening. Since we’re three hours beyond work hours, don’t you think it’s rude to talk about work now? I’m afraid others are going to misperceive our relationship since you brought up such an odd request in the middle of the night.”
Halfway through his orated speech, he cast a stern gaze at her and asked, “You’re twenty-six-year-old, aren’t you, Ms. Goldstein? I’m sure you know the appropriate time to bring work up, don’t you? It doesn’t feel great to have a stranger in the house. I’m not sure how you manage to gain access to my house, but I don’t wish to see you here without my consent in the future. After all, I don’t enjoy having others interrupting my quality time with my wife.”
In spite of his carefully curated speech that had perfectly disguised his wrath, no ordinary woman could stand being stung by such harsh double innuendos.
It must be tough for her since the gentleman who happened to be her crush uttered such cruel remarks against her without a second thought.
Sally was infuriated when she heard her nephew’s words. She reprimanded, “Ashton, that’s too much!”
Meanwhile, all the colors had long since drained from Nancy’s face. Nonetheless, she did her best to keep her emotions to herself after the awkward confrontation.
Sally consoled the helpless woman, “Nancy, you don’t have to take Ashton seriously. He doesn’t mean it. I’ll get you a cab to send you back.”
Nancy shook her head and denoted, “It’s fine, Ms. Fuller.”
Afraid of having eye contact with Ashton, she lowered her gaze while making her way out of the villa.
Sally went after Nancy to console her. Perhaps Ashton was infuriated because of the things Nancy had told Sally.
Although I couldn’t be sure of the sort of relationship Nancy had with Sally over the past four years, judging by the fact she tried to defend Nancy, I knew things were not the same anymore.
Once Ashton brought me into the bedroom, he kissed me on my forehead and assured me earnestly, “You should call it a day.”
He returned downstairs after he tucked me in.
I was sure Sally only nagged him because she cared about him as his senior. After all, after everything that happened, it was natural for Sally to reject the idea of us patching things up.
