We were supposed to discuss what happened the night before!
“What would you like to talk about?” I probed carefully.
“Why didn’t you pick up my call last night? Who was the man you met in the alley?” he asked calmly.
“I’ve told you, my phone was off, and the man was an old friend!” It made not much of a difference whether he knew about Danny or not. I’ve decided that he would be better off not knowing.
Ashton narrowed his eyes in displeasure. “Scarlett, I’ve told you before. I don’t like it when you lie to me.”
I gazed at him and chuckled coldly. “Lie to you? Who’s lying to whom now? Ashton, let me ask you this. Where were you that night when I was at at the morgue? Who were you with?”
He pursed his lips, clearly unhappy. “Why are you bringing this up now?”
“Why not? You’re bringing up things from yesterday! I can do it just like you.” I did not know why I was this upset. Maybe the thought of him being with Rebecca as I lay there dying made me feel awful. I had thought that he had brought back those hairy crabs for me from his business engagement. It made me feel like a fool that he was out there giggling with Rebecca while I waited for him at home.
He exhaled with dissatisfaction. “Scarlett, do we have to interact with this much hostility every time?”
“We don’t have to interact at all!” I was much happier if none of us spoke, to be honest. The silence wasn’t a big deal anyway.
I rolled over and faced my back towards him. I had so much unhappiness that I wasn’t able to express and it hurt to hold it in. To make things worse, I couldn’t drift off to sleep.
I became angrier when I felt his hand moving on my body. I flung off the quilt and sat up straight in bed. “Mr. Fuller, if you desire a woman’s company, feel free to contact Ms. Larson, who I’m sure would be delighted to oblige. If you’re not willing to ask her, I don’t mind doing it for you!”
I snatched up my phone to dial Rebecca’s number. Ashton glared at me with anger. “Scarlett, what are you saying?”
“I’m looking for someone who can satisfy you!” I retorted. “What is it?” came Rebecca’s voice from the other end.
“As you wish, Ms. Larson, Ash needs you very much right now. Please could you come over to our villa? If you need to be paid for your services, I will transfer you the money.” I was reckless and abandoned all restraint.
There was a moment of silence on her end as she was shocked. “Scarlett, what the hell are you doing?” she raged. “There’s a limit to throwing insults, you know!”
“Is the money insufficient?” I asked mockingly. “Aren’t the expenses that he’s paid for you over the years enough for you to spend one night with him? Haven’t you always told him that you love him? Why wouldn’t you come to him now when he needs you?”
“Scarlett, you…” I did not hear what came next, because at that moment Ashton had snatched my phone from me and hurled it across the room, where it was smashed to pieces upon impact with the floor.
We stared at each other, both of us in such a rage. Even Ashton was not as adept as concealing his emotions as he usually was, and looked murderous.
“Why did you humiliate her for?” he said coldly. “You could have directed your anger towards me and told me straight to my face if you didn’t want me to touch you. What did she do to you to deserve this?”
“Why? Does your heart break for her?” I asked sarcastically without any fear towards him. “Isn’t what you need the most right now is for someone ladylike and gentle? What’s wrong, are you resentful to me for exposing your harbored love for her over all these years? What am I to you? A replacement of her for you to lie to and do whatever that you please?”
“Replacement? Lies?” Ashton’s handsome features were contorted with hurt. “After all these years, is that what you see it as?”
“Isn’t it?” I laughed derisively, feeling my vicious surge of anger wearing him down. “Do you think that I’m unaware of why you refused to let me go all those times? It’s because I’m a Moore, and the goddaughter of Louis. It’s because of my identity that allows you to have unobstructed access and connections all over K City and even all over the world. Ashton, you don’t have to hang on to me for these benefits under the pretense of loving me. Even if we were separated, the Stovalls and the Moores won’t deny you access to your privileges. If you want Rebecca, you can have her and keep your connections. You don’t have to sneak around anymore. I don’t mind it at all.”
“You don’t mind?” Ashton gave a sarcastic laugh.
He glared at me with his bloodshot eyes which radiated the power of unspeakable anger. His hands were balled into fists in an effort to contain it within his body. In the dead quiet of the night in our bedroom, the atmosphere was chilling.
