I opened my eyes when I heard the door closed. The room was dimly lit, with only the bedside light on, and the place felt lonely and depressing.
I recalled on the day Sharon died, the atmosphere at the White residence was the same, empty and depressing. Marcus was staying in the house. His only wish was for me to stay the night with him, so the house would not feel so forsaken.
Pregnant women were usually emotional, and the emotions they feel are amplified. I dreaded to continue with this wandering mind, as I could drown myself in emotions. So I shut my eyes tightly, forcing myself to sleep instead.
I woke to the sound of knocking on the door. It was Mrs. Eriksen.
“Mrs. Fuller, time for breakfast. Mr. Fuller is already waiting downstairs.”
Ashton has not gone to work?
“Ok, I am coming,” I responded and got out of bed to wash up.
Ashton was eating when I entered the dining hall. He had his tablet next to him and was monitoring the stock market. I walked up to the seat facing him and sat down, silent.
Ashton did not look up at all. When I was about to start eating, he put down his utensils, dabbed his mouth, and said, “I will help Marcus, on the condition that you will not meet him until you after have given birth.”
I was pleasantly shocked. “You will?” I did not expect Ashton to put aside their differences to help Marcus.
Ashton placed his napkin on the table, looked up with a cold and solemn expression, and said, “Isn’t that what you wanted?”
Deja vu. We had this kind of crabby relationship when we first got married, and whenever we spoke, we were out to hurt the other party.
I could empathize with him. If we reverse our roles, and I was asked to help Rebecca instead, I would not have kind words for him as well.
I put down my fork, softened my expression, and explained, “I wanted to help Marcus as it was within our capacity. I could not wash my hands of this matter as Marcus saved my life before. I will forever feel indebted to him if I don’t repay his kindness. I will be able to let go of that burden when he moves on and lives happily. I am sure you would like to see him out of our lives, and ceases to be a contentious figure in our relationship, right?”
Just the mention of the name Marcus would bring out the irrational side of Ashton. He looked at me with a sarcastic smile. “Do you mean if Marcus doesn’t live happily ever after, both you and I will not be able to too?”
Jealousy and suspicion can cloud our judgment, and a simple matter becomes complicated because of that irrational emotion.
I had no wish to get into an argument with him when he was obviously still fuming. I cajoled him, “That was not what I meant. We are married and will be having our own child soon. I wanted to help Marcus so I don’t live with regret and guilt for the rest of my life. Honestly, you get agitated every time you hear his name as you are wary of our relationship. You were annoyed that he, not you, was by my side during my darkest days. I…”
“That is enough!” Ashton boomed. He stood up and towered over me. “I am aware, so you don’t have to keep reminding me about it. I will resolve this. You keep out of it.”
With that, he stormed out.
I was dumbfounded. I had no idea how this issue can get so blown up.
Mrs. Eriksen saw Ashton leaving when she came out of the kitchen. “Mr. Fuller is off to work? He had not slept a wink last night.”
