There was nothing Ashton and I could say to justify ourselves, so I kept my peace.
The next day, the country’s biggest financial news station reported that the Fuller Corporation’s high-profile investment had incurred a loss of hundreds of millions due to a decisive managerial failure. The Ziegler Corporation, in defense of their own interests, had cut off all collaboration with Fuller Corporation. Stovall Corporation, on the other hand, had decided to merge with Fuller Corporation to bail the latter out.
This piece of earth-shattering news was immediately lit upon by netizens eager to devour the next piece of gossip. They immediately connected this event with Facebook’s top search.
I’ll be damned. Does this mean Mr. Fuller only reconciled with Ms. Stovall for money?
I told you all! Thora dumped that jerk because of Fuller Corporation’s investment failure. His ex-wife had mercy on him and bailed him out despite everything that he did to her! Babes, what a tragedy this is for women everywhere!
Yes, I despise Mr. Fuller now! What a beastly man he is!
All I have to say is, poor Scarlett!
Mr. Fuller, if you already have a woman that loves you so much, please cherish her!
I’ve always known that what Thora and Mr. Fuller had was a marriage of convenience! There were never any true feelings involved. I predicted this!
Back in the Stovall residence, we were sitting in the living room when the news reports flowed in, thick and fast. Ashton and I were scrolling through our phones and scanning the news. The only noise interrupting the otherwise dead silence of the room came from the television.
Ashton sat on the sofa, staring ahead of him, his face devoid of any expression. Ever since he’d returned to K City, Ashton seemed to have lost all purpose.
Even though the latest news reports had thoroughly cast Ashton’s name into disrepute, we had managed to resolve the matter with Thora. As for the Pitcoin projects, we’d managed to tie up all the stray ends during the day. Fuller Corporation had thus ceased all involvements in illegal activity that day.
Danger or trouble had always been of little concern to Ashton. Even though we had successfully concluded all of Fuller Corporation’s pressing matters, Ashton did not look overjoyed at all.
I knew then that the Hall family was another burden weighing on Ashton’s mind.
I was about to sit Ashton down for a talk when the maid suddenly dashed into the room. “Mr. Stovall, a guest is currently waiting outside. He gave his name as Bill Young,” she announced.
Something seemed to reawaken within Ashton. His dark eyes smoldered as he glanced towards the doorway where the maid had just entered from.
The rest of us exchanged looks uneasily. Louis then instructed, “Bring him in.”
The Stovall family had always been known for its openness. It wouldn’t have been appropriate for us to have turned away a world-renowned philanthropist from our home.
Bill, the man waiting outside, soon hobbled in on crutches. He was accompanied by Tiffany, who had angered Ashton the day before. The woman leaned towards Bill as she helped him in. The closeness between the two of them suggested that they were on rather intimate terms.
Ashton was evidently incensed by Tiffany’s arrival. His face darkened by a few shades, and his eyes flashed with fury.
Bill was getting on in years, but he was remarkably frank in his manner. The moment he’d settled down into his seat, he immediately declared, “I came here today to convey a message on behalf of a friend.”
Bill paused and surveyed the room. He nodded, pleased that all eyes were fixed attentively on him. Bill then continued, addressing Ashton directly, “Mr. Hall has given the matter some thought. Your entire family can return to the Hall family and be reunited as one again. As long as you’re willing, you’ll be welcomed back anytime.”
Did Christopher suddenly develop a conscience and decide to accept Ashton back into his fold? I mused.
Before anyone else could respond, however, Ashton had erupted in anger. He stood up vehemently and bellowed, “Keep your hypocritical pity to yourself! I don’t need it!”
I had rarely seen Ashton lose control of his emotions. His abrupt, violent rage threw the room in disarray. We gawked at him, all equally aghast.
The tension in the room was so thick that one could cut it with a knife. Ashton took a deep breath, rearranging his features into their previous stoic expression before roughly shoving his way past Bill and storming upstairs.
“Ash-” Appalled, Tiffany turned on her heels to go after him, as if fearful of being discarded by the man a second time. “Ashton!” she called out, a desperate plea.
Ashton ignored her. He refused to dignify her with even a backward glance in her direction and hastened his footsteps.
I lunged forward to restrain Tiffany. “Ms. Hall!”
My outburst got her to halt in her tracks but refused to turn back. Seeing her reluctance, I continued kindly, “Ashton doesn’t want to meet anyone who has anything to do with Christopher. Please respect that.”
