As I spoke, I strode over to the stairs. Shouldering Tiffany brusquely aside, I said as I ascended, “I need to discuss some urgent matters with Ashton. Please go ahead without us.”
Tiffany had been raised in a life of luxury and pampering. She was thus unused to the subtle emotions that undergirded every social interaction. She was unable to recognize the extent of our loathing for her from my simple, placid expression.
It was undeniably rude of Ashton and I to evade our guests in this manner. However, I believed our behavior was not entirely unwarranted. The guests had to be deserving of our respect as well.
The bedroom door was left open, so I entered cautiously, hearing the sound of water running in the bathroom as I walked in.
I closed the door softly behind me as I entered, then tiptoed towards the bathroom. At the door, however, I found my eyes locked with Ashton’s.
His eyes were wild and bloodshot, and his entire face was dripping with water. He looked both embarrassed and intimidating at the same time. Water was still gushing in torrents from the tap. I looked up to see that a huge crack had split the bathroom mirror. A few shards littered the floor.
I looked down and was horrified to see that Ashton’s hand had suffered a few gashes that were bleeding profusely.
Ashton’s forlorn figure tugged at my heartstrings. I whirled around and hurried to fetch the first aid kit to treat his wounds.
Neither of us spoke throughout the entire process. Ashton merely bowed his head. With his unfathomable dark eyes fixed upon me, he seemed oddly contented at last.
After a long while, when I finally lifted my head to dispose of the used cotton swabs, he said hoarsely, “Why do you care so much for a useless castoff like me?”
I froze upon hearing that, my hands arrested in the act of bandaging. I lowered them, then said slowly, “It doesn’t matter to me whether you’re a useless castoff or the epitome of perfection. You’re Ashton. You’re my husband and the father of my children. I chose you because you’re the one I love most. It doesn’t matter what other people think of you.”
I could feel his hands tremble in mine. He suddenly seized me and dragged me into the bedroom.
He proceeded to sit me down on the bed, then walked over to the closet. He pulled out a small plastic bag, then stuffed the pill bottle that had been encapsulated within into my hands.
Vitamin A Supplement Lozenges, the label read. The package looked familiar. Ashton had been taking these since Summer fell ill. He’d reassured me that nothing was wrong with him, and they’d since been relegated to the back of my mind.
“Over the years, my doctor has been trying various methods to increase my intake of Vitamin A. There aren’t many others with a similar condition, so no one, including me, really took it seriously. Recently, however, I compared my medical records to the Hall family’s and realized that this is a hereditary chronic illness. There’s a seventy percent chance that I’ll go blind after the age of forty. That’s also the reason why the Halls cast me out,” Ashton said lightly.
He sounded matter-of-fact as if he had long since accepted the fact, but I could detect a hint of self-degradation in his tone.
He seemed understanding, but I felt a bitter wave of outrage rising within me nonetheless.
If his eyes were the problem, that would explain Ashton’s unusual behavior over the video call. As long as he wasn’t doing a drug trial of any sort on my behalf, I thought there was no need to further worry myself.
However, this hereditary blindness was no fault of his. It wasn’t even a complete guarantee that he would lose his sight. Yet, the Halls had thus decided to forsake their own son because of it. It was an utterly heartless move on their part.
Realization dawned upon me with a flash. The reason for Tiffany’s arrogance was suddenly crystal-clear to me.
As Ashton’s younger sister, she must have scorned what she perceived as her brother’s inferior genes. The fact that Tiffany hadn’t inherited the illness must have convinced her that she was clearly his superior.
What an utterly debased family! I fumed to myself. It was ridiculous that one could despise others for their genetic makeup in this day and age.
Ashton tilted his head and looked at me bemusedly. “What’s wrong? Are you concerned for me?” he teased.
I remained silent. Ashton paused, then continued determinedly, “It’s only a possibility, after all. I’m still holding out for that remaining thirty percent that everything will be fine. Besides, even if I can’t see, Joe is back at the headquarters of the company, and Joseph is a capable, steadfast worker. He’s worthy of the hopes I’m pinning on him. I’ll only be losing my sight, not my mind. As long as I’m alive, I’ll keep striving. I won’t let you and the children down…”
