There was no beating around the bush. He wanted to have a proper discussion.
When Ashton brought me home last time, he’d made sure that Nicolas was aware of his intentions. Nothing much had happened to either side recently except for that incident with the researcher that Nicolas had hired.
The faked calm atmosphere from before instantly turned tense.
We were the guests, so naturally, Nicolas was in a much more awkward position as the host of this little get-together.
But he maintained his kind façade, chuckling, “Their arrival was so sudden, and you have children at your house, so we were worried that they might not feel comfortable there. I’ve already invited them to sleep at our place during their stay here.”
“There’s no need for that,” Ashton cut in. “The presidential suite at The Jade is permanently reserved for me. That should be more than enough to accommodate them.”
The corner of Nicolas’ mouth quirked up slightly in contempt as his eyebrows furrowed together. It was obvious to anyone that he didn’t think highly of Ashton.
After a brief pause, he spoke up. “Young people these days. Your children have already grown up, and yet you still haven’t learned to respect your elders? The trip here from M Country was more than ten hours long; do you want to see them go through even more trouble? Besides, your parents-in-law live so far apart from us that we’ll need to make sure to keep in contact with each other from now on. It’s decided that they’re staying here. I’ll take good care of your wife’s family, so don’t worry too much.”
“And what if I won’t let them stay here?” Ashton asked, his tone sharp and dangerous.
“That’s up to you,” Nicolas shrugged. “If you’re able to take them out of here, then I can’t say much. Although, I will remind you: these fellows here are quite old and frail. If anything happens when you leave with them, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Are you implying that you’ll make them stay here by force?” I had grown sick of his mask of kindness.
Chanaea was no place for him to be dogmatic.
Nicolas gave me a sidelong glance, the disdain in his eyes from before still there. “As Ashton’s wife, you should at least call me ‘father’. Did the Stovall family nor the Moore family teach you such basic manners? Or did you forget to respect your elders after a six-year-long nap, Scarlett?”
He didn’t need to elaborate any further for me to realize that he already knew my true identity.
Ashton’s efforts to make the Hall family think that I was nothing more than another expendable replacement for Scarlett had all gone to waste.
That single word had been enough of a warning.
He was determined that he would win against Louis because he knew that I was Scarlett, and he knew that Louis, Cameron, and Zachary were the best bargaining chips he had against Ashton and me.
Although, a small part of me felt fortunate that Nicolas wasn’t targeting my three children instead.
The tension in the air was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. If anyone said one wrong word, it might trigger a full-on screaming match.
Just then, the housekeeper entered the living room and bowed. “Dinner is ready, Mr. Hall, Mrs. Hall.”
The imminent crisis was instantly averted.
Each keeping their own emotions and burdens to themselves, everyone slowly gathered around the dinner table.
Ashton and I both didn’t speak during the entire meal.
As for Cameron and Zachary, they’d already agreed beforehand that if Nathaniel wanted to take them away by force, they would not resist. Naturally, that plan had not changed, even if the person making them stay was Nicolas instead of Nathaniel.
The Hall couple seemed completely fine on the surface, starting and continuing one topic after the other just as they’d perfected before. Cameron and Zachary also participated in the conversation, effortlessly picking up wherever the other couple would leave off.
In the end, Cameron could only cling onto my arm as we stood by the roadside right before we were about to leave. She went on a long, emotional tangent, following the script accordingly.
Ashton looked back over his shoulder as he was opened the car door, coldly warning Nicolas, “I hope you’ll follow through with your promise and treat Letty’s family well. If not, I will bring down the entire Fuller Corporation with me to my grave.”
We came as three people, and we returned as three people.
Even though this was all a part of Ashton’s plan, I couldn’t help but feel anxiety prick at my heart as I watched Louis’ and everyone else’s silhouettes slowly grow smaller and smaller on the horizon.
