Ashton reached out to take the wineglass from me before placing it on the coffee table out of my reach. Mirth shone in his eyes as he replied, “Why should I be upset? Can’t you see how delighted I am?”
“Delighted?” I repeated, dumbfounded.
Do all men think bullying girls is a way to show their love?
“Ashton, you should take lessons to learn how to be a good father.”
Summer was still a child, so he shouldn’t express his feelings and expectations to her as though she were an adult. His harsh actions might backfire on an adult, let alone a child.
“Seriously? I don’t have to learn how to do that,” said Ashton smugly. “Didn’t you realize Summer has chosen us?”
“Did she?” I couldn’t understand what he was talking about. “But neither of you mention Jared, right?”
“Yes, we didn’t.” Ashton looked up and sipped on his wine. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed the wine. His lips stained red, he answered slowly, “Summer decided to stay silent when faced with a choice of defending Jared or go against us. No one urged or forced her to make that decision.”
He paused to study me momentarily as the smile on his lips broadened. “That means we are more important than Jared to her. Shouldn’t I be happy that she has prioritized us?”
I wasn’t sure how to react. His words seemed to make sense, but not at the same time. More accurately, it was a bet, and Ashton had emerged as the winner.
“If that’s the case, does Jared still have to leave?” I asked.
Ashton’s expression changed at my words. There was only less than a mouthful of wine in his glass, but he still swirled his glass stubbornly. It reflected his current emotions.
“Yes, why not?” Ashton stared ahead. “But I’ll do Summer a favor by sending him to the villa in the countryside. He can’t live nearby.”
His gaze turned sincere, and I couldn’t help but get anxious.
“After Marcus’ matter is dealt with, stop interfering in other’s business. Spend more time at home with the kids. They are still young, after all,” he uttered.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t touched. However, he was too sincere to make me take his words seriously. “Are you sure I’ll be spending time with the kids instead of the kids’ father?” I teased.
Ashton chuckled softly. “I’m just benefiting from the kids.”
As the new year was approaching, everyone seemed to be in a festive mood. The streets were lit up with decorative lights.
Yet, the hospital remained white as it had always been. The smell of disinfectant lingered in the air, and there was a depressing air about the place.
After making the preparations, I went to the hospital and asked for a wheelchair. I then wheeled the wheelchair to Marcus’ ward.
From afar, I spotted Camelia at the door, observing the situation in the ward through the glass panel. I was surprised to see a smile lighting her face gently.
Sensing my arrival, she turned to look at me before her gaze returned to the skinny man in the room. “He’s in great condition today.”
“Really?” I smiled. Hopefully, we would only receive good news from now on. “Look, he’s getting better. If something happened to you back then, you won’t be able to see this.”
Camelia lowered her gaze and said nothing, but the sad air about her was already gone.
I pressed on the door handle before halting in my tracks. Turning back, I asked, “I’m planning on bringing Marcus out so he can get some sun. Want to join us?”
Camelia shook her head instinctively. “No. He won’t want me to join you both.”
Perhaps that was what Marcus wanted. She was right to put the patient’s wish as a priority.
However, I thought we shouldn’t treat him like a patient. Perhaps he’d give us a surprise like what happened yesterday. Persuading Marcus to eat didn’t work, but taking the opposite approach did the job.
