I nodded and hummed a response, then searched for a pair of shoes from the shoe rack.
Molly peered at me with hesitation stark in her eyes. “Madam, it’s late now and it’s still snowing outside. Why don’t you wait for Mr. Ashton to finish his shower and go with him?”
“It’s fine.”
I walked out of the living room and noticed two bodyguards standing guard at the door. My face fell and I snapped, “Step aside.”
Both of them remained silent.
Molly had already gone upstairs to call Ashton.
My brows drew together with rage, but I was aware that I was no match for the two burly men.
They blocked my path, remaining immovable like two stone statues.
Shortly after, Ashton came down in a bathrobe with water still dripping from his hair.
Seeing me all dressed up, he frowned. “Where are you going?”
“Out.”
“To do what?”
Irritation clawed at me. “To see a doctor.”
He pursed his lips in response. “I’ll get Jared to come over in a bit. Go upstairs and rest now.”
“That’s not necessary!” I emphasized, “I’m going to the hospital.” Marcus’ body had been taken away. Without any family, the only one who could hold a funeral for him was Sally, but of course she wouldn’t be willing to do it.
So, I had to do this for him.
Ashton’s expression turned overcast and his mouth grew taut. “You’re going to see a doctor at the hospital at a time like this? Are you using that as an excuse to settle Marcus’ funeral?”
I glanced at him and sneered. “What does it matter to you?”
He seemed to be trying hard to maintain his cool as he rebuked, “What do you think? Scarlett, I know you’re in a difficult place, but you should know when to stop. Aunt Sally will handle Marcus’ funeral. There are others in the White family who can handle it too. Why should you go? Will you stop only after rumors about both you and Marcus spread through the entire K City?”
There was no way for me to refute him, so I could only shoot him a withering stare. In the end, I stormed back into the villa.
He trailed after me and softened his tone. “I’ll send someone to deal with Marcus’ funeral. You…”
I stopped abruptly in my tracks and whipped back to look at him, noticing the winding staircase behind him from the corner of my eyes.
With anger still coursing through my veins, I raised my hands and shoved him. Since the railing was completely within his reach, he could’ve held it to steady himself, but unexpectedly, he allowed himself to fall and roll down the stairs.
Even tumbling down the stairs, he miraculously managed to maintain his usual charming and suave appearance.
I cast a glance at him, then spun on my heels and returned to the bedroom.
He came in just after I changed into my pajamas and climbed into bed. His eyes were dim and there was blood on his forehead and the corner of his mouth. His legs and hands were also injured from the fall.
I gave him a fleeting glance before closing my eyes, planning to give him the cold shoulder and go to sleep.
Ashton didn’t seem to be angry, but his eyes darkened a few shades as he stalked toward me. Lowering himself beside the bed, he ordered in a solemn tone, “Get up and apply the medicine for me.”
Without saying a word, I opened my eyes to give him an indifferent look before closing my eyes again.
He lifted the blanket and pinned me down with his sturdy body, nuzzling my forehead with the tip of his nose as he asked in a low whisper, “Doesn’t your heart ache for your injured husband?”
I pursed my lips, refusing to speak. Does my heart ache?
Yes!
But I knew that with his reflexes, falling down the stairs wouldn’t pose that big of a problem. At most, he would only suffer some minor wounds.
When I remained tight-lipped, a mirthless smile formed on his lips. “You think this is nothing compared to Marcus’ death and that it doesn’t deserve your care, right?”
My heart squeezed in my chest, but I remained stubborn. “Get off me.”
He didn’t listen. Instead, he grabbed my hands and interlocked our fingers above my head before kissing me aggressively.
He bit into my bottom lip, causing me to frown from the pain, but I endured it without saying a word.
As though he wanted me to beg him, he started to attack my lips mercilessly.
“When you threw yourself in front of the car, you acted based on your true feelings, right?” His lips grazed mine as he panted slightly.
Our fingers were interlocked so tightly that I felt a little bit uncomfortable. “Is it guilt or love that you feel for Marcus? And what about me? Hmm?”
He narrowed his eyes at me a fraction, but his gaze was warm and expectant as he waited for my answer.
I pursed my lips, having no intention to answer him. I could no longer differentiate between love and guilt. Many a time, the lines between them seemed to be blurred.
Silence stretched between us and as the seconds ticked by, the temperature around us seemed to drop along with his increasingly indecipherable expression.
After a long time, he broke eye contact. The simmering anger swirling in his eyes subsided slightly as he said in a deep and magnetic voice, “How long has it been since we had sex, Scarlett?”
My brows instantly knitted together and I snapped, “I don’t want to!”
My mind was still plagued with images of Marcus lying in a pool of his own blood. A pang of pain hit me and I shoved him away. “I said, I don’t want to, Ashton. I don’t want to! Can’t you hear me?”
He frowned, his handsome features turning grim. Before I knew it, he pulled off the bathrobe covering his body and blocked my protests by smashing his mouth against mine.
When he moved to tug off my clothes, I instinctively scrambled away.
Bang! Due to my carelessness, I slammed into the bedside table, feeling a dull pain spread through me.
