Infuriated, Ashton warned, “Enough.”
But Rebecca prattled on, unafraid of his warning. “My mother wouldn’t have had any chance to attack Scarlett if you had gone to celebrate her birthday. When all is said and done, you only let her go out alone when it’s near her delivery because you don’t love her enough. And that’s why my mother had the chance to attack her. My mother might have been the culprit behind the baby’s death, but you’re her accomplice.”
Rebecca was getting agitated, and she peered at Ashton. “Ash, if you’re staying with Scarlett just because you feel guilty, that’ll just end up hurting her. You know you shouldn’t force relationships. If you’re going to stay together despite the lack of love, both of you are just going to end up hurt.”
Ashton had his back against me, so I couldn’t see his face, but I sneered. “He can and he will. It doesn’t really matter if he and I will be happy together. The most important part here is that you’re not happy, Ms. Larson. That’s all I care about because that makes me happy.”
Hearing my voice, he turned and narrowed his eyes. “You’re done washing up?”
I nodded at him before smirking at Rebecca. “I know people can be rambunctious in the morning. Do you need to release the stress? Should I give you two some space?”
Ashton frowned and his face fell. “Scarlett!” I could hear the warning in his voice.
I shrugged, not angered in the slightest. “Have fun, you two. I’m going now.”
But before I could go far, Ashton grabbed my hand. “Calm down, okay?”
I pursed my lips in displeasure and was about to retort when he told Rebecca coldly, “Do I need to send you off personally, Ms. Larson?” He was obviously upset.
Rebecca looked pale, and she was tearing up. She opened her mouth to say something, but she shut up after seeing how angry Ashton was. All she did was glare at me and left, holding down her anger.
With that, only Ashton and I were left in the big room. I could see the resignation in his eyes as he looked at me. “How long have you been listening?”
I shrugged. “No idea.”
He smiled. “Alright, what are you angry about?”
I replied calmly, “It’s a regret that my birthday is also my child’s death anniversary.”
Perhaps caught by surprise or heartbreak, he hugged me tightly, almost melding me with his chest. “She won’t get away with this.”
She? She who? Rebecca? Or Cameron? I didn’t ask. All I did was let him keep hugging me. “I’m hungry, Ashton. Can you let me go now?” I blurted, feeling stuffy from the hug.
He froze for a moment before letting me go and taking me downstairs. I thought Rebecca had gone home, but she was still there.
She was talking to Sally in the dining room, and when Sally saw us coming down, she came up to us, smiling. “I thought you have a meeting today, Ashton. Why did you sleep in? Mrs. Eriksen made your favorite pumpkin soup for you. Have it while it’s hot. Rebecca and I will go with you to Fuller Corporation later.”
As she spoke, Sally had squeezed herself in between Ashton and me, separating us. I slowed down and followed behind them. A moment later, Sally pushed him down on the seat beside Rebecca and told Mrs. Eriksen, “Mrs. Eriksen, get Mr. Ashton a bowl of pumpkin soup right away.”
She grinned at Rebecca. “Rebecca, you’d love to know this. There was one time when Ashton came back from school, and he saw Mrs. Eriksen making pumpkin soup in the kitchen. Guess what he did? He finished the whole thing himself. Mrs. Eriksen thought she overcooked it when she came back.”
Rebecca nudged closer to Ashton and smiled. “Is that true, Ash?”
Goddamn. I sat down and put my chin on my hand. Bored, I asked, “When did you leave your home, Sally?”
Sally didn’t answer, but Ashton did. “Fifteen.”
I arched my eyebrow. “But your grandpa said he sent you to M Country after your parents’ death when you were five. And you only came back to J City when you’re twenty. Hmm, does that mean you managed to down a whole cauldron of soup when you were only five years old? Whoa, either that cauldron is too small, or you have a big appetite.”
Ashton squinted at me. “I hate pumpkin soup the most.”
What Ashton was implying was that Sally was simply talking nonsense. I shrugged before glancing at Sally, who was going white with the awkwardness. Then I took the food Mrs. Eriksen gave me and handed it to Ashton. “Finish your breakfast fast. We have some business to settle.”
Annoyed and unwilling to see me gloat, Sally looked at Ashton. “Ashton, Rebecca and I will be going to the Fuller Corporation later. Give us a ride, okay?”
