I was caught off guard by her question, because not once have I ever thought about it. After everything here was settled, my belly would probably get bigger, so it wouldn’t be convenient to look for a job in that state.
“I might take a short break or something.” After the baby was born, I would probably have my hands full, so it would be best to wait until the baby was older to think about this.
“That’s a good idea.” She stayed silent for a while, probably contemplating something. “You’ve suffered so much all these years because of Ashton, so it’s time for you to take a good rest. It’s a good thing I’ve saved enough money for the two of us to spend over the years!”
I burst out laughing. “Don’t worry. I won’t be completely helpless even after Ashton and I divorce. I still have my savings.” The villa was left by Grandpa. Even if Ashton gave it to me after we divorced, I probably wouldn’t sell it away. As for the company shares, I still hadn’t decided what to do with them.
After a few good laughs, we ended the call. I wrapped my arms around myself and leaned against the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing at the scenery outside.
Indeed, it was time to think about what I wanted to do with my future.
For some inexplicable reason, the air seemed to turn slightly chilly. Rubbing my arms a little, I turned around to look for a coat and was startled to see Ashton standing behind me in a rigid posture.
I was so alarmed my hands instantly turned clammy, “Didn’t… Didn’t you go to the company?” I had no idea how long he had been standing here and how much of my conversation with Macy he had heard.
He obsidian eyes seemed to bore into my soul as he asked in a brooding tone, “Going somewhere?”
His question stunned me, and I guessed that he must have heard some of our conversation. “What do you mean?” I feigned cluelessness with a guilty conscience.
Seeing him stalk toward me, I started to panic and racked my brain for a way to divert his attention. I abruptly clutched my abdomen and furrowed my brows. “Ow! My tummy! It hurts so much!”
With that, I squatted down to finish the act.
He faltered in his steps, then quickly came to my side and hauled me up with a frown. “Let’s go to the hospital!”
Crap.
Does this count as digging my own grave?
“No…”
I rejected him a little too quickly. He narrowed his eyes at me, his gaze on me intensifying. “You seem to be really against going to the hospital, Scarlett.”
“No…” A hint of sadness flashed across my face, and I answered him with red-rimmed eyes, “It just reminds me of how helpless and afraid I was while lying on the operating table!”
He visibly stiffened at that. After a long while, he roughly pulled me out of the bedroom.
Thinking that he was going to take me to the hospital, I tugged on his sleeve and protested with teary eyes. “I really don’t wanna go to the hospital, Ashton!”
Besides, I didn’t actually have any stomach pain.
“Go down and eat something.” He glanced at me with cold eyes, but there seemed to be a trace of helplessness in them too.
For a while, an indescribable feeling grew in me. Last night, he rescued me, and today, he compromised. Somehow, he wasn’t as impassive toward me anymore.
Humans were greedy creatures. Once we had a taste of something, we would crave for more, and in the end grow possessive.
After seating me at the dining table, he went into the kitchen and came out with a bowl of something in his hand.
I thought it was just canned mushroom soup, so surprise was an understatement when I saw that it was home-cooked ginger carrot soup. For a moment, I stared at him as conflicting emotions raged through me. He only cast me an indifferent glance before informing in a low voice, “Jared will come over to check up on you later. Don’t go to the company for now. Even though the project with Dr. Ludwick has been completed, you still need to bear the losses due to the delay you caused. But for today, just rest at home!”
As soon as he finished speaking, he put on his jacket, grabbed his car keys and left.
I was frozen in place for a while. When did he start treating me differently? After knowing that I was pregnant?
For a long time, all I could do was stare at the ginger carrot soup.
When Jared came over, I was still a little bit out of sorts.
He frowned as he looked me over. “You don’t have to eat this if you don’t like it. You can still eat whatever you like. The fetus isn’t that fragile, you know?”
His voice jolted me out of my stupor and I looked up to see him standing by the dining table, staring at me with his medical kit in hand.
I quickly got to my feet. “Oh, you’re here!”
He blinked in surprise, but didn’t comment. Opening his kit, he took out some medicine and handed them to me. “Take this 3 times a day for 21 days. Abstain from alcohol from now on, as it might cause fetal growth retardation or malformation. Also, you might need to start going for pregnancy checkups at the hospital.”
I nodded and took the medicine from him. “Thank you!”
He was initially going to leave after this, but he hesitated and looked toward me. “In your current state, I don’t think you’ll be able to leave just yet. Why don’t you be upfront with Ashton? Since he intends to keep the child, I’m sure he’ll handle everything else too!”
I knew what he was getting at. The “everything else” he said was referring to Rebecca.
I didn’t know much about things on her end, neither have I ever asked Ashton about it, but I couldn’t help from blurting out, “Ashton must really love Ms. Larson!”
Jared walked toward the sofa and took a seat, sending me a fleeting glance before replying, “This has nothing to do with love. If you really want to be with Ashton, tell him the truth. He has his own way of handling things.”
