Gritting my teeth, I washed and dried my hands leisurely, intending to ignore Rebecca.
Rebecca barricaded the door by standing before it in her high heels, incensed. “What, are you playing the victim now? Do you know how much the three of them have gone through together just to have gotten to where they were? You ruined everything when you appeared. Scarlett, don’t you realize what a jinx you are?”
“What’s that got to do with you?” I shot back, trying to suppress my rage. “It’s entirely up to the three of them if they disagree. Why are you in the picture? Or are you worried that you won’t be able to reap benefits from them as easily as you did before?”
“That’s total nonsense!” Rebecca shrieked. “You don’t even know the depth of their feelings for each other. You’re utterly cold-blooded, Scarlett. You have no idea at all.”
“Yes, I have no idea!” I replied. Countless people had come and gone in my life, but I’d never once thought of asking anyone to stay. I was indeed unfamiliar with the feelings that Rebecca referred to.
I made another attempt to leave. Rebecca, however, was determined to stop me. Impatiently, I remarked, “Rebecca, the only reason why you’re blaming me right now isn’t that you care about their friendship. You’re just upset that I appeared on the scene. You think it’s because of me that they’re colder to you than before, but it’s entirely your own doing! You’ve shamelessly used them over and over again. You could have depended on Ashton’s goodwill to tide you through, but you were just too greedy. His money wasn’t enough for you; you had to have his love as well. You even dared to use Parker’s last words to satisfy your own selfish desires! It’s no wonder that they’re disgusted and sick of you. You’ve already revealed your worst side to them.”
Rebecca’s face was white as a sheet. I took the opportunity to push her aside and walked out of the bathroom.
When she had recovered herself, she hastily lunged towards me. However, she lost her balance, tottering on her high heels.
Rebecca fell straight onto the bathroom tiles, landing on her behind. It was a most unflattering posture for her.
“Scarlett…” She howled after me in fury.
I shrugged helplessly. “That was all you. It had nothing to do with me.”
It would have been in keeping with Rebecca’s usual style if she acted pitifully or started crying. However, seeing as there was no one around to witness her suffering, it was rather pointless for her to carry on with her usual show.
I was thus surprised when she actually burst into tears. It quickly evolved into full-blown sobbing.
Between tremendous sobs, Rebecca heaved, “Scarlett, how could you say such wicked things? Parker was everything to me. When he asked Ashton to take care of me, Ash was the only emotional support I had. You snatched him away from me, and now…”
I didn’t fully comprehend the situation until I caught sight of Jared striding towards us.
Looks like a leopard truly never changes its spots!
Jared never even glanced in Rebecca’s direction as he entered the bathroom. I felt that my presence there was no longer necessary and walked back to our table.
The sound of Rebecca’s sobs followed me down the corridor.
I hardly noticed Jared when he caught up with me, assuming it was just another patron in the restaurant.
Instead of going on ahead, however, he walked alongside me.
Instinctively, I turned to look at him. His face was expressionless, and he looked almost like his usual self.
After a while, Jared suddenly said, “You took care of Summer ever since she was young. I never once considered taking her away from you, but she’s still a Crest, after all. No matter what kind of life she ultimately chooses, she still has to know that her father is still alive.”
Dumbfounded, I stopped short in my tracks and looked at Jared speechlessly.
After a pause, I managed, “Before Macy left, she insisted that she’d never let Summer acknowledge you nor allow her to be known as a Crest. Jared, you have to understand that some things, once lost, can never be regained.”
Jared looked at me icily. “What do you plan to do, then? Will she follow you for the rest of her life? You might have given her everything, but do you really know what she truly wants?”
“She’s been with me since she was born. Why shouldn’t she continue to stay with me? You might be her biological father, but have you ever cared for her? Have you ever seen her stumble over her first words? Trip over her own feet when she was learning to walk? Were you ever there to comfort her in the middle of the night when she was bawling for her mother? Never. What right do you have to call yourself her father? Based on the sole contribution of your sperm?” I snapped back.
I was incredibly touchy about any matters pertaining to Summer.
Suppressing his rage, Jared growled, “I wasn’t even aware that Macy was pregnant back then. If I knew, I definitely wouldn’t have left her just like that to carry the child to term alone, much less leave her in your hands! All this was out of my control.”
I snorted. “How could you not have known? If not for you, then how would Kristina have gotten the news? She provoked Macy when Macy was at her lowest, causing her to give birth prematurely and die from a hemorrhage. Jared, do you think that flimsy claim of yours sufficiently excuses you for all you’ve done?”
Jared looked rather dejected. Narrowing his eyes, he asked skeptically, “Did you say that Kristina caused Macy’s death?”
