Ashton pursed his lips into a hard line, and brushed the strand of hair that was blocking my vision to the back, and said, “The flight is really early, we have to speed up.”
After I was done with my teeth, he had already done my hair. I cocked my head to one side and peered into the mirror. He had actually done a decent job. Raising a brow, I said to him, “How many times have you attempted to style this for it to turn out this perfect?”
He raised a brow as well and drew out a tissue to wipe the foam off the corners of my mouth. “This is my first time, and I’m still fumbling, but practice makes perfect. However, seeing that you, my client, are quite satisfied. Maybe I’m just a gifted stylist.”
I chuckled dryly and headed out of the bathroom. While I was applying my skincare, he had already done packing. All luggage had been loaded into the boot of the car as well. Ashton noticed that I was putting on makeup and asked curiously, “Why are you in the mood to put on makeup all of a sudden?”
I actually just did my brows and put on lipstick. The man crossed his arms before his chest and glanced at me, he was expecting an explanation. “I just want to look decent standing next to Mr. Fuller.”
His lips curled into a smile as he held my hands. “You’re already a natural beauty, and you don’t need makeup to be pretty. Besides, it’s not good for you to put on makeup now that you’re pregnant. You should swap these out.”
I eyed the makeup on my dressing table. They were all actually high-end cosmetics infused with plant extracts. “That’s not necessary. Pregnant women can use these too. Mister, you’re forbidden from swapping out my stuff, period.”
He would always swap out my clothes and skincare when I was not paying attention, and not because they were not fit for wear, nor was it because I ran out of them. Ashton just had the notion that if I did not finish using the skincare within three months, it simply meant that I did not enjoy using them, which was not at all the case. His little gesture left me confused, and lack of a set of skincare that I truly enjoyed using. I really enjoyed the set I was just using and had to remind him not to swap it out, lest the man acted on his own accord again. I really had no idea how a big boss like him had the time and effort to pay attention to trivial matters like these.
He nodded when I reminded him, and said, “Okay, I’m not going to change that one. Let’s go, we have a plane to catch!”
After getting on the car, I leaned against the seat, and felt lethargic all over. My eyes were half-closed when I said, “Call me when we reach the airport, I want to rest for a bit.”
I was actually not tired. It was the morning sickness. Maybe I had it too easy the last time I was pregnant. This time, the symptoms were much stronger.
Ashton had wanted to say something but bit his tongue the moment he noticed the weary look on my face. He cradled my hands in his, and said, “Take a good rest. You’ll feel better.”
I did not feel like talking and merely nodded. It did not take us long to reach the airport.
However, almost half a day went by before we could board the plane. I started to retch as soon as the plane took off, and Ashton asked for some motion sickness medication from the air stewardess. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take them because I was pregnant. There was nothing he could do except looking at me with a concerned look.
It seemed like forever before we finally reached A City. I was utterly spent from the flight. Ashton brought me to the villa and started to work after making sure that I had settled down.
After a long nap, I felt much better. I headed downstairs and noticed that Ashton was taking a nap in the living room. I took a duvet and draped it over him. Right then, my phone pinged with a text from Armond.
I caressed my belly. It’s been two months, but my belly is not showing yet.
“You’re at A City already? It looks like you do really care about your daughter! Such a pity that my mother’s soup is going to waste.”
Before he mentioned it, I’d almost forgotten about how Armond’s mother had misunderstood about the baby in my belly. She did mention that she wanted to brew some tonic for me.
I did not reply his text. My phone pinged with another text from Hailey. “Are you still at K City?”
I replied to Hailey’s text, asking her to tell Nora to head back to A City if she had nothing else to do at K City. After all, it would be even more difficult for her to cut off all ties with Armond if she hung out for much longer with the man. There’s nothing time couldn’t fix.
Hailey was surprised at the message that I asked her to pass on and asked, “I’m going back to A City at night. How’s your daughter doing? Are you going to the A City because of her?”
Bemused, I frowned. I had never mentioned to anyone that I was coming to A City, let alone disclosing that I was here because of Summer. How did she know about that?
It felt awkward to ask her point blank. I replied with a smiley emoji and said, “Okay, let’s meet up when you’re back in A City then.”
Unknowingly, Ashton had woken up while I was engrossed in texting with Hailey. After I sent out the text to Hailey, I could feel someone eyeballing me by my side. I turned around slightly, and there he was, gawking at me. Stumped, I managed an awkward smile. “Did I wake you?”
He shook his head slightly. “No. Who are you talking to? Are you still feeling better?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
He set himself straight and circled me in his embrace. He put his head on my shoulders and asked, “What would you like to eat? Let’s eat out.”
I did not actually have much appetite and leaned against his chest, shaking my head. “I don’t have anything specific in mind. What about you?”
