Chapter 35
For a fleeting moment, I let myself believe that we could stay like this forever—that our little family of three could live happily ever after.
The car rolled to a stop in front of a quaint restaurant. I stepped out and headed inside to find us a table. It was quiet at this hour, with only a handful of diners scattered around. As soon as I sat down, the waiter handed me a menu. Since Ashton had already eaten and my stomach was still unsettled, I ordered a few light bites and a bowl of pumpkin soup.
To my surprise, as Ashton finished parking, he entered the restaurant with Rebecca and Joe flanking him.
A coincidence? Or had they planned this?
Seeing me already seated, the three of them made their way over. Rebecca’s expression flickered ever so slightly, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she slid into the seat beside me before Ashton could. With a syrupy-sweet voice, she asked, “You don’t mind me sitting here, do you, Scarlett?”
Could I say I did?
Of course not. So, I said nothing.
“What did you order?” Ashton asked, taking the menu from the waiter.
“Just some light snacks and soup,” I replied.
He nodded and added a few more items to the order. Before he could ask Joe, the man pursed his lips and muttered, “Don’t bother ordering for me, Ashton. I’ve lost my appetite.”
Ashton simply nodded and handed the menu back to the waiter. The three of them soon fell into an easy conversation, leaving me feeling like an outsider.
Before long, the waiter returned with a steaming bowl of pumpkin soup. Without hesitation, Ashton pushed it toward Rebecca, his deep voice gentle. “I ordered this for you. Drink some—it’ll warm you up.”
Rebecca’s face lit up. “Pumpkin soup is my absolute favorite! You really do know me best, Ashton!”
The ease between them was like a knife slicing through my heart.
He remembered her preferences so well, down to the smallest detail. His devotion to her ran deep—something I could never earn, no matter how much time passed.
Rebecca turned to me with an innocent smile. “Scarlett, what soup did you order? Maybe we can share? The pumpkin soup here is really good. Ash used to bring me here all the time.”
Without waiting for my response, she slid the bowl toward me.
I forced a polite smile and pushed it back. “I ordered my own. It’ll be here soon.”
She merely shrugged and returned to chatting with the men, while I continued to sit in silence, feeling like an unwanted guest at my own table.
Soon, my own food arrived. Seeing that I, too, had ordered pumpkin soup, Rebecca’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Oh, you like pumpkin soup too, Scarlett? Let me tell you a little secret—Ashton makes the best soup!”
As she spoke, she leaned in so close that I could feel her breath on my neck. Uncomfortable, I instinctively shifted away.
Then—
“Ahh!” A yelp pierced the air as my half-eaten bowl of soup suddenly tipped over, the hot liquid spilling onto my lap.
A sharp pain seared through my skin. My first reaction was to leap to my feet, knocking into Rebecca in the process. She let out a soft whimper of pain.
Ignoring her, I frantically grabbed a napkin, dabbing at my dress. The fabric was thin, and my skin was already turning red from the scalding heat.
When I finally looked up, my breath hitched.
Ashton was crouched in front of Rebecca, carefully tending to her nose, which was bleeding slightly from our collision.
Joe handed him a tissue, shooting me a look of disdain. “Are you always this clumsy, Ms. Stovall?”
His words hit harder than they should have.
Rebecca’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her lower lip trembling ever so slightly. The image of helplessness.
I clenched my fists, forcing out an apology. “I’m sorry, Ms. Larson.”
But deep down, I knew—I hadn’t touched my bowl of soup. The only one close enough to have done something was Rebecca. Would she really be so petty as to spill a bowl of soup on me?
“It’s fine, Scarlett. Just be more careful next time.” Rebecca gave me a gentle smile before turning to Ashton, her voice soft. “Ash, I’ve lost my appetite. Can you take a walk with me?”
Ashton frowned, glancing at the untouched food on the table. “Eat something first.”
Amidst it all, no one noticed that I had been scalded, that I was in pain, or that the soup had even been spilled on me in the first place.
A hollow feeling spread through my chest.
I didn’t belong here.
Suddenly, I couldn’t take it anymore. Pushing back my chair, I stood. “I’m leaving.”
Without another glance, I turned on my heel and walked away. A sharp, icy pain twisted in my heart, spreading through my veins. I barely felt my legs as I moved.
God was so unfair. Some women were blessed with happiness, while others were destined for suffering.
“Scarlett!” A low, furious voice cut through the night. I turned slightly to see Ashton striding after me, his expression unreadable.
He studied me with furrowed brows, his voice laced with restraint. “What are you doing?”
Accusation. There was accusation in his tone.
Was he blaming me for what had happened?
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I forced my voice to remain steady. “I don’t have an appetite, so I’m going home.”
I didn’t dare say more.
If I did, I might break completely.