Chapter 59
Pin-drop silence filled the room instantly.
A sharp, burning sensation spread across my cheek, but I refused to let the pain consume me. Instead, I narrowed my eyes at the woman before me. Her face was twisted with rage, as though she had been holding back this fury for far too long.
Rebecca grabbed my arm and yelled, “Scarlett, you lied to me!”
Lied? About what? The baby?
Before I could piece together an answer, she lifted her hand to strike again. This time, I caught her wrist midair, my grip tightening as I met her gaze coldly. “Ms. Larson, do you have any self-respect? Or does being a mistress erase any sense of dignity? You’re truly shameless.”
Footsteps echoed in the hallway, drawing closer.
Abruptly, Rebecca yanked her hand away. The force of her own movement threw her off balance, sending her crashing into the desk. A sickening thud followed as her forehead hit the edge.
By the time Ashton and Joe rushed in, Rebecca was sprawled on the ground in disarray, blood trickling down her forehead.
Meanwhile, I stood there, unscathed and unmoved.
Damn it. What a waste of talent that she never pursued acting.
“Rebecca! Are you okay?” Joe rushed to help her up, then turned to me with a glare. “Scarlett, you’ve gone too far!”
Had I?
I couldn’t care less about his accusation. Instead, I shifted my gaze to Ashton, searching his face for any sign of belief in me. “I didn’t push her. Do you believe me?”
His expression remained unreadable, but his eyes flickered to the blood on Rebecca’s forehead. Then, his voice came, cold and unwavering. “Scarlett, know your boundaries.”
That single sentence shattered whatever was left of my trust in him.
I let out a bitter chuckle, my heart aching at my own foolishness. “How naive of me.”
For days, I had allowed myself to believe in the illusion he created, convinced that perhaps he was changing. How utterly ridiculous.
Swallowing my disappointment, I stepped closer to Rebecca, my lips curling into a sneer. “Ms. Larson, you really need to improve your acting skills. Tell me, have you ever seen a pregnant woman push someone across the room with such force?”
Without waiting for a reply, I swung my hand across her face. A crisp slap rang through the office, sharp and unforgiving.
Rebecca gasped, clutching her cheek in stunned silence.
I tilted my head, offering her a small smile. “Consider that payback. A little reminder to uphold some morals, even as a mistress. Try not to make a fool of yourself.”
The room was suffocating with tension. I no longer wanted to be there.
Casting one last glance at them, I turned on my heels and strode toward the door. As I passed Ashton, he reached for my wrist. Instinctively, I yanked my hand away, looking at him with nothing but disdain. “Mr. Fuller, you should focus on comforting your beloved.”
With that, I walked away without looking back.
I had intended to head straight to Glenwood Apartments, but I suddenly remembered that Macy was resting. So instead, I detoured to the supermarket to pick up groceries. After all, she had been away for days, and most of the food had expired.
As I strolled down the street, a familiar sight caught my eye. Nick was being hounded by a young woman, her expression a mix of frustration and persistence.
I had no interest in getting involved, especially not in my current mood.
But then Nick spotted me. His eyes lit up with desperation as he hurried over, grabbing my hand. “Help me!”
Before I could react, he turned to the woman. “Sarah, this is the lady I told you about. I’ve admired her for nearly ten years. I’m really not interested in you, so please stop pestering me.”
Sarah’s face fell. “Nick, just because you like her doesn’t mean she feels the same way. Besides, she should be married by now. What do you even see in her?”
I froze.
Did she just say I should be married by now? Do I look that old?
I had no intention of meddling, but Nick held onto me tightly. With a solemn expression, he addressed Sarah again. “Remember when you saw a picture of a girl in my wallet back in junior year? Look closely. She’s the one. I’ve liked her for ten years.”
Sarah scrutinized me, her big brown eyes searching for something, before tears welled up. Within moments, she was sobbing.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache forming. “Nick, what are you doing?”
He sighed. “I just want her to give up. She’s been pestering me for years.”
Pestering? This is beyond ridiculous.
Rolling my eyes, I pulled my hand free and turned to leave. Behind me, Sarah’s crying grew louder, but Nick ignored her and caught up to me instead.
“Scarlett, I really do like you. I’m rich and powerful. Ashton doesn’t care about you, so why don’t you leave him and consider me?”
I stopped abruptly, fixing him with a cold glare.
He faltered but quickly regained his composure, flashing a charming smile. “Come on, just consider it.”
My patience wore thin. “I’m not interested in you. Stay away from me.”
With that, I walked away, not sparing him another glance.