Chapter 60
Nick was unfortunate to cross paths with me that day, as I was still seething over the earlier misunderstanding.
Suppressing my frustration, I quickened my pace toward the apartment, hoping to leave the day’s events behind. However, Nick trailed behind persistently. Before I could react, he grabbed my hand, his expression dark with frustration.
“Are you still treating me like a kid?” he demanded, his voice edged with irritation.
D*mn it! I can’t seem to shake him off!
“Yes! You’re really annoying. I— Ahh!” Before I could finish, he suddenly wrapped his arms around my thighs and hoisted me over his shoulder.
“Oh really? This ‘kid’ will show you what he’s capable of!” he growled, his frustration mounting. Without warning, he raised his hand and smacked my buttocks twice.
I was stunned speechless.
Due to my pregnancy and the pressure of his broad shoulder against my belly, dizziness quickly overtook me.
“Nick, put me down!” I yelled, my voice strained. “This is dangerous—I’m pregnant.”
He froze instantly and carefully set me back on my feet. His gaze was filled with a mix of curiosity and shock. “Since when?”
Still feeling light-headed, I sighed and rubbed my temple. “I’m two months along, so keep your antics to yourself and stay away from me!”
His expression darkened. “Is Ashton the father?”
Suppressing my irritation, I met his gaze squarely. “Of course! I’m his wife. Who else could it be? Now, leave me alone!”
Nick’s face stiffened at my words, his posture deflating. However, I was too exhausted to care. Without another word, I turned on my heel and entered the apartment.
As expected, Macy was sleeping soundly in the bedroom, undoubtedly exhausted from her recent ordeal. Her place was a mess, likely from neglect over the past few days. I busied myself tidying up, then prepared some fruit and lounged on the couch, scrolling through my phone while waiting for her to wake up.
Unexpectedly, fatigue overcame me, and I dozed off. By the time I woke up, Macy had already left, leaving a note on the coffee table: “Went out to buy some stuff.”
It was close to midnight. Since my apartment was just next door, I decided to head home.
By the time I stepped into my apartment, it was already past eleven. My phone buzzed with an incoming call from an unfamiliar number. Initially, I ignored it, but the caller was persistent, forcing me to answer.
“Hello?” I said impatiently.
“Scarlett!” The voice was unmistakably Joe’s.
Why is he calling me at this hour?
“What do you want?” I asked flatly.
“Ashton isn’t home, is he?” he taunted, his tone dripping with amusement. “Did you actually think getting pregnant would make a difference? I pity you, really. While you’re home alone, your husband is busy warming another woman’s bed. Doesn’t that upset you?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, exhaling sharply. “Mr. Quinn, are you bitter because Ashton and Rebecca left you out of their little escapade? Is that why you’re calling me to vent?”
Before he could respond, I continued, “If you’re that jealous, why not take it up with Ashton? Who knows, maybe the three of you could—”
“Scarlett, you—”
I hung up before he could finish, unwilling to waste another second on his nonsense.
It had been a dreadful day, riddled with frustrations from both work and personal matters. My apartment, though modest at a hundred square meters, usually felt comfortable—yet tonight, it felt suffocating.
Still too wound up to sleep, I turned on my laptop to review some reports. Upon checking my email, my eyes landed on a message I had almost forgotten about.
Harrison Credit was initially supposed to handle Fuller Corporation’s audits. However, I hadn’t anticipated their betrayal, forcing me to reach out to John for a copy of AC Credit’s internal reports. That document had been my safety net, a countermeasure against the impending storm caused by AC Credit. But since Quinn Corporation’s audit had now been transferred to AC Credit instead of Harrison, the report was practically useless.
I stared at the email for a long moment before deciding to ignore it. What was done was done.
Just as I leaned back, the sudden chime of the doorbell startled me.
Assuming it was Macy returning from her errand, I stood to open the door. The abrupt motion left me dizzy from having sat for too long. Still slightly light-headed, I bent down to grab a pair of indoor slippers for her.
“You were out for quite a while. What did you buy?” I asked absentmindedly, still not looking up.