Chapter 61
I placed a pair of furry slippers at the entrance. When there was no response, I shifted my gaze to the door.
That was when I saw him—standing there with an unfathomable gaze, his tall frame casting a shadow over me.
My brows furrowed. Why is Ashton here? Shouldn’t he be with Rebecca right now?
I instinctively reached for the door, intending to close it, but Ashton’s hand shot out, stopping me with ease. His expression darkened as he asked, “Who are you waiting for?”
He pushed against the door, making it impossible for me to shut him out. Realizing it was futile, I let out a small sigh and replied indifferently, “Who else would I be waiting for in the middle of the night? Naturally, someone who can keep me company.”
His eyes flashed with a sharp glint as he stepped inside, closing the distance between us. “Company?” he scoffed. “Is that what you call it?”
I turned away, unwilling to engage in another one of his mind games, but he caught my chin between his fingers, forcing me to meet his intense gaze.
“Why didn’t you go home?” he demanded, his voice husky. “Why are you hiding here?”
I felt a wave of frustration rise within me. “Ashton, let go of me!” I snapped, pushing against his chest. “You were with Rebecca just earlier. Why are you here now? Shouldn’t you be with her instead?”
His grip tightened around me as he whispered, “And you think I could just walk away from you?”
I was stunned into silence.
Once, I might have played along, letting myself be drawn into his push-and-pull, but something had shifted within me. His touch, once electrifying, now left me cold.
He seemed to notice. His brows knitted together as he studied me, his usual arrogance replaced by something else—something more uncertain. Without warning, he lifted me off my feet and carried me toward the shoe cabinet, setting me down atop it.
I immediately pushed at his hands when he reached for the buttons of my blouse. “Don’t bother,” I said flatly. “I don’t feel anything anymore.”
A flicker of something passed through his eyes—anger, disbelief, maybe even hurt. “Nothing at all?” he asked, his voice quieter now.
I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out.
A tense silence settled between us. Then, abruptly, Ashton grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the bathroom. Before I could react, icy cold water cascaded down over me, soaking my clothes instantly.
“Ashton!” I shrieked, shivering as the water clung to my skin. “What are you doing?”
He stood there, his own clothes partially drenched, his breathing heavy. His expression was unreadable, but his silence spoke volumes.
“If you need someone to satisfy your desires, go to Rebecca!” I spat, my voice laced with frustration. “Why torture me instead? I’m pregnant!”
At my words, his anger seemed to evaporate. He stood frozen for a moment before he reached out and turned off the tap. The silence that followed was deafening, punctuated only by the distant rumble of thunder from the brewing storm outside.
Without another word, Ashton straightened his clothes and turned away. “Get some rest,” he muttered before walking out, leaving me standing there, dripping and exhausted.
I slumped onto the floor, my limbs too weak to support me any longer.
A few moments later, Macy burst into the bathroom. Her eyes widened at the sight of my drenched state. “Scarlett! What happened to you?” she exclaimed, rushing over. “You have to think about the baby!”
She wrapped a towel around me and led me to my bed, concern etched onto her face as she dried my hair. I sat in silence, staring at the flickering shadows on the ceiling, lost in thought.
After a while, I spoke. “Do you think a man can fall in love with a woman because of their baby?”
Macy hesitated, considering her answer. “It’s possible. People change when a child is involved. Many women fall in love because of that, too.”
I nodded absentmindedly, her words echoing in my mind. “And what if the baby was gone?”
Macy stiffened. “Scarlett, don’t say things like that! You’re two months along now. The baby is growing well. Don’t even think about such things.”
I buried my face in my hands, feeling a whirlwind of emotions threaten to consume me.
Macy sighed and tucked me into bed. “Get some rest. You need it.”
Ashton never returned that night. The thunderstorm raged on, the heavy rain pounding against the windows. Macy stayed by my side, but sleep refused to come.
It wasn’t fear that kept me awake—it was anger. Frustration. A deep, unshakable sense of loneliness.
I stayed up until the middle of the night, my thoughts running in endless circles. Eventually, exhaustion claimed me, but just as I drifted off, my phone buzzed incessantly on the nightstand.
Morning had arrived.