Chapter 78
Ashton paused, his body stiffening at my touch. For a long moment, he didn’t say anything, his silence hanging heavily in the air between us. I could feel my heart beating louder than ever in my chest, the tension thick and almost unbearable. I had hoped that my words would break through, that maybe he’d understand how much I needed him to talk to me, to see me.
Finally, he turned slowly, his expression unreadable. He didn’t yank his arm away, but the distance between us felt greater than it had ever been before. His gaze softened slightly, but there was still that familiar wall of coldness, as though he was holding himself back from something.
“I’m not ignoring you,” he said quietly, but the weight of his words made it clear that there was more beneath the surface. “I’m just… trying to figure things out.”
I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat threatening to choke me. This wasn’t how I had imagined it. The hurt in his eyes, the distance in his voice—it was like he wasn’t the same man I had once known so well.
“I don’t understand, Ashton,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “I thought we were past this. Why can’t we talk like we used to?”
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his damp hair. “You really think it’s that simple?” His voice was low, edged with frustration. “Scarlett, I don’t know what to believe anymore. Every time I try to trust you, there’s something new, another damn rumor, another betrayal, and it’s wearing me down.”
I felt the sting of his words, but they weren’t entirely unjustified. The scandal, the misunderstanding with Nick—he had every reason to feel betrayed. But I hadn’t done anything wrong.
“I didn’t do anything with Nick,” I said, my voice firm despite the tightness in my chest. “You have to believe me. You know me better than anyone.”
For a moment, his eyes flickered with something—doubt, maybe, or fear—but just as quickly, he masked it with his usual coolness. “Do I? Do I really know you?” His voice dropped to a barely audible murmur. “Maybe I thought I did, but… after everything that’s happened, I’m not sure anymore.”
The words hit me like a slap. I stepped back, my heart sinking. “Ashton, what do you mean by that?” My voice trembled, but I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Are you telling me that you no longer trust me? That you think I’ve been lying to you?”
He hesitated, then nodded, but only slightly. “I don’t know what to think. You’re pregnant with my child, and yet I can’t shake the feeling that everything around us is falling apart.”
I felt the air rush from my lungs. “We can fix this,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “We can talk. Ashton, please… I love you. I always have. But I can’t do this alone.”
His expression faltered for a brief moment, but just as quickly, he turned away. “Maybe it’s better if we don’t try anymore. Maybe… it’s better if we let go.”
The words hung in the air like a death sentence.
I could feel my entire body trembling, my hands clammy as I reached for him again. “No. Ashton, please don’t do this. Don’t give up on us.”
But he didn’t turn around.
And in that moment, I realized that I might be losing him—not just to the scandal, not just to misunderstandings, but to something much deeper.
I couldn’t lose him.
Not like this.
With one last, desperate attempt, I stepped forward, my hand trembling as I placed it gently on his back. “Please, don’t leave me like this. I need you. We need to figure this out, together. We can’t just give up.”
His shoulders tensed under my touch, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, there was a long, painful silence. And then, finally, he spoke.
“I’m not leaving you, Scarlett,” he said softly. “But I need time. We both need time to think.”
Time. The one thing neither of us seemed to have enough of.
I nodded, the lump in my throat growing even larger. “Alright. But… please don’t shut me out completely.”
Ashton stayed silent for a long moment before finally turning to face me. His expression was unreadable, but there was a softness in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.
“I’ll try,” he said, almost as if it was a promise.
And with that, he walked away, leaving me standing in the room, hoping that we could still find our way back to each other.