Chapter 86
Rebecca’s interruption came just as Zachary was about to say something more about my parents, cutting him off with her usual air of arrogance. Holding a flute of champagne, she strutted over, heels clicking on the floor, and informed Cameron and Zachary that Mr. Smith was waiting for them on the second floor. The suddenness of her message left them a little thrown, but they quickly excused themselves, telling me to speak with Rebecca if I needed anything.
As soon as they left, Rebecca turned her full attention to me. Her arrogance practically radiated from her as she suggested we have a chat. The villa was buzzing with guests, some familiar and others not, and I wasn’t in the mood to deal with her.
I let out a long, controlled sigh and replied, “I’d appreciate it if Ms. Larson would keep her distance from me. We have nothing to discuss.”
Her eyes narrowed with a hint of disdain. “You do realize this is my mother’s place, right? Where would you want me to go?”
I couldn’t help but smirk. “Ah, yes. I forgot. You’re no longer Rebecca Larson, but Rebecca Moore now.” I paused for effect, then added, “Since this is your place, then I shall be the one to keep my distance from you. Sounds better, doesn’t it?”
I made a move to leave, but she swiftly blocked my path, her expression hardening. “Scarlett, what will it take for you to leave Ashton? He is an outstanding man, destined for greatness. Only those at the pinnacle of success can stand by him. Scarlett, you should know you’re not worthy.”
The words stung, but I refused to let her see how much they affected me. I arched a brow, unable to resist a rebuttal. “So you’re worthy then? For the last two years, I’ve been worthy of him. Why would I suddenly be unworthy? Is it because you’re no longer the helpless orphan but the daughter of the richest woman now?”
Her face twisted with frustration as she fired back, “Scarlett, he doesn’t even love you. Why are you clinging to him? Is it really worth it?”
I raised an eyebrow at her, my voice calm but firm. “Yes,” I replied, a small chuckle escaping me. “No matter how far he goes, no matter who he loves, as long as I am his wife, he will come back to me. He will return to his family, and to his child who will call him father.”
Her face soured further, her patience clearly wearing thin. “Is this really the kind of marriage you want? I’ll give you anything you want if you just leave Ashton. How’s that sound?”
At that moment, I realized how desperate she truly was. I could have interpreted her words as love, but the truth was much darker. This wasn’t love—it was the deep, gnawing regret of losing something she couldn’t have, and now she was obsessed.
Unable to hold back my amusement, I sneered at her. “Rebecca, I’m curious. Are you truly in love with Ashton, or are you just bitter that you lost him? Your so-called ‘mutual feeling’ is nothing more than one-sided, unrequited love.”
The words hit their mark, and I could see her struggle to maintain her composure. “Who are you to question our relationship? You’re just the third wheel in all of this.”
I couldn’t resist taunting her further. “Have you ever seen a third wheel who’s also the legally recognized wife?” I took a breath before continuing, “By the way, do you know why Ashton’s been avoiding your touch?”
I leaned in closer, lowering my voice, “It’s because I told him I hate it when he touches anyone else. I even gave him an ultimatum—if he dares to touch anyone else, he’s better off staying away from me.”
Her reaction was swift and furious. “Bulls**t!”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her disbelief. “Bulls**t? Why do you think he’d rather have me satisfy him in other ways than touch you lately?”
She was too stunned to respond, and it felt oddly satisfying to finally have the upper hand. But just as I thought I’d broken through her armor, she smiled a sickly, scheming grin. “If that’s the case, why don’t we test it out and see if he cares for me or not?”
Before I could react, she grabbed me with surprising strength. Startled, I tried to shake off her grip, but in her wild attempt to pull me down with her, she toppled over the tower of wine glasses behind us. The sound of shattering glass filled the air as chaos erupted. Guests screamed and scattered, some rushing to avoid the disaster while others stood frozen in shock.
“Rebecca!” Cameron’s frantic voice cut through the noise as she rushed toward her daughter, panic written all over her face.
Before I could even process what had happened, someone brushed past me and swooped in, lifting Rebecca out of the wreckage of shattered glass. Several family doctors hurried in, quickly attending to her injuries as they placed her on a nearby sofa.
Amid the commotion, I saw Rebecca’s eyes flutter open, searching for Ashton. When she spotted him, she called out to him in a soft, pitiful voice, “Ashton…”
“I’m here,” Ashton replied, his face softening with concern as he gently held her.
As she whimpered in pain, holding onto the corner of his suit, he scooped her up, his face a mixture of worry and focus. “Since it hurts, just rest. Don’t speak,” he murmured.
Ashton’s dark eyes briefly locked with mine, full of anger and something else—something I couldn’t quite place—but then he turned and carried Rebecca away.
The whole scene left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. Rebecca’s scheming and Ashton’s cold dismissal—it all felt like a cruel game that I was too tired to play.