Chapter 100
The tension in the room was thick as I placed the phone back on the bed. Rebecca’s manipulative tactics were wearing me thin, and I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by her constant presence, even if it was through the phone. Every call, every message—it felt like she was trying to tear away at whatever peace I could find.
As much as I wanted to avoid the confrontation, I knew it was inevitable. This wasn’t just about Ashton anymore; it was about me finding a place in this relationship where I wasn’t constantly battling for his attention, where I didn’t have to deal with the unrelenting presence of someone like Rebecca.
I lay back against the pillow, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing. Ashton and I had always been tangled up in this web of unspoken feelings and unsolved tension. His presence, his touch, felt both comforting and distant at the same time. I could never quite tell where I stood with him—did he love me, or was I just a part of his routine, a passing moment until something more exciting came along?
A soft click of the bathroom door opening interrupted my thoughts. Ashton stepped out, his face still wet from the shower, a towel slung low on his hips. His eyes caught mine immediately, though they held a quiet concern now. “You okay?” he asked, his voice gentle but insistent.
I didn’t want to talk. The emotions swirling inside me were too complicated, too much to put into words. I just nodded, trying to hide the hurt that was slowly sinking in. It wasn’t just Rebecca’s calls. It was the lingering doubt that I wasn’t enough, that maybe I never had been.
He seemed to read the silence between us, and for a moment, he didn’t press me further. Instead, he climbed into bed next to me, pulling the blankets up around both of us. His presence, close and warm, was comforting in a way, but it wasn’t enough to quiet the storm inside me.
After a few minutes, he whispered, “I’m sorry. I know it’s not easy dealing with all of this.”
I sighed deeply, pressing my face into his chest. “It’s not just her, Ashton. It’s… everything. The way things are with us.”
He stiffened slightly, then gently ran his hand over my hair. “We’ll figure it out, Scarlett. I promise. It may not be perfect, but we’ll get there. You and me.”
I wanted to believe him. I really did. But the nagging voice in the back of my mind reminded me of how much had been left unsaid between us, how much we had yet to truly confront. Could we really make it work, or was this just a temporary fix, like all the times before?
Before I could respond, Ashton kissed the top of my head and pulled me closer, his hand resting gently on my belly. His warmth seeped into me, and for a moment, I let myself feel it. But deep down, I knew the real work—real change—had yet to come.
Before Rebecca was able to scream her head off, I hung up the phone.
I threw the cell phone to one side and pinched my eyebrows. When I looked up, I saw Ashton standing
at the bathroom door, his expression gloomy.
I didn’t shy away but instead, I said, “Your phone kept vibrating, so I answered it. Rebecca wants you to
go over and keep her company.”
It was already midsummer but somehow, I felt cold lying in bed. I couldn’t help but snug under the
blanket.
“Oh, what did you reply?” he asked. Sporting a casual look, his voice was devoid of emotion. It seemed
as if he was genuinely asking without any further intention.
“I told her to call you back later.” I hid under the blanket and indeed, I felt warmer like that. Shutting my
eyes, I was ready to sleep.
He let out a soft chuckle. Lying next to me, he brushed the hair that was on my forehead to one side.
I opened my eyes and stared at him.
He said with a smile, “Scarlett, I’m your husband. Another woman called in the middle of the night to
ask me to keep her company. Shouldn’t you be arguing with me?”
Stunned, I got up from the bed, looked at him, and uttered, “Then don’t stay here tonight. Go stay
somewhere else.”
He was taken aback. Then rubbed my forehead, and said helplessly, “You’re my wife. Even if we are
arguing, we should still remain in the same house.”
I knew I wasn’t able to banter with him any further. Hence, I hummed in acknowledgement and lay
down on the bed again.