Chapter 20
With a frown, Jared stared into my eyes, his deep-set obsidian ones scrutinizing me, trying to determine if I was telling the truth.
I remained calm, letting him assess me in silence.
After a long pause, he finally spoke. “Sure.”
“Thank you, Dr. Crest.” It was always easy to deal with intelligent people. A mere glance was enough for them to understand the situation.
As the waiter served our food, Jared studied me once more. “Has Ms. Stovall always downplayed her brilliance like this?”
I chuckled at his remark. “Oh, you flatter me. It’s just a small trick to protect myself. Besides, Ashton and I were never meant to be. This is simply the wrong time to have a baby.”
He took a few bites, seemingly satisfied with my response. “When do you plan to leave?”
I was caught off guard by his question, meeting his gaze. My plan was to deal with the pregnancy and finalize my divorce from Ashton. Leaving J City was an eventuality, but I had yet to decide on my destination.
He had even correctly guessed the final step of my plan.
I hesitated, then put down my utensils. “Maybe in two months. I haven’t decided where yet.”
“Consider Q City. I think you’d fit in perfectly there.” He set his utensils down and wiped the corners of his mouth, signaling he was done eating.
Q City was indeed a viable option. Slower-paced than J City, it would offer me the solace I needed. I nodded. “Yes, maybe I should.”
I intended to pay for our meal, but he was quicker. As we stepped out of the restaurant, I said, “I owe you one. Next time, it’s on me!”
“Then I hope our next meal is in Q City.”
I smiled but remained silent.
As the night deepened, I prepared to head home. Just as he reached his car, he asked, “So, the surgery is scheduled?”
“Yes, tomorrow,” I replied simply.
Why linger on a decision already made?
“Does Ashton know?”
“No, and I don’t intend for him to find out.”
He frowned but said nothing.
I started my car and noticed Jared standing beside his own, lost in thought. Choosing not to dwell on it, I drove straight home.
The drive took ten minutes. Once I parked, I hesitated before reaching for the divorce papers Stacey had given me. A wave of bitterness surged through me. I had once believed that I would only sign these papers if Ashton put a knife to my throat. Never did I imagine I would one day willingly sign them myself.
Ashton had always been generous with the terms of a potential divorce. The villa, yearly dividends from Fuller Corporation—perhaps he had always believed that these material gains were the only reasons I had been with him. Maybe he thought these incentives would make it impossible for me to refuse.
After staring at the papers for a long time, I finally signed my name.
Inside the villa, the living room was shrouded in darkness. I switched into slippers and reached out to turn on the lights, only to freeze in place.
Ashton was sitting in the dark, his deep eyes fixed on me, unreadable.
I met his gaze calmly. “Why didn’t you turn on the lights? Have you eaten?”
He ignored my questions. “Where have you been?” His voice was cold, laced with displeasure.
“I was at the office.” I turned towards the kitchen. “I’ll make you something.”
I assumed he hadn’t eaten much after what had happened at the hospital with Rebecca. Not that it mattered. He was about to be out of my life anyway. Whether he starved or not had nothing to do with me.
Still, I wanted us to part on good terms. For someone I had cared for so deeply, I hoped to leave behind at least a few warm memories.
As I cooked, a chill crept over me. I turned to find him standing close, his intense gaze boring into me.
“Wh-what’s the matter?” I stammered.
His expression was unreadable, but it was different from the usual contempt. It felt complicated. It unsettled me.
He didn’t reply, so I focused on the meal. “We don’t have much at home, just eggs. You’ll have to make do with ramen.”
Turning to head upstairs, I heard him say, “So do we make do with our marriage, too?”
My heart clenched painfully. Normally, I would have let it slide, but today was different. My eyes reddened. “So what? Haven’t we been doing that for two years now?”
Taking a deep breath, I reached into my bag, pulled out the divorce papers, and placed them before him. “I’ve signed them. Look them over and sign as well. Let’s set a time to finalize it at the Civil Affairs Bureau.”
A strange sense of relief washed over me after saying those words.
I met his sharp gaze and continued, “Don’t worry about the baby. I’ll handle everything in a way that will satisfy both you and Rebecca.”
One must take responsibility for their actions.
His expression flickered, but I turned away, ready to go upstairs. Just as I took a step, his grip tightened around my wrist. “Care to explain that?” His fury was evident.
I refused to look at him, suppressing my emotions. “I’ll take care of it so it doesn’t affect Rebecca.”
“Scarlett Stovall!” His grip tightened further, his voice trembling with rage. “So that’s your plan? Divorce me? Abort the baby? And then what—leave the city?”
“What other choice do I have?” Tears finally spilled over. “What else can I do, Ashton? Haven’t you always wanted me to agree to this? Didn’t you want me as far away as possible? What am I doing wrong? Isn’t this what you wanted all along?”
His gaze darkened, turning icy.
“You think you’re so smart, don’t you?” He sneered, tilting my chin up with his fingers. I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened. We were so close I could feel his breath on my skin. “That is my child. You don’t have the right to decide whether it lives or dies.”
I laughed bitterly. “I don’t have the right? But does Rebecca?”
His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Scarlett, you’re playing with fire.”