Chapter 41
“So what if you’re married to her? You don’t love her. Didn’t you say you love me, Ash? My body has recovered now. Let’s have another child, okay?”
“Rebecca…”
What followed were the unmistakable sounds of a man and woman lost in passion. I squeezed my eyes shut, my hands clenching into fists as I struggled to block out the noises.
The harder I tried to ignore them, the clearer they became, searing into my mind like a cruel brand. Rebecca’s moans grew louder, each one a dagger plunging deeper into my heart. My stomach twisted violently, nausea rising within me until I dry-heaved, my body wracked with tremors.
I had always known there was something between Ashton and Rebecca. It was an unspoken truth, lingering in the shadows of my marriage. But hearing them—being forced to endure their betrayal in such a raw and humiliating way—was more than I could bear.
It went on endlessly. By the time it finally ended, I had emptied my stomach completely, my body drained of all strength. I sat limply on the bed, my heart shattered into a million pieces, impossible to put back together.
The door creaked open, followed by a voice thick with amusement. “Ms. Stovall, how was the show? Entertaining enough?”
The plump man entered, his smugness evident even without me seeing his face. Disgust coiled in my chest.
I turned my head in his direction, my voice laced with icy contempt. “Is Rebecca behind this?”
There was no one else who could stoop to such vile methods.
He chuckled. “Does it matter? I’d say you’re in quite the special mood after such a fine performance, Ms. Stovall.”
“What do you want?” They wouldn’t have gone to such lengths just to spite me. There had to be something more.
“Smart woman.” His voice lifted with interest. “I heard you’re overseeing Fuller Corporation’s audit this year. I wonder if you’d be open to making a deal?”
A bitter laugh escaped me. “You expect me to cooperate after dragging me here like this?”
He hummed in thought before lowering his voice. “The baby in your belly, Ms. Stovall.”
My breath hitched. Cold sweat coated my back.
How did he know?
Satisfied with my stunned silence, he continued smoothly, “I take it you don’t want Mr. Fuller to find out. You must have your own reasons for keeping it a secret. If that’s the case, why not work with me?”
“What exactly do you want?” My grip on my emotions tightened.
“An open tender for Fuller Corporation’s audit.”
I frowned. “That’s it?”
“That’s all.” His tone was almost casual. “As long as you agree, I promise you and your child will remain safe. No harm will come to you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “And why should I trust you?”
“Because you don’t have a choice, Ms. Stovall.” His words grated against my nerves, each syllable filled with arrogance.
Trapped, I had no option but to get out of this situation first and deal with the consequences later. I forced myself to nod. “Fine.”
He grinned. “Then it’s a deal.”
He gestured to the thin man beside him, who immediately moved to blindfold me again.
“Is this necessary?” I demanded, irritation flickering through my exhaustion.
The plump man chuckled. “Don’t worry, Ms. Stovall. We’ll send you back the same way we brought you here.”
Soon, I was shoved into a car. My senses sharpened in the darkness, but fatigue overtook me, and I drifted into unconsciousness.
When I woke, I was back in the underground parking lot, sitting inside my own car. Everything was eerily unchanged, as though the past few hours had been nothing more than a nightmare.
Shakily, I reached for my phone. Midnight.
In just two hours, I had been kidnapped, humiliated, blackmailed, and forced into an impossible decision. A shudder ran through me. I couldn’t stay here.
I started the car and drove home, my hands gripping the wheel tightly as my emotions threatened to spiral out of control.
Back at the villa, I stepped inside and saw Ashton sitting in the living room, flipping through documents. The sight of him—so calm, so unaffected—sent a fresh wave of nausea crashing over me. The echoes of Rebecca’s moans taunted me.
I retched. Before I could even remove my shoes, I bolted for the bathroom and dry-heaved over the sink.
“What did you eat?” His deep, indifferent voice reached me.
My body trembled violently. Then, I felt his hand on my back, his touch as familiar as it was repulsive in that moment. Those sounds replayed in my head, suffocating me.
I flinched away, shoving him back with all the strength I had left. His expression darkened, but I didn’t care. Without a word, I turned and fled upstairs.
Once inside the bedroom, I locked the door. The stench of betrayal clung to the sheets, the walls—everything.
I yanked open the windows, letting the cold night air sweep in, desperate to cleanse the room. Then, I stripped the bed bare, tossing the sheets aside like they were tainted.
Knock. Knock.
“Open the door, Scarlett.” Ashton’s voice carried a dangerous edge.
I ignored him. My mind was drowning in filth, in memories I couldn’t erase. My stomach churned violently, a constant reminder of the child growing inside me—a cruel contrast to the pain tearing me apart.
Desperate to rid myself of his scent, I scrubbed every inch of the room, but it wasn’t enough. My skin crawled with revulsion.
Stripping off my clothes, I stepped into the shower and turned the water to full blast.
I wanted to wash away every part of me he had ever touched.
I wanted to erase him.