In Love, Never Say Never

In love, never say never chapter 716

I wasn’t planning to subject myself to further awkwardness that night. I stood up and prepared to clear the table. Ashton, however, was looking at me strangely. Bemused, I asked, “Do you want to head over to the living room and rest?”

Ashton didn’t speak. He wordlessly got up and brought the dishes into the kitchen.

I took a step forward to stop him. He was a guest, after all. However, Ashton’s dark gaze halted me in my tracks. I gaped at him, unable to muster a single coherent thought.

I lowered my head and turned to the sink. Before I could turn on the tap, however, Ashton had hauled me aside. “Get over there. I’ll do it,” he said roughly.

I could only look on apprehensively as his long, elegant fingers set to work cleaning up the kitchen.

I made another move to assist him but was arrested by his menacing gaze. All I could manage was to stand by, hovering over his shoulder and fretting inwardly.

After a moment’s thought, I asked tentatively, “Why did you suddenly move all the way here? Aren’t you returning to K City already?”

Ashton tilted his head and looked at me icily. “Are you saying that you don’t want me here?”

Good Heavens! This man is impossible. I thought exasperatedly.

To Ashton, however, I shook my head vigorously. “There’s so much for you to do in K City. Haven’t you more or less settled your matters here?”

“What about that?” Ashton replied curtly. He turned back to the dishes in hand, scrubbing and rinsing them off expertly.

He seemed reluctant to talk. I made up my mind not to put myself out on Ashton’s account.

I thus kept to myself as I waited in the corner, ready with a hand towel for him to dry off when he was done. Ashton took it, then turned his attention to the fridge.

Baffled, I broke my silence. “What are you looking for?”

“Eggs,” Ashton replied, pushing aside cartons and several food items.

“What do you want eggs for?” I asked incredulously.

Ashton took out a jar of brown sugar. He turned to me serenely and asked, “Don’t you feel a slight discomfort in your stomach?”

Stunned, I nodded uncomprehendingly. “A little. What does that have anything to do with eggs?”

Ashton bit his lip, considering. Then he ordered, “Go to the room and get changed. Do you have any spare…?”

He trailed off, but any fool would have understood immediately what Ashton meant. My face immediately turned crimson with embarrassment.

Aghast, I quickly turned. There was a large stain on my pants that I had, up until that moment, been blissfully unaware of.

I’d dismissed the brief twinge of pain in my stomach earlier, never expecting my period to have arrived so suddenly without warning. It had been two months since I last had it and had long since lost track of my cycle.

Observing my flushed face and my hapless state, Ashton sighed. “Go and change. I’ll buy some tampons later.”

Without further ado, I turned and dashed for the stairs.

Before I could exit the kitchen, however, Armond and Nora’s voices drifted in, getting louder as their owners approached the living room. Armond and Nora had evidently concluded their talk.

I broke out in cold sweat and looked anxiously at Ashton for help.

Unfazed, Ashton immediately took off his jacket. Raising his voice, he commented, “It’s cold. Put this on.”

Nora and Armond appeared in front of us. At the sight of Ashton draping his jacket around my shoulders, Armond winked knowingly, teasing, “Did we come back at a bad time?”

I flashed him a smile, then quickly replied, “I’m going to the bedroom to change into something warmer.”

Fortunately, Ashton’s long frame meant that his jacket hung rather loosely on me. It provided a rather opportune cover.

I got changed as quickly as I could. In my hurry to escape from Armond and Nora, however, I realized that I’d forgotten to bring my phone with me.

I could only hover, frustrated, in the bathroom.

Suddenly, someone rapped sharply on the bedroom door. When I cracked it open, Nora pushed her way in.

She stuffed the tampon that she had been discreetly hiding into my hands. Nora batted her eyelashes at me slyly, saying, “You’ve got rather good chemistry with your husband, haven’t you?”

I bit my lip, then retreated into the bathroom to change. When I emerged, Nora was sitting on the bed in deep thought. I took a seat beside her. “What were you discussing in the rear house with Armond?”

“We were talking about life. Can you believe it?” Nora scoffed. She sounded disappointed.

Seeing her upset face, I decided not to pursue the matter and merely commented, “I had plans to move in with you, but that’s turned out to be rather unfeasible. I promised Armond that I’d be here for all three meals in the day.”

Nora nodded. “Got it.”

After a moment’s pause, she turned to me and said triumphantly, “I think Ashton moved here on purpose to further his chances with you! I really appreciate his persistence and approach to courtship.”

Speechless, I made no reply.

We sat at length in companionable silence. At last, when night had decisively descended on us, Nora got ready to leave. I followed her downstairs. Ashton and Armond were engaged in a vigorous discussion that broke off when Nora and I appeared.

Armond stood courteously. “Let me send you home, Nora,” he urged.

“It’s fine. I drove,” Nora replied briskly. Traces of unhappiness were still apparent on her face.

What on earth did they talk about?

Armond, however, paid no heed to Nora’s disagreement. He tailed her out of the living room.

I prepared to follow. Ashton, however, clutched me and smoothly stepped in my way. “What are you doing?”

Startled, I retorted, “I’m going to send Nora off, of course!”

“Armond’s already doing that,” Ashton said. He towered above me, barricading my way out.

Suddenly, a thought seemed to spring to Ashton’s mind. “Does your stomach still hurt?”

I shook my head. “I feel a lot better now, all thanks to you,” I replied meekly.

I opened my mouth, about to ask Ashton to take his leave. However, he interrupted, “It’s almost autumn. Dress warmer when you go out.”

I nodded obediently. “OK.”

Ashton maintained his tight grip on my arm. I tried to subtly wriggle out of it, but he held fast. “Where’s the ointment?”

In love, never say never chapter 717

area. I mumbled in reply, “It’s much better! I’m

furrowed his brow. Without even asking, he took my bag and

looked at me throughout the entire process. His gaze was unfathomable. “Is

shifted my weight from foot to foot, then stammered, “It’s late,

me away?” Ashton demanded, his face

defiantly. “Yep. Or would you rather stay here?” I

His dark eyes bore into my

shrugged. “It’s

thus remained in the villa. I did my best to

from sending Nora

was almost ten at night, so I

rhythmically onto the ground. A frosty wind blew into the

way over to the window to shut

followed by the deafening clap of thunder, filled the room. Petrified,

into the arms

knee

exhaled sharply as I cradled it for a long while. The open window was still waiting, and

bed. I turned it on, but the dim light only succeeded in casting ghoulish shadows against the wall. The wind continued howling through the

that moment, in the middle of the

presence of rain and thunder. I was utterly vulnerable at the moment,

started to panic. My imagination was running wild and I began to tremble from terror. Valiantly, I tried multiple times to stand up with the

a loud crash, the lamp fell to the floor and shattered. Its wan light instantly went out, leaving

felt a wave of horror wash over me. Shrinking into a corner, I thought I could hear the sound of an

I let my guard down and saw its chance. Physically and emotionally debilitated, I

dazed, at the window, the faint light streaming into the room took on the appearance of blood seeping steadily

bit

from

away! All of you, go away!”

fear, I’d curled up into a ball, my head stuck resolutely between my knees. I was

It pierced through the tumult of the nightmare. My heart clung wildly to that voice. At

The light in the room had been switched on and the curtains neatly

Don’t be afraid,” Ashton said

deep breath. Squinting slightly, I peered at

arms, sobbing. “It was my baby! He’s here! He… he hates

doesn’t. He knows that you love him. How can he bear to hurt you, knowing that you loved him so much?

gently patted me on the back, soothing me. My tears flowed freely as I lay in his arms, my heart heavy. “I’m sorry! I really did my

and said tenderly, “He knows,

ground for a while as I recovered my wits.

Ashton picked me up and carried me back to my bed. He then tucked

the pool of blood I’d seen spreading across the floor had been accumulated rainwater that had poured in from the window that I hadn’t managed to

on the floor, Ashton looked at me worriedly. “Are

me. “How did you get in?” I asked curiously, ignoring

admitted, “The two balconies are connected. If you want, you

look. “Ashton, you trespassed on private property!”

then fixed on

there was a giant bruise on

love, never say never chapter

the blanket aside, a rapid motion that lifted up my skirt along with it. Horrified, I snatched it back and

smouldering look. Without another word, he got up and strode out of

him. Did he just walk out on me? I

He once again took up his seat beside my bed and deftly began to apply ointment to

room, made a familiar but irresistible picture. I realized with a start that I’d known him for close

his head. Deep in thought, I hadn’t time to

plunged deep into his obsidian eyes. My face burned and I could feel my

very grateful to you for what happened tonight. I’m willing

dry laugh. He narrowed his eyes at me, then remarked, “Scarlett, I never realized how cunning you are with your

breathlessly, my heart pounding. “I

to look at Ashton and lay back down on

remained sitting as still as a statue. After a while, when he hadn’t moved,

look at him. To my shock, Ashton was staring straight at me. “Is it because of the baby? Or is

slowly, “Isn’t it obvious? You didn’t experience first-hand any of the events that I went through. They’re all a list of incidents in your mind. We lost a baby, and I still bear grudge against my parents. You don’t know how it feels! You think that these things can be overcome easily. You think I should move on and continue being with you as if nothing happened. That’s selfish,

list of incidents to me. If you want freedom or a new start, I’m willing to give everything up. Until then, Scarlett, you need someone by your side to take care of you. When you’ve found that

by his matter-of-fact tone. I hadn’t foreseen that Ashton, who was usually so domineering,

I replied hotly. As those words left my lips, however, there

…

stormy night, the next morning arrived bathed in a soft, sunny radiance. The

longer in the bedroom. He’d evidently snuck away sometime in the night, probably after I

to wash up, then went to downstairs to prepare breakfast. There was no sign of Armond

I knocked on the door of his room, then opened it. The bed was still

from the ruckus I’d raised in my bedroom, the rest of

he been with Nora?

between Nora and Armond seems to have made rather rapid progress! I was delighted for them but was rather anguished over

I exited, I noticed a black Maybach parked right

the passenger’s seat, then looked at Joseph. “Morning, Mr. Campbell.

me in bewilderment. Then he quickly

be seen. Handing the breakfast over to Joseph, I said, “You haven’t had breakfast yet, have you?

about to reply when Ashton slid into the backseat. Tersely, he commanded, “Let’s go to

Joseph said, transferring the breakfast in hand to Ashton. “Mr. Fuller, you haven’t eaten breakfast yet, have you? Mrs. Fuller made this for you. Eat

towards Joseph. My words sounded strange in his mouth when spoken

and noticed me sitting in the passenger seat. He acknowledged me with a

exchange between Ashton and Joseph, however, it didn’t sound as if the car would be heading in the direction of Lavelian village. I announced hastily, “You won’t be passing by Lavelian Village, will you? I’ll

say

to alight when Ashton cleared his throat rather

to Lavelian Village. We’re only planning to make a short detour to Gold Scale Estate. Why don’t you come along with us? There aren’t many cars headed in that direction, and with the one-hour-long drive, it’ll be inconvenient for

at him

nodded, then said earnestly, “I wouldn’t lie to you, Mrs. Fuller. The Lavelian project just started, so we definitely plan on heading over there to take a look. Isn’t

situation, but he seemed thoroughly focused on tucking in the breakfast delicately. I guessed that Ashton hadn’t heard a word we’d

I decided not to put myself out unnecessarily. I slumped back into the seat

politely,

we arrived within ten minutes. We were greeted by the sight of Rachel in a white linen dress, her permed hair rippling

the door of the passenger seat. After a couple of tugs, however, the door remained stuck fast. I looked over at Joseph with concern. “Mr. Campbell, I

into action, suddenly getting out of the car. Before I could react, Ashton had replaced Joseph

meanwhile, had settled into the passenger’s

haughtily, “Is Ms. Stovall here too? Didn’t Mr. Murphy arrange a car

driver, and the roads leading to Lavelian

He looked visibly distressed at being chauffeured by his

had breakfast yet? I made pancakes this morning. Why don’t you let

already eaten,” Ashton replied