Chapter 678
When There Is Nothing Left But Love
âMr. Fuller, I didnât know you were into young married ladies!â she joked.
Then she turned to look at me. âScarlett, we should get going. If Nora and the others know about you
and Mr. Fuller, Mr. Murphy is bound to find out. We wouldnât want that to happen, would we!â
I felt uncomfortable at her words, and I stared at her with a frown. âDo you always speak so
recklessly?â
âY-Youâ¦â This seemed to piss her off, though she appeared to hold back her temper to save face.
I was planning to leave anyway, and I tried to pry Ashtonâs arm from my waist. âItâs late. I should get
going!â
Instead of loosening his arms, he tightened his hold on me with a scowl on his face. âMr. Murphy?â
We were in a nightclub after all. Tessaâs words also did nothing to help my predicament. I could feel
everyoneâs stares boring into me.
I felt uneasy about the whole situation. I donât want people to think of me as some married whore who
goes around seducing other men! Thatâs just sick!
Suddenly I blurted in a fit of anger, âAshton, what the heck do you want?â
I guess my voice had been louder than Iâd expected. Even those whoâd just been glancing at us from
time to time were full-on staring at our exchange now.
Using all my strength, I tried to get up despite his unyielding hold. At most, Iâll just fall while trying.
He seemed to anticipate my movement and stood up with me.
He looked at the others and announced, âThank you for hosting me today. Itâs late, and I should get
going.â
Derek appeared anxious since they hadnât reached an agreement on the issues they had meant to
discuss. He rushed forward to stop Ashton from leaving. With a brown-nosing smile on his face, he
said, âMr. Fuller, youâve only been here for a while. You havenât even enjoyed any of the drinks yet!
Why donât you stay and have a bit of fun before you leave?â
Ashton had an annoying habit. Even if he knew from the start that he didnât want to work with someone,
he would bring the person on a merry goose chase before telling them his decision.
At that moment, he looked at Derek with a warm smile on his face. âWe can always get drinks again
some other day. Itâs rather late today and seeing as weâre not young men anymore, we should catch up
on some rest and take better care of our health.â
Derekâs gaze landed on me at his words, and he shot a loaded smile at Ashton. âOf course, Mr. Fuller.
We do need to get some more rest and take better care of ourselves.â
He continued, âMr. Fuller, where are you staying? I can arrange a driver for you.â
Ashton raised his brows and replied, âNo need. Please enjoy your drinks!â
He dragged me out of the room with him, calls of polite farewells following in our wake. Tessa left the
room with us, and she urged me several times to leave with her.
I wanted to go back with her, but I couldnât escape from Ashtonâs grip of steel.
I pinched his waist hard in a fit of anger. He seemed utterly unaffected by my actions and merely
lowered his head to give me a patronizing smile.
When we reached the pool hall, Ashton turned around to address Joseph, âPlease send Ms. Dixon
home.â
Joseph nodded wordlessly.
Tessa started fretting when she saw Ashton dragging me with him. She blocked his path and
confronted him. âMr. Fuller, Scarlett came here with me. I donât think it would be appropriate for her to
follow you home.â
Ashton arched a brow and replied sardonically, âI donât think thereâs anything wrong if my wife goes
home with me, is there?â
Stunned, she paused for a moment before asking, âYour wife?â
Ashton just stared at her silently.
Just then, Joseph interrupted the conversation. âMs. Dixon, where do you stay? Iâll send you back.â
Ashton had never been a patient man, and he began pulling me away with him.
If I go with him now, our lives will become irrevocably tangled once more.
As these thoughts crossed my mind, I couldnât help but look back toward Tessa. I called out, âWeâre just
acquaintances; Iâm not really his wife.â
This caused Ashton to furrow his brows. His grip on my waist tightened further as he turned his
searching gaze on me. âJust acquaintances?â
I nodded. I felt a bit disconcerted, and I chalked it up to the alcohol I had drunk earlier.
Tessa seemed to let out a breath of relief when she heard me. She said to Ashton, âMr. Fuller, you
wonât enjoy yourself with an unwilling woman. Plus, you donât know Scarlett that well, and itâs kind of
inappropriate to be together at such a late hour. You can always get to know her better first before
deciding if you want to hook up with her.â
An unpleasant feeling rose in my chest when I heard her little speech. Is she really helping me, or is
she just picking on my faults in front of Ashton?
I couldnât discern her true purpose, but I knew that I couldnât let myself go back with Ashton.
I used all my might to pry Ashtonâs arm away.
Utterly exasperated, I glared at him. âAshton, y-youâ¦â
âYou really think Iâll let you go?â
I replied fiercely, âIâll sue you for kidnapping!â
âOh, I wasnât aware that bringing oneâs missing wife home is counted as kidnapping.â
Dumbfounded, I stared mutely at him. My head continued to spin. It must be the drinks; after all, I
havenât had alcohol in a long time. That must be why Iâm feeling so woozy now.