Chapter 155
In Love, Never Say Never Novel
Ashton was just picking her up at the airport, and itâs not like I never knew that he still cared about her all along. So why am I upset about this?
Ten minutes had passed.
Ashton appeared again in the lounge and jogged over to where I was. He sat down next to me and tugged on my arm. âDonât think too much into it. Something happened this morning so Joe couldnât make it.â
I nodded and forced a smile. âYou donât have to explain.â
Indeed, there was no need to make a fuss over something like this. I was probably being a tad bit sensitive these days.
Macy showed up after a while, dragging a huge suitcase with her. She was stunned for a second at the sight of Ashton together with me. âWhatâs this⦠Are you both here to flaunt your love with your show of PDA?â
I simply flashed her a smile in response. Ashton took over her luggage as we walked. Clinging onto my arm, Macy patted my belly. âItâs gotten bigger. Itâs almost six months already, huh?â
Hearing that, I glanced at her slightly bulging belly. Because she was wearing loose-fitting clothes, I wouldnât be able to tell that she had a baby growing inside her belly as well if I hadnât known beforehand that she was pregnant.
I smiled and asked, âWhy did you come back all of a sudden?â I had thought that Macy was going to stay in her hometown until the baby was born.
âWell⦠Jacksonâs coming to J City too, right? Itâs been a long time since I last saw him. Iâm starting to miss him a little,â she said. Her complexion looked good that day.
She glanced at Ashton who had been walking in front of us before whispering in my ear, âIâm assuming things are better between you and him now?â
I shrugged. âWho knows. Rebecca just returned today as well.â
âWhat!â Macy frowned in frustration. âThat woman is such a pain! Hasnât she already found her place in K City as a noble lady of the Moore family? Why does she feel the need to come back and cause trouble again?â
âSheâs probably planning to take over Cameronâs job.â Now that Rebecca had returned, I had no idea how things would unfold in the future. All I was aware of was the unsettling feeling that had settled in my heart.
Macy pursed her lips before saying, âI swear, itâs almost like this womanâs haunting you with the way she keeps showing up!â
Any topic related to that woman was a mood-killer. As such, I tried to change the topic. âDid Jackson say anything about when heâs arriving?â
She shook her head. âNope!â
We soon arrived at the carpark. I looked at Ashton while he loaded Macyâs luggage onto the trunk. âHas Ms. Larson gone home?â
He nodded. âJoseph sent her back. Come on, letâs go.â
The engine roared as the three of us entered the car.
âWhat do you want to eat?â Ashton asked.
It was twelve noon, just about the right time for lunch.
âAnythingâs fine.â I glanced back at Macy who was slumped against the backrest on the passenger seat. She must have been exhausted after hours of flight.
Ashton nodded as we drove into town. He parked in front of a nearby Italian restaurant and looked at me. âHow about Italian food then?â
I turned towards Macy. âIs that okay with you?â
She nodded. âOf course!â
As soon as we got off the car, Macy came close and whispered next to my ear again, âHow has Ashton been to you these days?â
âOkay, I guess.â
She rolled her eyes and smacked her forehead. âWhy do I feel like you both seem like an old couple whoâs been together for agesâ¦â
I was at a loss for words. âWhy is that?â
She smirked. âThe love between you two seemed more like familial love rather than a romantic one!â
My mind went blank for a short while. Familial love? I didnât see that coming.
Everything after that happened quickly. We sat down and decided on our orders soon after we entered the restaurant. Within minutes, the dishes were all served.
Ashton had ordered a bowl of tomato soup specifically for me, on the reason that a pregnant woman shouldnât eat anything that was too heavy. It would be too greasy, he said.
Probably because soups and water-rich foods had been my constant diet these days. After a mere few mouthfuls, I handed it over to Ashton so that he could finish it for me. I managed to take a few bites of grilled salmon before my stomach called it quits.
Macy didnât seem to have much appetite either. She glanced at me and Ashton every once in a while as we ate, looking perplexed at how we interacted with one another.
After lunch, we dropped Macy off at Glenwood Apartments and headed to the hospital.
The obstetrics department was unusually crowded. I was lucky to have made a prior appointment so I could skip the long queue. Nonetheless, there were various examinations to go through and Ashton had to wait outside.
The doctor gave me a few hesitating looks while she did an ultrasound. She seemed to be troubled about what to say, which made me wondered if there was something wrong with the child.
âDoctor, is there a problem with the baby?â
She nodded lightly. âThe fetusâ heartbeat seems very weak. Normally, it should have stabilized at twenty-four weeks old. The child could be underdevelopedâ¦â
After a brief pause, she continued, âMs. Stovall, you must try your best at maintaining a positive emotional state and regular sleep cycle. These things are among the most basic factors which can directly affect a fetusâ development.â
I nodded. What the doctor said was information that Iâd known. Otherwise, why would I have asked Jackson to come to J City?
After the checkup, I sat in the hallway and stared blankly. Ashton began asking the doctor questions as she came out, and then gestured her aside to talk.
Their conversation went on for a while. I had no idea what the doctor told him, but his expression wasnât very happy when we left the hospital. His brows were scrunched up in a frown the whole time. âScarlett, are you hiding anything from me?â
âWhat did the doctor tell you?â I smiled. âDid she say the child isnât yours?â
âStop messing around!â He looked helpless yet concerned. âIf thereâs anything on your mind, please tell me!â
We continued walking towards the carpark. âI donât like it when you meet with Rebecca. I wish that you wonât even look at her or speak one word to herâ¦â
I looked up at him and added, âIs that okay with you?â
He stopped in his tracks and raised his eyebrows in a somewhat delightful manner. âAre you going for an imparity clause?â
I wasnât going to back down in any way. I nodded and shot him a firm glare. âEvery time you meet with Rebecca or speak to her, we shall live separately for a week. If you canât do that, weâll get a divorce.â