Ashton reached out to take the wineglass from me before placing it on the coffee table out of my reach. Mirth shone in his eyes as he replied, “Why should I be upset? Can’t you see how delighted I am?”
“Delighted?” I repeated, dumbfounded.
Do all men think bullying girls is a way to show their love?
“Ashton, you should take lessons to learn how to be a good father.”
Summer was still a child, so he shouldn’t express his feelings and expectations to her as though she were an adult. His harsh actions might backfire on an adult, let alone a child.
“Seriously? I don’t have to learn how to do that,” said Ashton smugly. “Didn’t you realize Summer has chosen us?”
“Did she?” I couldn’t understand what he was talking about. “But neither of you mention Jared, right?”
“Yes, we didn’t.” Ashton looked up and sipped on his wine. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed the wine. His lips stained red, he answered slowly, “Summer decided to stay silent when faced with a choice of defending Jared or go against us. No one urged or forced her to make that decision.”
He paused to study me momentarily as the smile on his lips broadened. “That means we are more important than Jared to her. Shouldn’t I be happy that she has prioritized us?”
I wasn’t sure how to react. His words seemed to make sense, but not at the same time. More accurately, it was a bet, and Ashton had emerged as the winner.
“If that’s the case, does Jared still have to leave?” I asked.
Ashton’s expression changed at my words. There was only less than a mouthful of wine in his glass, but he still swirled his glass stubbornly. It reflected his current emotions.
“Yes, why not?” Ashton stared ahead. “But I’ll do Summer a favor by sending him to the villa in the countryside. He can’t live nearby.”
His gaze turned sincere, and I couldn’t help but get anxious.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: In Love, Never Say Never (Ashton Fuller and Scarlett Stovall)