In Love, Never Say Never (Ashton Fuller and Scarlett Stovall) novel Chapter 503

“Are you saying that you’ve never tried to find out what happened to Macy back then?” I asked. My heart ached for Macy. If Jared really cared about her, why didn’t he even try?

The obvious answer was that he didn’t care. Otherwise, Jared wouldn’t have given up just like that. Not only had he never tried to look for Macy, he never even asked after her.

It made me even more fearful of handing Summer over to Jared.

He remained silent, biting his lip.

I’d calmed down. Looking at Jared’s troubled face, I vowed, “No matter what the Crests have planned for Summer, I will never give her up to you.”

I then stalked the rest of the way back to the table.

Ashton had been engaged in casual chit-chat with Joe. When he said me, he reached out in concern and asked, “What took you so long?”

“It’s nothing. Have you finished eating already?” We’d all gathered here today under the pretext of having dinner, but nobody had taken more than a few bites.

Ashton continued looking at me. “You’re not hungry?”

I shook my head vigorously. “Nope.”

Upon hearing this, Ashton pushed back his chair and stood up. Politely, he said to Joe, “It’s getting late. We’ll get going then.”

Obvious displeasure was written all over Joe’s face. He demanded, “Didn’t we agree to this get-together? Are you leaving before we’ve even gotten to say anything?”

“It’s late!” Ashton repeated firmly, hauling me along with him. Jared was smoking near the door. We passed each other without another word.

My heart throbbed as we got into the car. “Ashton, do you think it’s right for me to keep Summer with me?”

Ashton started the car. In a mellow voice, he asked, “Did Jared say anything to you?”

I shook my head. “I just feel that whatever I do for her won’t be good enough, somehow.”

I had often considered if I should tell Summer everything, all those times that Jared had visited her at the villa. But what would I tell an innocent child of four, five years old? What could she do with that information?

Perhaps everyone else was right. Summer would leave someday, eventually. But not now.

Ashton caressed my hand with his. His gentle gaze soothed me. “How about this? Let Summer and the Crests get to acknowledge each other, but she continues to stay with us. They can come over every once in a while to see her. Would you be able to accept that?”

I thought about it. For Summer, that would mean a bigger family and more love showered upon her. She had nothing to lose from this arrangement.

I stalled for a while before replying uncertainly, “Can that be arranged?”

Ashton took my hesitation for agreement. “Of course!” he agreed heartily.

Summer was already at the villa when we got back. When she saw Ashton and me enter, she came running and flew into his arms. At her age, she was already rather adept at turning on the charm.