“We just need to be seen sitting down and having a meal together. I’m not asking for us to shake hands and make up. It’s just an act.”
I pursed my lips and smiled. “You’re very straightforward.”
She shrugged. “Well, there’s nothing else I can do at this point besides compromising.”
“Sure!” I agreed, thinking that it was just a simple gesture.
There were not a lot of good choices when dining out in R Province. Joyce found a restaurant with comparatively good atmosphere and placed orders for food.
She looked at me sharply. “Since you’re Louis’ daughter, why don’t you date Ashton openly?”
Her sudden question dumbfounded me. “What do you mean by that?”
“Don’t you know that the fiancée and wife of the president of Fuller Corporation have always been the talk of the town? It’s a major focus in K City.” She looked at me in disbelief.
I sipped my drink. “Whatever is the status of our relationship, it’s got nothing to do with an outsider like you.”
She made a face. “It’s fine if you aren’t willing to tell me. I just feel that it’s such a shame to be in a secret relationship with someone and not publicly acknowledge it. It’s embarrassing. It can also hurt the reputation of a dignified lady like you.”
Wow. I didn’t like that comment.
My frown deepened. “Go ahead and read the tabloids if you like to be entertained by gossips and scandals.”
Having lost my appetite to eat, I rose to my feet and left right away.
She came running after me and snapped in an unfriendly tone, “You’re jealous of how Ashton keeps on protecting Rebecca. You also hate the fact that Nancy is the one who accompanies him to all kinds of events. Just because you can’t win him over from those girls, you release your anger on me. How could you fear the strong but bully the weak? Scarlett, why did you channel your grievances to me?”
Her words depicted Ashton as a womanizer and also implied that I was a worthless third wheel. I knitted my brows. This is getting interesting.
I stared at her in the eyes. “If one only knows how to pass the blame to others without reflecting on oneself, one will end up bearing the pain and shame as a total failure.”
I was reluctant to meddle in the affairs of others. All I ever wanted was to live life according to my preference.
When I got back to the house, Ashton had already picked Summer up from school. She had plucked a lot of fruits and was enjoying the watermelon scoop after scoop.
Summer was extremely excited to see me. “Mommy, you’re back!” She put her watermelon aside and dashed over to hug me.
“Mr. Fuller said he’s making chicken wings for dinner. We’re just waiting for you.”
Having not seen Ashton around, I asked, “Where’s he?”
She pointed at the backyard. “He said that you have some clothes that can’t be washed by the machine, so he’s washing them by hand.”
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