"Ms. Larson," I said lightly, glancing at her from the corner of my eye, "I didn't know you could switch faces this fast."
Her sweetness from earlier was completely gone. What stood in front of me now was sharp, cold… real.
I didn't wait for her reply. I picked up my bag and headed for the door.
If Ashton wouldn't go, then I would.
That was how it had always been. When he stepped back, I stepped forward. When he ignored something, I handled it. Especially today.
The Fuller estate wasn't just a place—it was the heart of his bloodline, the center of everything tied to him. And today, of all days, someone had to be there.
Even if that someone was me.
I had just reached the door when Rebecca moved quickly, stepping right in front of me and blocking my path.
Now that Ashton wasn't around, she didn't bother pretending anymore.
Her eyes were sharp, her voice even sharper.
"When are you going to sign the divorce papers?"
For a second, I was actually surprised.
Then I laughed.
Not because it was funny—but because it was ridiculous.
I tilted my head slightly and looked at her. "Are you seriously playing the role of a homewrecker now? Forcing me to divorce him?"
"You're the homewrecker!" she snapped instantly.
The word clearly hit something inside her. Her face darkened, and whatever calm she had been holding onto shattered.
"If it weren't for you, I would already be the lady of this house," she continued, her voice low but filled with anger. "Everything that belongs here would've been mine."
Mine.
The word lingered.
She took a step closer, her gaze cutting into me. "Now that George is gone, no one is left to protect you. No one is going to keep you here anymore."
Her voice softened slightly, but it didn't lose its edge.
"If I were you, I'd sign the papers, take the money Ashton offered, and leave. Go somewhere far away and stop embarrassing yourself."
For a moment, the space between us went still.
Then I smiled.
Slow. Calm.
"Well… it's a pity you're not me, Ms. Larson."
My voice was steady, untouched by her words.
I didn't wait for her reaction. I simply stepped around her, like she wasn't even worth the effort, and started walking toward the stairs.
Because the truth was simple.
Other than Ashton… no one else could hurt me.
No one else mattered enough.
Behind me, I heard her breath hitch, sharp and annoyed.
Of course she wouldn't like being ignored.
Someone like Rebecca—someone who had always been admired, always been the center of attention—wouldn't stand being treated like she was invisible.
Suddenly, her hand shot out and grabbed my arm tightly, stopping me mid-step.
"How shameless can you be, Scarlett?" she demanded, her grip firm. "Ash doesn't even like you. So why are you still clinging to him?"
Her touch sent a faint spark through me—not warmth, not comfort. Just tension. My body reacted instinctively, a quiet resistance rising beneath my skin.
I slowly turned my head to look at her.
For a second, I almost laughed again.
But I didn't.
Instead, I spoke calmly.
"If you already know how he feels about me…" I said softly, meeting her eyes, "then what exactly are you so nervous about?"
Her expression froze.
"You—"
She couldn't finish her sentence. Her face flushed red, anger and something else mixing together.
I took a step closer.
Close enough that only she could hear me.
A faint smile touched my lips, but there was no warmth in it.
"As for why I'm still holding on…" I paused, letting the silence stretch just enough to make her uneasy.
Then I lowered my voice.
"He's not someone you can just walk away from."
I let my gaze linger on her for a second longer before pulling back slightly.
"So tell me, Ms. Larson…" I added quietly, "if it were you… would you really let go?"
Because deep down—
Whether she admitted it or not—
She already knew the answer.
"You're so shameless!"
Rebecca's voice broke, sharp and full of anger. Her eyes turned red, all control gone. Before I could react, she raised her hands and pushed toward me.
The stairs were right behind me.
My body moved before my mind could catch up. I twisted sideways, avoiding her touch, my instincts flaring fast and sharp.
But in that split second… everything went wrong.
She lost her balance.
Her foot slipped.
And then—
"Ahhh!"
Her scream tore through the house as her body tumbled down the stairs.
Time stopped.
I stood there, frozen, my mind blank, my body refusing to move. The sound of her falling echoed again and again in my head, each hit against the steps heavier than the last.
Then suddenly—
A cold force brushed past me.
Fast. Powerful.
Ashton.
He shoved past me without even looking, his presence like a sharp gust of winter air. In the next second, he was already downstairs, kneeling beside Rebecca.
I couldn't move.
I could only stare.
Rebecca lay curled at the bottom of the stairs, her body trembling. Her hands clutched her stomach tightly, her face pale, lips shaking.
"My child…" she whispered weakly. "My child…"
My breath caught.
Child?
My eyes dropped—and everything inside me went still.
Blood.
It spread beneath her, soaking into the carpet, staining it deep red. The sight was too much, too sudden. My chest tightened as something heavy settled inside me.
She's… pregnant?
And worse—
Ashton's.
"Ash… the child… the child…" Rebecca's fingers gripped his sleeve weakly, repeating the words over and over, like she was holding onto the last thread keeping her together.
For the first time… I saw it.
Fear.
Real fear on Ashton's face.
Sweat gathered at his forehead, his usual cold control cracking just enough to reveal something deeper. His jaw tightened as he looked at her, his voice low but firm.
"Don't be afraid. Nothing will happen to the child."
He said it like a promise.
Like something he needed to believe.
Carefully, he lifted her into his arms, holding her close as he stood. His movements were fast, urgent, every second counting as he headed toward the door.
I finally took a step forward.
But before I could say anything—
He stopped.
Slowly, he turned his head.
His eyes met mine.
Dark. Cold. Endless.
The weight of it hit me instantly, pressing down on my chest until I couldn't breathe.
"I bet you're happy, Scarlett."
His voice was quiet.
But it carried more than anger.
It carried blame.
Hatred.
Like I had already been judged and found guilty.
My lips parted, but no words came out.
I didn't even know what to say.
The truth?
Would it matter?
Before I could gather myself, he turned away again and walked out, Rebecca still in his arms.
The door closed.
And just like that… the house fell silent.
Too silent.
I stood there, still staring at the empty space they had left behind, my mind spinning but somehow numb at the same time.
Then—
"Aren't you going after them to explain?"
The voice came from behind me, deep and calm, cutting through the silence.
I flinched slightly and turned.
Jared stood there.
I didn't even know when he arrived.
For a moment, I just looked at him, trying to steady the storm rising inside me.
"Explain what?" I asked quietly.
He raised a brow, his gaze sharp. "Aren't you worried he'll think you pushed her?"
My eyes dropped.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips.
"Does it matter?" I said softly.
Because deep down… I already knew the answer.
I lifted my head again, my voice calm, even though something inside me felt like it was slowly breaking apart.
"Whether I pushed her or not… Rebecca is the one who got hurt."
My fingers curled slightly at my sides.
"And someone has to take the blame."
The moment the words left my mouth, the truth of them settled heavily in my chest.
It didn't matter what really happened.
Not to Ashton.
Not when it came to her.
Jared watched me for a second, then nodded slightly. "At least you're aware."
He didn't say anything else. He simply walked past me, heading downstairs. I noticed the medical kit in his hand.
He was going after them.
Of course he was.
I stayed where I was.
Alone.
The faint scent of blood still lingered in the air, sharp and impossible to ignore. It clung to everything… including me.
My chest tightened again, that familiar pull inside me stirring—but this time, it didn't feel warm.
It felt… distant.
Cold.
Like something fragile had finally cracked beyond repair.
And for the first time—
I didn't know how to hold onto it anymore.