Chapter 10

Ashton, who was watching the entire debacle, strode in slowly. Thereafter, he glanced at Rebecca and asked, "Why are you still awake?"

Rebecca acted like she was pleasantly surprised at his arrival. Pouting daintily, she tugged him so that he would sit by the side of her bed before she wrapped her arms around him. "I slept too much during the day and I can't sleep now. Why are you here?"

"To visit you." Ashton's gaze landed on me. Frowning, he immediately ordered, "Deal with that now!"

His voice was cold and devoid of concern.

Rebecca put on a regretful expression while her arms were clasped around him. "I was too careless and I accidentally injured Scarlett."

Ashton calmly stroked her long hair; it seemed like he wasn't going to reprimand her.

My heart ached as if I had been forced to the edge of a cliff. Slowly, I dragged my feet out of the ward.

I knew I would lose the bet, but I was hoping that Ashton would at least inquire if I was hurt. That would have been sufficient for me.

Alas, he didn't spare me a second glance. He didn't even seem to pity me.

In the hallway, a tall figure blocked my way. I looked up and was met with Jared Crest's stern gaze.

Confused, I greeted him, "Dr. Crest!"

He gave me a long look before he asked, "Does it hurt?"

At his question, sorrow and bitterness washed over me. Tears began to stream down my cheeks and fall to the floor. I couldn't help but shudder as the cold wind blew across the hallway, intensifying the bleakness I felt inside me.

Even an acquaintance would ask if I was hurt. How could he, the person who was married to me for two years, ignore me like a heartless prick?

Jared took my hand in his. I shrunk back subconsciously but his grip simply tightened.

"I'm a doctor!" Jared said pointedly, leaving no room for argument. He was a doctor, so it was his responsibility to treat me.

I knew that he wasn't a nosy person. He only wanted to treat my injuries because I was Ashton's wife.

I followed Jared into a room. He uttered some words to the nurse on duty before he turned to tell me, "She will tend to your wound."

I nodded. "Thank you!"

After Jared left, the nurse cleaned the burn on my hand carefully. Her brows scrunched up when she caught sight of several blisters. "This is rather serious. It might leave a scar."

"It's fine." This is a lesson to be remembered.

As there were blisters, the nurse had to prick them to clean the burns thoroughly.

Worried that I wouldn't be able to bear the pain, she cautioned me, "It might hurt. Bear with it." 

"Mm!"

This is nothing. The pain tugging at my chest is more unbearable than this.

Upon treating my wound, the nurse gave me some brief instructions before letting me go. I was on the way back to Rebecca's ward when I heard someone talking in the stairwell. I came to a stop out of curiosity.

"George has already passed on. When will you divorce her?" It was Jared's voice.

"Her? You mean Scarlett?" another familiar voice asked coolly. I immediately knew that it was Ashton.

I inched closer to the stairwell and saw Ashton leaning against the railing with his hands in his pockets.

Jared was leaning on the wall, holding a half-lit cigarette in his hands.

Tapping on the cigarette gently, Jared stared at Ashton before he stated, "You know that she is innocent. She loves you."

Ashton met his gaze icily. "I wasn't aware that you were this concerned for her."

At his words, Jared frowned. "Don't overthink it. I was merely reminding you in hopes that you won't come to regret your decision in the future. Even though she loves you deeply now, she may eventually throw her love away."

"Ha!" Ashton sneered. "I've always scorned her love…"

I couldn't bring myself to listen to the rest of his sentence. Some things are better not heard; I would be a fool if I insisted on eavesdropping.