Chapter 15
“First, we’re divorced.”
Ashley frowned. “Second, Rui Rui and I have moved on. Aaron, stay out of our lives.”
She took Rui Rui’s hand and looped her arm through Bruce’s, turning toward the building. But Aaron’s men tightened their circle, blocking every exit.
Bruce pulled out his phone. One of Aaron’s men snatched it away.
The two men lunged at each other.
Bruce quickly gained the upper hand.
At Aaron’s nod, others joined to restrain Bruce.
“Stop them! Aaron!”
Aaron ignored her, offering Ashley a smile as he reached for her hand. “Let’s go home.”
Suddenly, silent Rui Rui shot forward like a bullet, sinking his teeth into Aaron’s hand.
The fingers are connected to the heart; Aaron looked into his son’s hate-filled eyes and felt pain for the first time.
More painful than when he saw Bruce kissing Ashley just moments ago!
“Rui Rui, if biting Dad helps you vent, bite away, bite all you want, Dad will let you bite to your heart’s content, okay?”
Rui Rui’s eyes turned red, and he bit down harder.
Instantly, Aaron was sweating buckets from the pain.
Ashley said coldly, “Tell your men to stop now!”
“Unless you and Rui Rui come home with me,” Aaron looked back at Bruce fighting multiple men, “He’s tough, but I’ve got plenty of guys; it’s a war of attrition. What do you think his odds are?”
Ashley looked at him with disgust, “How despicable! Fine, Rui Rui and I will go with you. Tell them to stop right
now!”
“You and Rui Rui… get in the car first.”
Ashley glanced at Bruce, clenched her jaw, coaxed Rui Rui to release his grip, and ushered him into the car.
She immediately texted Bruce: Rui Rui and I will be fine. We’ll come back safely. Trust me.
Aaron glimpsed her phone screen, his tone laced with bitterness.
“How did you two get so close in such a short time?”
288 Vouchers
“Should we follow your path with Nicole? Cultivating feelings since high school?” Ashley countered with a cold laugh.
“Nicole and I lost that connection long ago. Before you called the police… it was just inertia…”
Aaron murmured, “I know exactly who matters now-my family. For all the past hurt… Sorry. So sorry. Please for- give me, both you and Rui Rui.”
Sorry.
“To get rid of Nicole, you chased me relentlessly despite not liking me, turning it into a public scandal that made me delusional.”
“To fulfill your father’s wish, you chose me again. Since marrying Nicole wasn’t an option, anyone would do-and marrying me conveniently skipped all the dating steps.”
Aaron’s expression froze. “You…”
“You wonder how I know? What’s done by night appears by day! You’ve used me for nearly ten years. Can ‘sorry’ ever make up for that? Could you possibly repay me?”
Ashley sneered: “You’re not truly remorseful-you’re just scared. Because you caused your father’s death, you can’t bear another sin against this family. You fear becoming a murderer again.”
Aaron immediately denied it, his voice trembling slightly. “I want to make it up to you both. Give me time to prove
“Alright,” Ashley cut him off. “I could really use someone to listen right now. If you want to make amends, start by hearing me out.”
Aaron nodded eagerly. “Go ahead.”
“The day before I returned to file the police report, I met with Bruce and formally rejected him. I refused to become another you-someone who exploits another’s feelings for selfish gain. That’s immoral.”
Ashley smiled faintly, as if the mere thought of that person filled her with boundless sweetness.
The expression pierced Aaron’s eyes.
