Gregory was visibly shaking with excitement. Pulling on Ashton’s elbow, he dragged him into the private room. He leaned so much of his weight into Ashton that he almost toppled over.
Ashton, on the other hand, seemed perfectly calm. He walked over slowly.
I didn’t know to expect to meet them in the same place twice. “Greg, why are you here?”
“I’m hungry, so Daddy brought me out for lunch!” Gregory loosened his grip on Ashton and plastered himself to me.
Faced with Ashton’s chilly stare, I unconsciously took a step away.
Ashton looked between me and Emery. He seemed surprised that we were together.
A few seconds later, I recalled Emery’s bombshell. I looked at Gregory with mixed emotions.
Is Gregory really my son? I used to be married to Ashton?
As this thought crossed my mind, I tried to stare surreptitiously at Ashton. I began appraising him seriously for the first time.
The more I looked at him, the less sure I felt about ever having marital relations with this man.
Plus, my impression of Ashton was a man who was difficult to please. He wasn’t my type at all.
As if he sensed my roving eye, Ashton lifted his eyes and met my gaze head-on.
His gaze was as cold as his demeanor. I couldn’t help but shiver at the hostility.
Gregory may look like him, but he hadn’t inherited even an ounce of his coldness.
Joseph showed up later, probably facing some difficulty in securing a parking spot. He looked surprised to see me and Emery. He greeted us politely, “Good day, Ms. Stovall and Ms. Moore.”
I nodded in acknowledgment.
Emery was shocked at his appearance. “Joseph?”
She glanced at Ashton, puzzlement in her eyes.
A second later, she exchanged a loaded glance with Joseph right under Ashton’s nose. They seemed to reach a wordless agreement.
Joseph came forward and reminded, “Mr. Fuller, the private room is ready.”
“Good,” Ashton replied lightly. “Gregory,” he called as he prepared to leave.
I could almost see the little gears turning in Gregory’s head as he reached out to hold my hand in a vice grip. “I want to eat with Ms. Stovall!”
Ashton’s gaze darkened, though he didn’t voice his opinion. After a short moment, he gritted out, “Fine, up to you.”
He left our room right after that.
I guess he agreed to Gregory’s request.
“Ms. Stovall, come with me,” Gregory pleaded eagerly. He used all his might to drag me with him after Ashton.
I had always had a soft spot for Gregory. Soon enough, I found myself in the private room reserved by Joseph. Emery had followed me here, though she purposely remained a few steps back, whispering furiously with Joseph.
Just as we sat down, Ashton gestured for Joseph to retrieve a laptop from his briefcase. He switched it on before handing it to Gregory, who rushed toward a nearby couch ecstatically with his gadget.
Once he confirmed that Gregory was preoccupied with the tablet, Ashton lifted his head and stared sharply at Emery and Joseph. He demanded sternly but softly, “Spit it out.”
Thanks to his muscular physique and naturally imposing aura, he seemed absolutely intimidating, though there was barely any anger displayed on his face.
I thought I could guess what he was talking about, though I wasn’t a hundred percent sure. I also stared intently at Emery.
Feeling dwarfed by his imposing aura, Emery blurted, “I want Scarlett and Gregory to reunite with each other. Nothing in this world can stop a mother from reuniting with her own son!”
I wasn’t taken aback at Emery’s abrupt statement thanks to the bombshell she had dropped on me earlier.
