Chapter 772
When There Is Nothing Left But Love
I couldnât figure out a solution to my problems, even after wracking my brain.
After my shower, I sat at my dressing table to do my skincare routine. I was so lost in thought that I
didnât even hear Ashtonâs footsteps when he entered the bedroom.
It was only when he suddenly picked me up in his arms that I was jerked back to reality, letting out a
squeal of surprise. âWhat are you doing here?â I gasped. âWhen did you get back? You didnât make a
sound at all!â
âIâve been here for a while already. Didnât you see me in the reflection of the mirror you were staring
at?â He sat down in my seat, placing me across his thighs as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind my
ear. âWhatâs on your mind?â
I sighed, resting my head against his shoulder. âThe Lavelian Village project keeps running into
problems. Iâm in charge of everything, so can you blame me for overthinking it?â
He chuckled. âEverything that happened was out of your control. It wonât do you any good to keep
stressing out over it. Besides, you now have your hubbyâs money to use whenever you like. Who cares
if you quit your job or end up having to pay damages?â
The stubble on his chin pricked my hand when I reached up to touch his face. âThatâs easy for you to
say. One compensation claim is worth ten million. How many times will I be able to fork that amount of
money out, hm?â
âAs many times as you like.â He grinned at me.
âYou should really shave soon.â Running my fingers along his stubble made the skin on my finger pads
feel raw.
He hummed, one large hand sliding down to pinch my hips. âWill you do it for me?â
I nodded and got up, tugging him into the bathroom. âArmond wants to know what you think about the
Lavelian Village project,â I told him as I picked up his razor from the sink.
âThat man is more meticulous than I give him credit for,â he lamented, wrapping his arms around me as
he pressed my back up against the sink. âHe employed my very own wife in his own company so that
he could send you to sniff our information for him.â
I lathered some shaving cream on his jawline. My feet were getting tired of standing on their tiptoes to
reach his tall height, so I made him sit down on a chair. Without thinking too much about it, I climbed up
and sat in his lap, focusing intently on shaving his stubble.
âItâs not like that. No one expected that Fuller Corporation would award itsâ project to Murphy
Corporation. Besides, heâs just asking about your opinion, not sniffing out information.â
He made a brief sound of affirmation, unable to open his mouth and reply because of the razor near his
skin. I could tell from his fond gaze that he was in a good mood today.
It was my first time ever shaving someone else, so my movements were somewhat clumsy. Thankfully,
I hadnât cut his skin, and I quickly handed him a warm towel to wipe off the cream after I was done.
He looked much younger and clean with a shaved jaw. I held his chin in one hand and turned his head
from side to side, admiring my handiwork. âIt looks good to me. I think I did well!â
The corners of his lips quirked up. I felt his large hand squeeze my hips as he spoke in a low, gravelly
voice, âAre you trying to seduce me right now?â
My mind blanked. Upon realizing that I had put on nothing but a sleeveless negligee after my shower,
my cheeks flushed red.
Iâd been so concentrated on shaving his stubble that Iâd failed to notice the compromising position Iâd
put us in when I climbed into his lap. His hand on my waist only served to make the situation appear
even more suggestive than it really was.
âGet your head out of the gutter. I just genuinely wanted to help you shave.â I tried to get off of his legs,
but he held me in place.
âYes, and I just genuinely want to hold you in my arms,â he declared unabashedly.
Setting the razor aside, I circled my arms around his neck and looked him in the eye. âI think you
should go take a shower and get ready for bed. Iâm a little tired, and I havenât slept well for the past two
nights.â
He smiled humorously, caressing my cheek with one hand. Leaning in, he left feather-light hints of
kisses on the corner of my mouth that felt ticklish.
âAshton!â
Ashton let out a laugh and pressed his forehead against mine as he massaged one of my ears. âFuller
Corporation is planning to pull out of the project to minimize our losses as much as possible, and then
let another company take over it. When thatâs all settled, go back to K City with me, Scarlett. Okay?â
âBut I want to see this until the very end.â I preened in his embrace, my eyes fluttering close at the
relaxing motion. âI donât want to go back to K City and become a spoilt wife who just waits for you to
return home every day.â
âI never said thatâ he sighed. âYouâre free to do whatever you want in K City. Didnât you mention that
you wanted to pursue a postgraduate education? You can try that, and if all else fails, you can come
back to Fuller Corporation and take up your previous job. How does that sound?â
I pursed my lips. âBut I canât just give up on the project halfway through.â
âSometimes, I really wonder if youâre a spy that Armond sent to bewitch me on purpose.â He shook his
head, a little exasperated.
I raised an eyebrow, quickly taking the chance to climb off of his lap. âGo take a shower and sleep early
tonight,â I huffed before exiting the bathroom.
There were too many suspicious things about the Lavelian Village project as if someone was causing
trouble on purpose. Thus, I didnât want to return to K City without getting to the bottom of things.
I heard the sound of running water from the bathroom as I sat back down in front of the dressing table,
resuming my skincare routine.
Soon after, Ashton came out, a towel wrapped around his waist. He furrowed his eyebrows slightly at
the sight of me. âWhatâs the use of all these bottles and creams?â