Out of Control: Into Your Everything-Chapter 95: Human Nature

"Why?"

Zoe Sutton froze for a moment, frowning in confusion.

"Aunt Pierce and Julian, from what I see, have a really good relationship. Julian basically listens to everything Aunt Pierce says."

Back then, she had set her eyes on this, so she cozied up to Freya Pierce, and that’s how she ended up in a nominal relationship with Julian Ford.

Josiah Sutton didn’t answer her question, just said coldly, "In short, from now on, stop leaking things to Freya Pierce."

Zoe Sutton pressed her lips together in silence, but the defiance in her eyes was obvious.

Josiah’s gaze was frosty. "Now, most of the Ford family’s main businesses are in Julian Ford’s hands. You better keep your head on straight. Don’t think for a second he wouldn’t dare touch the Sutton Family."

Zoe didn’t really buy it. "Even if he doesn’t like me, he’s your good buddy. What, he’s not even gonna give you that much respect?"

"I chose to practice medicine, so I don’t meddle in the family business much." Josiah looked straight at her. "And don’t kid yourself—once Julian’s made up his mind on something, no one can interfere."

Zoe snorted lightly. "I don’t believe you. No matter what, there’s no way he wouldn’t listen to Freya Pierce or Ezra Ford."

Josiah didn’t respond.

All of a sudden, a thought flashed through his mind, filling him with uncertainty.

Half a year ago, when Julian Ford was first diagnosed with that illness, he acted like he didn’t care at all, didn’t even want treatment.

During those months, Josiah tried persuading him several times, but it was useless. The last time he called him over to Cloud Mansion, Josiah thought Julian might’ve changed his mind, but it was just a cold for Scarlett Shaw.

So what’s with the sudden change of attitude?

Zoe Sutton had no idea what was going on in Josiah’s head.

But seeing her older brother looking so distracted, she naturally assumed the whole Scarlett Shaw and Julian Ford thing wasn’t as simple as it seemed.

Zoe reached out to Jasper Spencer.

When Jasper got Zoe’s call, he’d just left the racetrack, driving away.

The roads were slick, and the nightlife racing event had ended early tonight.

Jasper spun the steering wheel with one hand, casual and easy. "Zoe."

Zoe: "About what I asked you yesterday—have you thought it over?"

"Nothing to consider."

Jasper lit a cigarette, the smoke curling against his lips. He glanced at the photos he’d taken on the street that afternoon, took a long drag, and said, a little disgruntled,

"I’m not so bored out of my mind that I’d do something like this for you."

Zoe cottoned her tone, "You promised me, Jasper. You said you’d never refuse any of my requests—don’t go back on your word."

"Yeah, I said that, but only if you weren’t unreasonable. You’re already married and still want to keep me around as a backup? Julian Ford’s engaged too. Why do you even care so much?"

Jasper tapped his cigarette, annoyed, and continued,

"Besides, this isn’t going to do Julian Ford any good."

Zoe answered haughtily, "If it screws up his marriage, that’s killing two birds with one stone."

Jasper stayed quiet.

"Jasper, please. I’m begging you, okay?"

Her plea had an edge of tears in it. She’d always been proud—it was rare to see her so vulnerable.

In the end, it was still all about Julian Ford.

Jasper felt lousy inside, but he couldn’t help softening toward her. He backed off halfway, finally compromising, "I can try to get the photos, but you have to tell me exactly how you plan to use them."

Zoe agreed instantly. "Deal."

"Yeah."

...

Scarlett Shaw left the hotel, only to realize she’d left her purse in Julian Ford’s room when she tried to call a cab.

Her phone, wallet, and ID were all in her bag.

She was stone broke now—apart from her presentable clothes, she was no different than some homeless soul under the overpass.

Except those people at least had the guts to beg for money. As for her? She’d made a fool of herself begging for love and not only failed, but got coldly mocked for it too.

There was absolutely no way she’d go back now for her bag.

Might as well just freeze to death on the street.

Scarlett thought, wallowing in self-pity.

It’s not like she hadn’t imagined Julian Ford noticing her feelings. People in love can rarely hide it—especially someone like her who couldn’t mask anything.

She’d also tried to imagine how Julian Ford might react.

Honestly, that look on his face today—gloomy, indifferent, like he didn’t give a damn and begging for a slap—was pretty much in line with her expectations.

But daydreams and reality are two very different things.

Maybe, at the moment those four words—I like you—escaped her lips, no matter how many tragic endings she’d already rehearsed, she still nursed a tiny shred of hope.

As for what that hope was exactly, Scarlett couldn’t really say herself.

It definitely wasn’t that he liked her back.

Aaron Carson had just gotten out of a taxi when he caught sight of a familiar figure at the roadside. He looked closer—wasn’t that Scarlett Shaw?

He walked up, about to greet her, but froze when he got a good look at her face.

Scarlett’s cheeks, pink from the cold wind, were streaked with silent tears, slipping down like broken pearls.

But she seemed completely oblivious, standing there dazed, eyes downcast, lost in her own thoughts.

The cold wind bit through the night.

A midwinter Bryland night was a hell of a lot harsher than Capitoline.

Aaron had just been out of the cab for maybe a minute, and he was already shivering uncontrollably.

And there she was—the self-proclaimed cold-phobe—standing motionless like an ice sculpture. If not for the tears sliding off her lashes, he’d have thought she was frozen solid.

"Scarlett?"

Aaron stopped in front of her, pulling a tissue from his pocket and handing it over.

"At this temperature, if you keep crying, your tears’ll freeze on your face and you’ll look even more amazing."

Scarlett blinked, finally realizing tears were pouring down her face.

She took the tissue without a word, swiped at her cheeks, and shot Aaron a glare. "If you can’t shut up then shut up. I don’t want to hear your voice."

?

What the hell did he do?

Out in this damn cold, and she’s still got this much attitude? Gonna blow up the place?

Aaron eyed Scarlett’s red, puffy eyes, and, with zero intention of sugarcoating it, said bluntly, "Another fight with President Ford? Let me guess—tried to confess, got rejected, right?"

If this had all happened over WhatsApp, Scarlett was positive Aaron would have added a ’hehe’ at the end just to piss her off.

Of course, saying it to her face was basically a death blow anyway.

Scarlett shot Aaron a murderous look. "Hanging around Julian Ford has really rubbed off on you—could you possibly be any more insensitive?"

"I’m just trying to be nice and check on you, but you gotta snap at me? What did I ever do to you?"

Aaron looked at her streaming tears and handed over another tissue, his voice softening,

"C’mon, wipe it off. Look at yourself."

Scarlett dabbed at her tears. "So you think I’m pretty pathetic too?"

Aaron heard that and knew better than to agree, so he kept his mouth shut and made a mental note. "Nope, not at all. Getting rejected happens all the time. Especially by President Ford—totally normal."

Scarlett: "..."