In Love, Never Say Never

He sat back down and threw a casual glance my way. “Judging from the way you look… let me guess, we’re being held captive by Armond?

My brows knitted into a frown after seeing him so unbothered. What the heck is he doing?“How are you taking this so calmly? We’re literally trapped here, yet you seem relaxed. Aren’t you afraid of being killed by Armond?”

He chuckled as he looked back up at me. “So Armond is now a bloodthirsty murderer who kills anyone in his way? Well, you’re probably refusing to give him something he wants then.”

At this, my shoulders tensed. How does he know so much?

No point lying then. I pursed my lips and replied, “It’s just a sandalwood box that my grandma gave me. He wanted it, but I said no, so he locked me here. The rest is history.”

Deep laughter rumbled from him while his gaze met mine again. “Is it important?”

I nodded and explained, “A little. The sandalwood box holds a contract between my grandma and a major gasoline-producing country. That contract allows the Murphys to take advantage of the low oil prices and bulk purchase petroleum, which they’ll make a profit out of later on.”

“I see.” His eyes narrowed at me before he advised, “I think you should give it to him since there’s no sentimental value behind it. Plus, it’s not like the Murphys are the only ones benefitting from this. The whole country will benefit from the petroleum deal. So why the hesitance?”

“I don’t mind giving the box to the Murphys, just not to Armond!” I stifled a growl at him. “Ashton visited A City to dig up all of Armond’s past dirty businesses, so Armond will get what’s coming to him. I know the Murphys are involved in the competitive gasoline market, but Armond isn’t the only Murphy capable of running the business. I’ll eventually hand them the box once Armond is locked up behind bars.”

He frowned, trying to comprehend the reason behind my actions. “So, you’re not giving it to Armond because all of his bad deeds will be forgiven if he secures a gasoline deal with Meudari; Because then, Ashton’s evidence will mean nothing as people will adore Armond for boosting the nation’s fuel economy.”

I nodded, “That kind of sums it up.”

An understanding look flashed briefly on his face before he stared off into the space. “You hate Armond that much?” I heard from Nora that he and you used to be close, so how’d you two end up as enemies?”

“Life had different plans for us,” I shrugged.

“So you’re gonna ruthlessly force him into a dead end?” a voice startled me from behind. My head whipped around to see who it was; it was Nora, whom I haven’t seen in a while. She looked more elegant now in her fox-fur shawl as she glared at me with disappointment. “He already surrendered A City to you Fullers. Since then, he returned to his turf here in K City and hasn’t done anything bad. Why won’t you let him live?”

When did she get here?

I brushed my shock off and spoke casually, “What are you doing in K City? You didn’t even call to let me know you were coming.”

That prompted a sharp retort from her. “There’s nothing to say between us. I just happened to bump into you. Speaking of, why are you here? Don’t want to return what rightfully belongs to the Murphys?

My lips twitched with disdain at her. Rightfully theirs? “This doesn’t belong to the Murphys,” I snarled. “I don’t know why you’re here, Nora, but I’m sure you know that Armond doesn’t love you and that he’s only using you to get what he wants. Must you continue to lie to yourself?”

“That’s none of your concern. I don’t need you to explain whether he truly cares for me,” her gaze flickered in another direction. “You should give him that contract because he really needs it. I know that he wronged you guys in the past, but getting that contract is a matter of life and death for him. Can’t you give it to him?”

She wasn’t making sense at all. I couldn’t help but sigh at how blinded she was in helping Armond. “You should get your facts checked before telling me what to do. And Nora, don’t forget who you are and your values as an individual. It’s not wise to lose yourself whilst chasing after some unrequited love.”

I didn’t know what else to say after seeing the harsh determination in her eyes.

Sure enough, she refused to give in. She looked at me and softened her voice, “You Fullers have already gotten all the glory in the world. You don’t need what’s in that box, so there’s no point holding onto it. Why won’t you hand it over to Armond and help him out?

“Scarlett, we’ll always be friends, so can’t you do this favor for me? I know Armond hurt you guys in the past, but those times are over now. And you guys turned out fine anyway, so why not let bygones be bygones? Help him out just this once. I’m sure that Armond will get along with Ashton once he gets past this hurdle. We’ll do anything you ask after this, hmm? Please, Scarlett?”

In love, never say never chapter 1082

Nora drooped her shoulders and stared glassy-eyed at me.

My lips pressed into a thin line. I averted her stare by looking over to Holden, who was staring back at me with an uninterested expression. His eyes bore into mine, hinting that he wanted no part in any of this.

Then Nora’s hand clamped around my wrist, and her nails tore my flesh apart like a bear trap while she wailed, “I’m begging you, Scarlett. I’ll do anything you ask me to; I’ll even convince my grandpa to hand over the Oberick family business to you and Ashton. Please, Scarlett, I’ll do whatever it takes as long as you promise to help Armond. Just this time.”

An oncoming headache pounded at my temples, drawing my brows into a deep frown. “What are you thinking! Do you even know what you’re saying? How could you sacrifice your pride and get on your knees for some heartless, uncaring man?”

Nora’s eyes swelled and darkened into a deep red. “Scarlett, you’ve misunderstood Armond. He’s not the villain that you say he is. You’ve got it all wrong. I’ll call him over, and he’ll explain how things actually went down.”

At her bold correction, that annoying headache grew into an electric pain behind my eyes. I couldn’t help but bark out, “How dare you expect me to forgive him? You think you know everything, huh? Well, your loverboy orchestrated the car accident and abducted Ashton, then almost froze him to death in the refrigerating chamber. He did all that to obtain trading rights to the Taylor family’s port. Do you know that? How would you feel if you were in my shoes? If you knew that Armond did all that to Ashton, what would you truly do? Here you are, preaching to me about how he’s misunderstood and asking me to forgive him… but have you ever considered my feelings?

“You say that we’re best friends, yet you put me through the pain of losing my child. All because you called me, saying that you were drunk at Imperial Hotel. You knew that I would go to you. Then you used my kindness against me and caused my miscarriage… Do you even know how much the baby that you murdered meant to me? The doctors say that I’ll never be able to conceive again, and it’s all because of your phone call, that one dreaded call that stole my child from me. Tell me, Nora, do you not care about the lives of others? Because as long as you’re not the one suffering, then none of it matters? Because only your problems trump over anyone else’s?”

I never blamed her for my child’s death as I was equally responsible. However, she shouldn’t have pointed fingers at me and said that I misunderstood the whole situation and acted so condescendingly by telling me what to do. Her shamelessness ticked me off so much that it reddened my ears.

Hence, I couldn’t bite back my burning resentment any longer. The woman before me was no one worth saving, even if she was once my dearest friend.

Nora’s eyes swelled as if they were going to fall out at any moment. She gripped white-knuckled onto my clothes and begged, “I know what I did was wrong, but it’s too late to change anything now. Scarlett, please, I don’t know what to do anymore… Tell me, what do I do for you to give Armond the contract? All I want is to help the man I love to get through this hardship in his life. That’s all I ask…”

At that moment, I could no longer recognize my cheerful and carefree friend. Her tear-strewn face felt so foreign to me. It felt like I had never really known the real her, and now her facade was peeling away to reveal her green and hideous nature.

lodged at the back of my throat as

enough, I found myself asking a question that even I couldn’t

paused before admitting with a solemn weight, “Yes. He’s all I want, and I’d rather die than live in a world without

Because love isn’t one-sided, nor is it unrequited. Are you

had taken her by surprise. Her vision blurred, possibly

in her voice, “He loves me.

So you can quit your miserable begging because we’re not friends anymore. However… let’s make a bet since you’re so certain about

as I held her gaze. “Armond still

before she muttered, “You know that his health doesn’t allow for it. Plus, you have no right to use that against me. He treats me well enough, and not all couples need that kind of intimacy

never say never

in her. “Have you thought about why he refuses to seek medical attention, despite not being able to get it up every single time? Hmm? Have you considered that some people only react to those they have feelings for, so maybe

reddened hideously beyond recognition. She stared wide-eyed at me whilst speaking through jagged breaths, “You have no right, Scarlett! I don’t care for your lies because I know he

I couldn’t help but snicker. My shoulders raised uncontrollably as I

later tonight; If it turns out that he doesn’t love you, then I hope you reflect on him as

was nothing more I could say, so I dropped

beg me and gave up altogether. Before she left, she looked me in the eyes and swore that Armond loved her, as if she were reminding not only

until the moment

“Call me curious, but how does an outsider like you know

“Nonsense! Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if your mind is filled with junk. These were things that Nora and

talked about me behind my back? That’s crazy! I

This guy…

How brazen of

my phone to call Ashton but quickly realized that there was no signal. Frowning, my gaze snapped over

you staring at me?” he raised

raised my phone. “There’s no signal

scoffed, “Yeah. Isn’t that a given since he locked us up here? Did you really think he’d still allow you to contact Ashton or others from the outside

why aren’t you trying to escape?” My jaw dropped at how unbothered he

we’re trapped in a luxurious villa with good food, something I can’t get from a

How optimistic.

help is

put away my phone and sat down next to him. “Holden, can you not be so gullible? We’re literally trapped here, trapped! Come on, put your greed aside and help me think

response, “What for?

like my last brain cell had snapped after hearing that. Appalled, I shook my head at him. “Forget I ever asked and just do

set up the dinner table, Holden casually conversed

point convincing him to escape, and that made me lose my appetite. Instead, I looked out the window, scanning the perimeters of Armond’s ginormous villa. There was a stone wall around the villa that was way too high to climb, and the place was crawling

think of an alternative way out, I felt another headache pulsating at my temples. I whipped around to face Holden, who was chewing loudly with an oily sheen

but snap, “Holden Taylor, for the love of God, please stop eating and help me think

chuckled heartily, “If being that means living here and eating all this food every single day,

This man is hopeless.

Forget him then! My head ached from thinking of escape plans all day, yet I still hadn’t come up with a way out. At this

love, never say never

that Sasha’s parents were also locked up here. At the thought of this, I instinctively shot off the chair and paced out the

Worry seeped into my mind. Sasha’s parents couldn’t handle being

me with his bare hands if you somehow get yourself killed. So, it’s best to stay here. I’m sure someone will get

pursed my lips at that last bit. “Is that someone the person that you’re

and even complimented Armond’s private chef, singing

announcing, “Stay here while I head out for a bit. Don’t worry, Armond won’t hurt me since he still needs me to get that sandalwood box. And I’m sure he’s installed cameras all over this villa, so

and trailed down the hallway that Spencer took when he brought me up earlier. After walking for some time, I

worryingly at the realization that Armond’s villa must be built like

thought, I halted and scanned the never-ending walls around me. There were no stairways, and each door looked identical, down its gold knobs and intricate carvings. On

It swung like

tried to open them. Yet,

grew incessant as if my heart might

hesitance, I eventually gave in and trailed after the faint chatters of some men and women. I inhaled sharply as the

opened the door and entered before freezing

towards me, alarmed by my sudden entrance. The one person who didn’t seem shocked was Armond, who lounged leisurely on a sofa as his gaze trailed from the performance

wine and raised his eyebrows mockingly. “I see you’ve made it. Come in! Join the

stunned by everything to respond. Eventually, my lips parted as I managed

Stovall in.” Armond’s eyes fixated on me like a predator’s. He placed his glass down whilst a

back, straightening every fine strand of hair on my body. I trembled helplessly as two men grabbed onto my arms and brought me closer to Armond. They

a seat, come