In Love, Never Say Never

“Do we know each other?” I stammered hesitantly, frowning.

“It’s me,” The man muttered thickly. He looked as if he was struggling to quell some intense emotion that was rising within him. He cleared his throat, then said, raising his voice, “It’s me, John Stovall.”

John’s eyes were brimming with tears. When his statement elicited no response from me, he looked at rueful, then asked, “Have you really forgotten who I am?”

John? I pondered. That name sounds strangely familiar…

My eyes darted from him to the little girl standing just beside him. Realization dawned upon me.

John was a member of the Stovall family and “Scarlett”’s relative. I recalled briefly seeing him listed amongst the material that Ashton had given me. John had grown out his beard, which hindered me from recognizing him at first glance.

According to Ashton’s plan, I was to battle John in court over custody rights.

within me now? I wondered. The sight of John and the little girl standing next to each

using the pretense of “Scarlett” to tear John and the little girl

living room, John sat the girl down on the sofa facing me. He then placed the manila envelope he’d brought along with him on

entered, John had briefly announced, “I’m

never given up on searching for you. To take care of the child, as well as to accumulate enough funds, we arranged to migrate. We’d even made the entire company move. It was all to no avail, however. That’s why I was only able to finally meet with you

a hint of sorrow in his voice. In front of the child’s inquisitive eyes, however, John had to maintain his composure. He paused and took several long, deep breaths. Lowering his gaze for a while, John’s elegant fingers drumming furiously on the surface of the manila envelope as

Transfer Agreement of half of Stovall Corporation’s shares. When you return, you’ll

then turned towards the little girl. He took her hand gently,

She turned back to face John, who smiled at her encouragingly and gave her a

seemed emboldened now by John’s affirmation that this was indeed her mommy. Audrey ran towards me as fast as her

fluent in the language, I was nonetheless moved by the earnestness with which Audrey cried. As she clung to my neck and wept, my heart

the oddest feeling. Just as I had when I’d hugged Gregory, I felt a sudden rush of tears now as I