In Love, Never Say Never

Thinking that Ashton had left to handle the issue with Nicolas, I headed downstairs to make a phone call.

It was only when I arrived at the living room that I saw him and the kids all sitting on a sofa, each one of them as quiet as a mouse.

My husband was holding a tablet, probably working. Gregory was having online classes with earphones plugged in, while Summer was reading a thick book. Even Audrey was keeping herself entertained by sitting down at a table and practicing her handwriting.

There was something amiss about the entire scene.

Ashton was the first one to notice my presence, putting his tablet down and walking over to place a kiss on my forehead. “You’re awake.”

“Mhm,” I nodded. “You guys…?”

Audrey immediately jumped up at the sound of my voice, loudly announcing, “Mommy! Daddy was being mean and didn’t let me talk!”

Summer quickly reached over to tickle her little sister in an attempt to get her to shut up. “That’s because you were being too noisy and woke Daddy up! It would be bad if you woke Mommy up too, you tiny monkey.”

“No, I didn’t!” Audrey argued through a fit of giggles, scrambling away from Summer’s hands. “Uncle John said—”

uncle, she instantly stopped herself short and pursed her

a kid who wore her heart

sleep for?” I asked

Audrey wash up,” Summer interrupted

mean that he’d taken John’s place and only slept for

Just then, John walked in from

a small voice, “Don’t blame me. Audrey’s your biological child,

you went back to sleep

shrugged. I couldn’t argue with him on that, and it seemed like he was going to stubbornly defend himself to

Ashton go upstairs to rest for a while

though the day before had

let myself finish that thought. Regardless, we were no longer in our young adult life; we’d grown old and

used to it,” Ashton laughed. “I’ve been surviving on three or four hours

soured. He must have had a rough time while being the Hall family’s cash cow

and gently massaged my stiff shoulders. “I’ll have plenty of chances to rest in the future,” he reassured. “But I want to handle all our current problems before anything else. Next time, you’ll