When There Is Nothing Left But Love

From how gently I spoke, I probably sounded like a thoughtful wife.

Ashton’s gaze on me darkened for a moment before he began to introduce the man briefly.

This man so happened to be Henry Lowell, the owner of this courtyard and heir of a prominent family of doctors. He was so passionate about medicinal herbs and ingredients that he decided to cultivate them here.

The beautiful woman with him was his wife, and the one-year-old child was his son.

After a brief exchange of greetings, I felt unsettled. I had been trying too hard to keep my pregnancy a secret from Ashton all this while; what if Henry were to reveal it?

Feeling worried, I couldn’t help but glance at Jared, hoping he would think of a way to help me.

At this moment, Mrs. Lowell returned with the freshly cooked cuttlefish stew and beamed at me. “Try some of this, Mrs. Fuller. I loved this when I was pregnant. It may taste a little strange, but my husband added some nourishing herbs into it, so they’re especially good for you. How many weeks old is your child?”

Suddenly feeling panicky, I returned a smile. “It was six weeks old, but Ashton and I hadn’t planned for the child. That’s why we decided to get an abortion.”

The woman was dumbfounded and stared at me, looking rather doubtful. “You don’t look like—”

“These are just some symptoms of false pregnancy, Mrs. Lowell. She’ll be fine as time passes. I can’t help but admire you and your husband, though. You’re both so experienced that you could tell she was pregnant just by observing her.” Jared, who was sipping some tea, finally spoke up.

for a moment before smiling and saying nothing more. Mrs. Lowell, on the other hand, still couldn’t seem to believe

her to glance at me in surprise before nodding and leaving

to Ashton. “Since you’ve come all the way here, I’ve prepared some herbs for Mrs. Fuller. If she takes them diligently, it won’t be

I

though he had specifically brought me over to have Henry take a

silent the whole time until we

Joe couldn’t stand the sight of me, so he pestered Ashton to

matters to take care of, I got down and said I would take

didn’t say much. He merely told me to be careful before leaving

approaching Jared, but couldn’t as he was surely with Ashton now. With

had gotten dark and the bar

me. “What are you doing here instead of resting at home?” she demanded, looking like she wanted

out before finding myself

seemingly about to explode. “You’ve just had an abortion a few days ago, Ms. Stovall. Can you please take better care of yourself and

her. “Give me

not here to relieve my boredom,” she replied before heading to