When There Is Nothing Left But Love

Ashton tends to do things this way too. I hung my head low at the sudden, intrusive thought about him while my nose wrinkled in discomfort.

Marcus did not notice my minute reaction. He merely grinned. “It’s not a waste. See, we’re using it now, aren’t we?”

We took a spin around the house. It didn’t look like we need to buy or replace anything, but the kitchen looked quite empty. Perhaps Marcus, assuming that I was not much of a cook, did not bother too much with the layout.

“Is there anything missing?” He said, changing the house key and fingerprint code to mine.

I nodded in response. “Since you’re free tonight, why don’t we cook at home? I can give Macy and Jackson a call later, invite them to join in. I should let them know I’m safe anyway. Ever since I left, it’s like I’ve been cut off from the outside world.”

Marcus nodded. He did not look too good, but I paid little mind to that.

We left the residence together and headed to the supermarket. There, we stocked up on basic cooking necessities, including rice, cooking oil, sugar, and salt. Marcus turned to me with a look of surprise. “You can cook?”

It was so embarrassing to have that question thrown at me. Impatiently, I rebutted, “Don’t underestimate me, alright? What makes you think I can’t cook?”

I picked a few seasonings and added bluntly, “Just you wait, I’ll show you what I’m capable of tonight!”

Laughter escaped him. He raised a hand, patted me on the head, and said, “Alright then. I’ll wait!”

the shelf behind him, so I asked for a favor, “Marcus, can you help me get that seasoning bag? I can’t reach

respond. Instead, he just stared at a target behind me, looking rather solemn. I froze,

but Marcus pulled me

was in a stern tone, “It’s getting late.

someone forcibly grabbed hold of

with depth, eagerness, and delight interwoven in a complicated mess. In short, the emotions reflected in

was at a loss of what to do. My body stiffened, my heart began to ache, and the dense pain began

hands and body tremble. In a moment, I broke off eye contact and

not ready to tell him what happened to the baby. I was not ready to give him

A woman’s dainty voice suddenly rang, and

eyes darted to Rebecca, whose belly had already begun to show. She was standing next to a shopping cart stacked with lots

out these items before. They were more

 Staring at Rebecca with a pair of reddened eyes, I was on the brink of emotional collapse. In that instant, I lost control. I shoved

almost frantically at Rebecca. No

thing I knew, I tore at

gone mad! Scarlett, you mad woman! Ash, save me!” Rebecca, scared out of her wits, kept screaming.

me from behind. They had me tightly secured in their arms. A low, gruff voice rang in

maddening red. I