When There Is Nothing Left But Love

There was no such thing as first love in the world of grownups. He smiled coldly. “Being too smart isn’t good for a woman. It’s better if you play dumb once in a while. You know how it feels to be loved. I’m sure you don’t want to lose it.”

I pursed my lips. Contrary to what he believed, all I felt was disgust. I kept quiet for a while before answering, “I want you to tell me the truth, Mr. Murphy.”

He nodded. “Remember where we first met?”

“J City’s cemetery.”

He nodded; his gaze still fixated on me. “To be precise, right in front of Mrs. Stovall’s tombstone.”

I knew my grandmother was a Stovall, so that wasn’t a shock. “So?” I looked at him. I saw Armond when I went to the cemetery on All Souls’ Day, but I didn’t think that much. I only thought he was being kind when he helped me out of the kidnapping, but after mulling it over, I thought things weren’t as simple as they seemed.

There are no coincidences in this world.

“I want the sandalwood box Mrs. Stovall left you.” His gaze was still cold as ever.

I stiffened up and frowned at him. “That’s a puzzle box. How do you know I have it?”

“I found out about it.”

if it could exchange five people’s lives and Ashton’s consolation, that would be worth it. I nodded.

and he stood up. “Sleep tight

had something else to say, but Abe had come down. “What were you guys talking about, Mr. Murphy?” Abe squinted at me, then his eyes were locked on my face, and he

talking to

a book by its cover. Beauty is nothing without

snorted and plopped down on the chair, staring at me quietly. “I can

I mulled over what Armond

better when I went to see them again. Nora, especially, had regained consciousness. She tugged at my arm, her eyes teary.

was starting to regain some color, though they were still relatively pale. Well, anyone would be driven

fearing for his life.

and Dante. They’d appear whenever I thought they weren’t around, but I could never find them whenever I

sleepless night that night, for Armond’s promise lit up my desire to get my life back, and the prospect of bringing Nora

engine coming from below. I froze in fear, thinking that Abe had come again. Then I went to the balcony to take a look, but someone knocked on the door before

Armond standing there. He was still cold as usual, though his black suit made him all the more distant. He