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?”

about it.” And

it could exchange five people’s lives and

he stood up. “Sleep

come down. “What were you guys talking about, Mr. Murphy?” Abe squinted at me, then his eyes were locked on my face, and he criticized, “She has the curves, and her features are nice, but she has a scar. She’s not

talking

smiled at me. “Never judge a book by its cover. Beauty is nothing

plopped down on the chair, staring at me

longer, and I mulled over what Armond told me. It would be

them again. Nora, especially, had regained consciousness. She tugged at my arm, her eyes

else was starting to regain some color, though they were still relatively pale.

fearing for his life. He was always cautious and appeared out

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

night that night, for Armond’s promise lit up my desire to get my life back, and the

until late in the night, then I heard the roar of the engine coming from below. I froze in fear, thinking that Abe had come again. Then I went to the balcony to take a look,

standing there. He was still cold as usual, though his black suit made him all the more distant. He frowned at me. “Let’s