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?”

found out about

my grandma left it for me. However, if it could exchange

and he stood up. “Sleep tight and wake up early next

face,

was talking

judge a book by its cover. Beauty is nothing without a

the chair, staring at

stay any longer, and I mulled over what Armond

better when I went to see them again. Nora, especially, had regained consciousness. She tugged at

were still relatively

in the villa, probably fearing for his life. He was

they weren’t around,

for Armond’s promise lit up my desire to get

up until late in the night, then I heard the roar of the engine coming from below. I froze in fear, thinking that Abe had

a few more knocks, though surprisingly, it was Armond standing there. He was still