When There Is Nothing Left But Love

Tessa then walked up to me and asked me to sing with her.

I was no idiot; it was clearly a business maneuver on Derek’s part to use alcohol and pretty ladies as a social lubricant to loosen Ashton up in order to help their subsequent business discussion.

I did not like singing, and Tessa’s incessant pestering was starting to get under my skin.

I finally stood up and said, “It’s late, we should head back to Nora and Armond.”

Tessa was momentarily taken aback, but quickly replaced her expression with a smiling face. “There’s no rush. Let’s have more fun here before we go!”

She then poured me a glass of wine before she continued to persuade me to stay, “Scarlett, since we are now officially friends, we should drink for it!”

This woman is just too calculative to be a good candidate for either a friend or a colleague.

But since the wine glass was already pushed into my hand, it would be rather rude for me to decline.

Before the glass touched my lips, a hand flashed before my eyes and took over the glass.

When I turned around, Ashton had already downed the glass of wine for me.

Before I snapped out of my bewilderment, Tessa said alluringly, “Mr. Fuller, are you trying to be a hero to the damsel in distress?”

laugh. The result of which was somewhat disturbing, because, rather than a

pleasure meeting you today. Let’s keep in touch and maybe we can hang out sometime. Cheers to a new friendship!” It was the classic playbook for “How

he took over a drink from Tessa and clinked glass with her. “Since you’re Scarlett’s friend, it’s a pleasure to make

suddenly star-struck, for this seemed to be the first time Ashton had addressed her directly. “Ah, don’t mention it. Scarlett and I

hearing this, Ashton was a little startled when he shifted

wished Tessa would just

brought to Venria not long ago and had been through hell, almost

the second. He darted a glance at

I still wondered what that was about, Joseph sat down next to Tessa and they started

thought Joseph

us. “Did you hide that from me because you didn’t want me to worry?” he asked in a lowered

my lips, I replied

moment, “I don’t know the meaning of freedom, so I will not let you

my heart. To conceal my emotions, I lowered my gaze and gulped down

so,” I said while attempting

tightened around me. “Do you have

my lips and

to strike up a conversation with Ashton, but each time, her attempt was blocked