When There Is Nothing Left But Love

Ashton had already flung the blanket aside, a rapid motion that lifted up my skirt along with it. Horrified, I snatched it back and cringed beneath it. “Ashton, you brute…”

He turned to me with a smouldering look. Without another word, he got up and strode out of the room.

I gaped at him. Did he just walk out on me? I thought in disbelief.

Ashton returned a few minutes later with a first aid kit in his hand. He once again took up his seat beside my bed and deftly began to apply ointment to my arm.

Ashton’s regular, handsome features, framed by the soft glow of the light in the room, made a familiar but irresistible picture. I realized with a start that I’d known him for close to ten years now. He remained, however, just as gorgeous as when I’d first met him.

When he had finished, Ashton suddenly raised his head. Deep in thought, I hadn’t time to react and was confronted with his intense stare.

Our eyes met. For a moment, I felt as if I’d plunged deep into his obsidian eyes. My face burned and I could feel my heart racing in my chest.

“Ahem,” I coughed. My throat suddenly felt incredibly parched. “I’m very grateful to you for what happened tonight. I’m willing to overlook your trespassing incident and so won’t be calling the police. Goodbye!”

“Ha!” Ashton gave a high, dry laugh. He narrowed his eyes at me, then remarked, “Scarlett, I never realized how cunning you are with your words!”

Ashton was just inches away from me, and we were close enough to feel each other’s breaths on our faces. I flinched. “I wasn’t quibbling,” I argued breathlessly, my heart pounding. “I was speaking the truth. Ashton, I told you that there was nothing between us anymore. Once I’ve finished this project, we’ll go back to J City and get our divorce papers. Things will be officially over between

and lay back down on the bed, facing away from

as still as a statue. After a while, when he

Ashton was staring straight at me. “Is it because of the baby? Or is it because of your parents?”

look in his eyes gripped me. I bit my lip, then said slowly, “Isn’t it obvious? You didn’t experience first-hand any of the events that I went through. They’re all a list of incidents in your mind. We lost a baby, and I still bear grudge against my parents. You don’t know how it feels! You think that these things can be overcome easily. You think I should

spoke. “They’re not just a list of incidents to me. If you want freedom or a new start, I’m willing to give everything up. Until then, Scarlett,

tone. I hadn’t foreseen that Ashton, who was usually so domineering,

those words left my lips, however, there was a

…

the next morning arrived bathed in a soft, sunny radiance. The air

I woke up, Ashton was no longer in the bedroom. He’d evidently snuck away sometime in the night, probably after I had fallen

up, then went to downstairs to prepare breakfast. There was no sign of Armond for

The bed was still

rest of the house had

with