When There Is Nothing Left But Love

I felt as nonplussed as Armond looked. We both thought that Ashton was prepared to give me the scolding of a lifetime.

Rachel’s look of shock on her tear-streaked face told me that she did not expect Ashton to be this lenient with me as well.

I hesitated for a fraction of a second but repeated my sincere apology toward Rachel.

Ashton looked down at her. “Ms. Zimmer, I, too, am sorry for whatever transpired today. I will be sure to make the arrangements to see that you are compensated for.”

He was indifferent but cunning about how he had crafted that sentence.

Rachel was deathly pale as she stood up. She gazed at Ashton with disappointment but was unable to say anything more.

All of a sudden, Joseph appeared and took her away to the hospital.

Armond had nothing more to say as well. He exchanged several words of courtesy with Ashton and promptly departed.

After they left, Ashton and I remained where we were. I hung my head and prepared myself for the telling-off I was about to receive.

“I shouldn’t have hit her,” I blurted out. “I won’t do it again.”

“If you didn’t hit back, she’d walk all over you,” he said with an unflinching gaze at me.

I was shocked, to say the least. I looked up at him quizzically.

Ashton gently lifted up my sleeves and frowned at my scratch scars. “Did you return the favor?”

nails a few days ago, so I think they didn’t hurt her. I did pull out some of her hair,

gazed at me with a crestfallen expression written across his handsome features. “You could have used your fists or, at

with fists and feet. Actually, it was a good thing that

still managed to get yourself hurt. You weren’t even the one who threw the

like a guilty child. “If Linda weren’t here, I wouldn’t have dared to start a fight,” I said in a small voice. “I wouldn’t have been able to beat her anyway. She’s

grunted and turned to leave at

steps. My heart filled with joy at every step he took that led him

to look behind him when he did not hear me anymore. “What is it?” he

can’t walk.” I remained squatted and pretended to

near tears with exasperation. “Just tell me. What should I

racked my brain for a moment. “Could

“Is your

a

would

I said in a huff and got

knew that he wanted me to say it out loud, but if it

in his eye. As I walked past him, he swept me up roughly

by the sudden

without saying

exited the corridor, the employees of the

were under the impression that Ashton and Rachel were something of