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?”

ago, so I think they didn’t hurt her. I did pull out some of her

his handsome features. “You could have used your fists or, at

with fists and feet. Actually, it was a good thing that Linda had drenched her before the fight got too

some playful disdain. “Two of you ganging up on a woman, and you still managed to get yourself

Linda weren’t here, I wouldn’t have dared to start a fight,”

grunted and turned to leave at

steps. My heart filled with joy at

did not hear me anymore. “What

remained squatted and pretended to be

tears with exasperation. “Just tell me. What

a moment.

laughed helplessly. “Is

a shake of my

would

love me!” I said in a huff and

it out loud, but if it had to be forced, it’d lose its

looked at me with a twinkle in his eye. As I walked past him, he swept me up roughly in his

startled by the sudden movement. “Ashton, you jerk!” I

without saying much

corridor, the employees of the base caught sight of us

they were