When There Is Nothing Left But Love

He smiled again, gazing at me with his dark eyes. “I got someone to follow her—don’t worry about it. Originally, I planned to go out for a walk with you alone, but Joe isn’t around, and Rebecca might be bored if I left her alone in the hotel. Next time, let’s go out by ourselves, alright?”

I pursed my lips and grunted in response, sounding rather deflated. When had he become so close to Rebecca, anyway?

Over the past few weeks, he had started treating her like a younger sister who had been entrusted to his care!

He suddenly leaned closer and pinched my cheeks. It hurt a little. I looked up and met his gaze defiantly. In a low voice, he said, “Scarlett, as long as she doesn’t do anything inappropriate, can’t you just treat her as your younger sister? Do you need to make things so difficult for the both of us? Just let go of your grudge, won’t you?”

I frowned even more fiercely. His words had touched a raw nerve in me. Staring at him in the eye, I asked, “Is that all I am to you? A wretched woman who has been wasting away in hatred and regret?”

Was he castigating me for acting like a woman who had been deserted by her husband?

Hearing my sudden question, the smile disappeared from his face. “Scarlett, you know that isn’t what I meant!”

The streets were swimming with people and having an argument here would only reflect badly on us. I pursed my lips and kept quiet.

seemed to have realized the mistake in his words, too. He tried to take my hand, but I

on her face. “Ash, take a look at these! My brother and I

of the yo-yos. “Do you want

“No thanks!” I

looked at Rebecca and nagged, “Don’t

Usually, it would be a dream to sniff the air of Jadeborough and have a stroll

very happy when I came to visit with Nora the other day, but all I felt in my heart now

more, Rebecca seemed to get a little tired. She ran over to a bench by the side of the street and sat down. Smiling

the whole thing, neither Ashton nor I said a word. After sitting on the bench for a few minutes, Rebecca seemed to think of something. Pulling Ashton up, she turned to me and said, “Ms. Stovall,

into the crowd along

scenery would have made me very happy on normal days, but I couldn’t find it in me to smile

ring. It was a K City number. Who was calling me from K City? I thought for a few

heard the sweet voice of a little girl on the other end of the line. “Mommy, are you still at work? Why is it so

froze for a second. I had nearly forgotten that Summer promised to call me every night. Snapping out of my daze, I said, “Oh, I just had dinner, and I’m out for a walk