When There Is Nothing Left But Love

Cameron brought some breakfast to the living room, then came back to the dining table and glanced at me. “The Stovalls called this morning and invited us for dinner. Everyone knows that you’re back and they’re all asking for a gathering.”

I stuffed a pastry into my mouth and spoke in a garbled voice, “Mm, I need to pay Uncle Louis a visit anyway.”

When she saw the way I was wolfing down the food, she placed a glass of milk in front of me and said in fond exasperation, “Slow down. What’s the rush? No one’s going to take your food. Now, be honest with me. What’s going on between you and Ashton?”

I took a sip of milk and feigned cluelessness. “What do you mean what’s going on?”

She clucked her tongue and chided, “Do you take us for blind fools? If there’s nothing wrong, why did you ignore him completely and come in here on your own? You two weren’t like this before!”

I pursed my lips and countered, “Oh? How were we before?”

She sighed. “It’s normal for couples to quarrel, but Mr. Fuller treats you well in every way possible and we can all see that. Don’t do anything foolish. Live a peaceful life with him and stop kicking up a fuss!”

I put my glass down and nodded. After wiping my mouth, I declared, “I’m done eating.”

She released another soft sigh, wanting to persuade me but had no idea how to even begin.

I went to the living room and saw Ashton playing a game of chess with Zachary. Hence, I decided to go upstairs to wake Summer. Before I could, however, I was unexpectedly stopped by Zachary. “Letty, I heard Mr. Fuller said that you’re quite skilled at chess. Come here and help me out. I’ve already lost several games.”

was White, while Ashton was Black. Zachary’s queen had already been taken and he only had one miserable knight left. Even his two bishops were captured. Right then, Ashton’s chess pieces

called me over to diffuse the awkward situation. Seeing as there was no way to turn things around, I shifted my gaze to Ashton but didn’t

few days of not seeing him, his face was slightly haggard, but he still

but didn’t speak either. Instead, he looked at Zachary and stated, “It’s your turn,

he makes, he was doomed to lose. Thus, he simply stood up and glanced

speechless. It was obvious

a chess piece, I propped my

my question with a question. “Why

pieces away before glancing at him with a helpless expression. “You’re an extremely busy man. I

lips, his gaze landing on the chess piece I just moved away. Sighing softly, he compromised and removed another chess piece,

was a misunderstanding. Joe was there too. You

his idea

won’t be necessary. You’re a prominent and powerful man.

frown deepened and he took my pawn

your

down. Massaging his nose bridge, he put the white pawn he had captured on the chessboard again and placed his black rook diagonal to it. Then, he trained his eyes on me and