When There Is Nothing Left But Love

The more desperate I wanted to study, the less I could focus. My mind was wandering off to cloudland. I only snapped out of it when I felt a familiar warm hand on mine. I lifted my head, and my eyes met Ashton’s.

“Still upset?” Ashton broke the silence.

I lowered my eyes and shook my head. “No.”

If I had any anger, it was directed at me. For ten years, I lived under the protective wings of these two men. I allowed myself to stagnate and cease to flourish.

“Marcus had approached me for help,” Ashton started sharing. “It was before I went overseas. I already promised him I would help him, on the condition he shall not tell you about it. Yet, he still came and stayed a long time with you. And those securities did not notify me. Imagine how disastrous that would be if anything untoward happened, and those irresponsible securities failed to inform me.”

He began to sound resentful, but he suppressed his emotion in front of me. In the end, everything boiled down to him wanting to protect me.

when he made those decisions, and he kept things hushed to protect me. On the other hand, I

sorry.” I tried giving him a smile, but could only manage a bitter smile. “I used to

the blame on Camelia for not upholding her own dignity and pride. Nonetheless, we cannot deny the fact that if Marcus had not met me,

like Yvonne, yet I was not as forthcoming when Camelia needed help. I could not forgive myself for this. Even if Camelia and Toby were to return

instinctively covered my mouth, brushed Ashton aside, and ran to the nearest restroom. I bent down to the

on the basin and had one hand clenching my

familiar with morning sickness. Deep in my heart, I knew the in-vitro fertilization procedure was a success, but I could not feel the

was by my side, and he saved me. However, time and again, I stood

asked myself. Could I really feign ignorance and innocently continue to nurture a business and family with Ashton while