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.

me. On the other hand, I wanted to help Marcus as I felt indebted to him. Both

smile, but could only manage a bitter smile. “I used

her own dignity and pride. Nonetheless, we cannot

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 safely, I wonder if I could still be at ease when I meet them in the

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

and had one hand clenching my tummy. I looked at myself in

went through pregnancy twice, so I was familiar with morning sickness. Deep in my heart, I knew the in-vitro fertilization procedure was a success, but I

my side, and he saved me. However, time and again, I stood by and did nothing when he needed

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