When There Is Nothing Left But Love

He’d just finished speaking when John violently shrugged him off. Caught off-balance by John’s abrupt jerk, Joseph fell to the floor.

Joseph’s moans of pains mingled with Audrey’s piping voice. Joseph made a great effort to get up, but John cruelly stepped on him, hard, condemning him to lie pinned on the ground.

“You were never a match for me. How dare you touch me? You’re really a worthy sidekick for Ashton! A dog behaves exactly like its master. You’re both pathetic,” John spat resentfully. Every word, though directed at Joseph, was clearly meant for Ashton’s ears.

In one swift motion, John took his foot off Joseph, then spun around and sauntered over to Ashton. Without hesitation, John threw a hard punch in Ashton’s face, then immediately followed it with a flying kick.

Ashton flew backward, landing on the grass patch by the curbside. He struggled to stand, but John lunged forward and wrapped both arms around Ashton’s neck. He strangled Ashton and the latter’s face instantly darkened into a deep crimson. The fall had entirely wiped off Ashton’s earlier dignified manner.

“You didn’t see this coming, did you? I wasn’t able to take Letty with me six years ago. I will now,” John jeered. Through gritted teeth, he continued, “Look at you. You haven’t improved at all. Do you expect to be able to keep Scarlett with you based on that feeble amount of strength alone?”

By then, the servants had all crept out of the main house to watch the scene. They fretted over whether they should intervene but ultimately were overcome by their fear. No one stepped forward.

I, too, was dumbfounded by John’s sudden violence. Recovering, however, I glanced at Ashton’s pale face in worry.

really intending to kill Ashton? I

I had no

Joseph staggered over, however, intending to wrench John and Ashton apart, John had already taken a few steps back and was dusting

still singing blissfully. “Jingle bells, Jingle bells, jingle

his clothes, then directed an icy look at Ashton’s crumpled body. John then stepped

once again knelt down and tapped Audrey gently

around on her heels gladly. She clung to John, babbling eagerly, “Did you win, Uncle John? Did you

thumbed her on the nose. “Of course,

a game to her where Uncle John had warded off the bad guys. However, her eyes darted alertly to Ashton, who was stumbling to his feet behind John. Audrey’s little

she was rather unimpressed. Her frown had deepened

wearing from his earlier

John from his humiliation. “Audrey, it’s all right. Daddy just tripped over and fell. It doesn’t hurt at all!” he said

if not for the bright-red specks of blood around his mouth. His

his breath sharply through his teeth. He was clearly in agony. Looking at the sorry sight he made