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.

intending to

that I had no cause for concern,

John had already taken

me, Audrey was still singing blissfully. “Jingle bells, Jingle bells, jingle

clothes, then directed an icy look at Ashton’s crumpled body. John then stepped over to where Audrey

once again knelt down and tapped Audrey gently on her shoulder for

She clung to John, babbling eagerly, “Did you win,

soberly, then thumbed her on the nose. “Of course, I won! How can Uncle

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

made it perfectly evident that she was rather unimpressed.

had been wearing from his earlier victory faded. He suddenly looked

his humiliation. “Audrey, it’s all right. Daddy just tripped over and fell. It

specks of blood around his mouth.

through his teeth. He was clearly in agony. Looking at the sorry