When There Is Nothing Left But Love

The two sisters looked to be having more fun out there while Gregory and the housekeeper were hiding under the shade, completely in their own little world as they fiddled with some miniature laptops like usual.

Hearing a commotion coming from the study, I tore my gaze away and headed there.

I stopped at the doorway. Ashton and John were acting strangely civil with one another as they stared intently at the painting bought from Nathaniel’s art gallery yesterday.

The painting was being displayed on an easel in the center of the study. John sat in an armchair off to one side, occasionally sneaking interested glances at the artwork.

Ashton, on the other hand, was standing right in front of the easel. His expression was completely serious and his gaze was sharp as he reached out to feel the texture of the painting, as if he would be able to understand the artist’s emotions that way.

It took a while for them to notice my presence, Ashton’s eyes softening in mirth when he saw me. “You’re awake.”

“Mhm.” I entered the room, sitting down on a chair beside John. “Why were you so insistent on buying this painting? What’s so special about it?”

I eyed John as I spoke, curious about the answer.

have returned to the country,” John randomly said instead, changing the topic. “It’ll be easier

of other

in a long time. He had every

up, “I think that’s a good

reunion with Emma and Drew might be just the thing to lift John’s spirits and prevent any further friction between him

number as he made to leave the

Ashton doesn’t deserve

towards Ashton, who didn’t seem at all perturbed. The corners of his lips quirked up as he helped me to my feet and led me to

surface of the canvas. The rough, uneven texture of the dried oil paints

artistic intuition, but I couldn’t feel any emotions rise within me even while observing the painting at such a close distance. After a short pause, I awkwardly pulled my hand back. “I’d rather you just

up a single banknote, mysteriously pressing it into my

to absorb some sort of power from your wealth?” I joked. “Is this going to help open up my third