When There Is Nothing Left But Love (Ashton And Scarlett)

“Do we know each other?” I stammered hesitantly, frowning.

“It’s me,” The man muttered thickly. He looked as if he was struggling to quell some intense emotion that was rising within him. He cleared his throat, then said, raising his voice, “It’s me, John Stovall.”

John’s eyes were brimming with tears. When his statement elicited no response from me, he looked at rueful, then asked, “Have you really forgotten who I am?”

John? I pondered. That name sounds strangely familiar…

My eyes darted from him to the little girl standing just beside him. Realization dawned upon me.

John was a member of the Stovall family and “Scarlett”’s relative. I recalled briefly seeing him listed amongst the material that Ashton had given me. John had grown out his beard, which hindered me from recognizing him at first glance.

According to Ashton’s plan, I was to battle John in court over custody rights.

regret within me now? I wondered. The sight of John and the little girl standing next

to Ashton, for using the pretense of “Scarlett”

sat the girl down on the sofa facing me. He then placed the manila envelope he’d brought along with him

briefly

given up on searching for you. To take care of the child, as well as to accumulate enough funds, we arranged to migrate. We’d even made the entire company move. It was all to no avail, however. That’s why

his composure. He paused and took several long, deep breaths. Lowering his gaze for a while, John’s elegant fingers drumming furiously on the surface of the manila envelope as

as well as a Share Transfer Agreement of half of Stovall Corporation’s shares.

her hand gently, then

and looked at me uncertainly. She turned back to face John, who smiled at her encouragingly and gave her a nudge. Audrey turned back to look at

John’s affirmation that this was indeed her mommy. Audrey

nonetheless moved by the earnestness

had when I’d hugged Gregory, I felt a sudden rush of tears now as I held Audrey’s