When There Is Nothing Left But Love
Chapter 35

Chapter 35For a transient moment, I deluded myself into thinking that the two of us could stay like this forever,and that our family of three could live happily ever after.The car stopped in front of a cozy-looking restaurant. I got down and went straight into therestaurant to replace us a table.It looked like not many people came here at night, so as soon as I sat down, the waiter handed me amenu. Since Ashton already had his dinner and I was having an upset stomach, I ordered some lightbites and a bowl of pumpkin soup.To my surprise, after Ashton parked his car, he came in with Rebecca and Joe flanking him.A coincidence?Or did they plan this beforehand?Seeing that I was already seated, Ashton and the two of them came over to join me. When Rebeccasaw me, there was a subtle shift in her expression, but she didn’t make any remarks since this was atable meant for four.Because I was already seated, Rebecca sat down next to me before Ashton could. She peered at meand asked in a voice as sweet as nectar, “You don't mind me sitting beside you, right, Scarlett?”Could I say that I minded it?Of course not!Hence, I remained silent.“What did you order?” Ashton asked as he took the menu from the waiter,"Some small bites and a bowl of soup,” I replied.He nodded and chose a few items from the menu. Just then, Joe pursed his lips and complained,"Don't order anything for me, Ashton. I don’t have an appetite.”Ashton nodded and gave the menu back to the waiter.Thereafter, the three of them started to chat. I couldn't join in their conversation, so I simply stayedsilent.The waiter brought over a bow! of pumpkin soup after a while. The moment he placed in on thetable, Ashton naturally pushed it toward Rebecca and said in a deep voice, “I ordered this for you.Drink some. It'll warm you up.”Rebecca bearned. “Pumpkin soup is my absolute favorite! You really do know me best, Ashton!”The chemistry between them was like a knife stabbing straight into my heart.He remembered many things about her down to the tiniest details. His bone-deep affection towardher was something I could never earn even if I were given a whole lifetime to pursue it."Scarlett, what soup did you order? Why don't we share? The pumpkin soup here is really good. Ashused to bring me here, so I know.” Without waiting for me to reply, Rebecca pushed the bowl ofsoup in front of me.I shook my head and pushed the bowl back with a smile. “I ordered one too. It'll be here soon.”She shrugged and continued chatting with the two men, making me feel slightly left out.Before long, the small bites and soup I ordered were served. Rebecca noticed that I had alsoordered pumpkin soup and smiled innocently at me. “It looks like you like pumpkin soup too,Scarlett. Let me tell you a secret. Ashton makes the best soup!”As she spoke, she leaned so close to me that I could feel her breath on my neck. I didn't like it whenothers came too close to me, so I shifted slightly with a frown on my face."Ow!" Suddenly, my half-eaten bowl! of pumpkin soup was spilled all over me, making a completemess.Because it was hot, my knee-jerk reaction was to stand up, but I accidentally bumped into Rebeccawho was leaning close to me. Following that was her whimper of pain.The blistering pain from getting scalded was so unbearable that I couldn't be bothered toapologize, frantically reaching out to grab a piece of tissue to wipe the soup on my legs. Beforecoming out, I had only changed into a dress because Ashton was already waiting for me. The dresswas thin, so my skin was already red.After wiping most of the soup from my legs, I looked up to see that Ashton was crouched in front ofRebecca as he carefully wiped her bleeding nose.I thought back and realized that I must have knocked her nose when I got up too abruptly just now,0...Joe grabbed a tissue and handed it to Ashton, glaring at me as he spat, “Are you always such aklutz, Ms. Stovall?"I was momentarily at a loss for words.Looking at Rebecca's swollen eyes and her bleeding nose, I forced an apology through the ache inmy heart. “I'm sorry, Ms. Larson.”I was certain that I didn't touch the bowl of pumpkin soup just now. Other than Rebecca, who wasthe closest to me, I couldn't think of anyone who would be so lame as to intentionally spill a bowi ofsoup on me.“It's fine, Scarlett. Just be more careful next time.” After that, Rebecca turned her red-rimmed eyesto Ashton. “Ash, I've lost my appetite. Can you go for a stroll with me?”Ashton frowned, looking at the untouched food on the table and said, “Eat a little bit first.”It seemed like amid this crisis, no one had noticed that I was scalded or even realized that the soupwas spilled on me.

* Standing by the side, I suddenly felt that my presence was redundant and laughable.“I'm leaving,” I announced, then turned and left to the restaurant. My heart felt like it had beenstabbed with a blade made of pure ice, the agony almost making my legs give out beneath me.God is so unfair. He gifted some women with happiness, while other women with suffering.“Scarlett!” A low and furious voice came from behind me. I looked back and saw that Ashton hadfollowed me out.He looked at me with furrowed brows, seemingly controlling his anger when he asked, “What areyou doing?”What am I doing?Is it accusation I'm detecting in his tone?Is he accusing me of knocking intoRebecca?“I don't have an appetite, so I'm going home.” Feeling miserable, I didn’t want to say too much forfear of losing control of my emotions and ending up airing my grievances to him.