Chapter 1346
When There Is Nothing Left But Love
I saw it with my own eyes. I didnât just think he did it. I knew the man did it! I looked at Joseph, but he
was standing behind Ashton calmly, as if he didnât do anything.
Well, maybe he didnât, but how would I know that? Joseph worked for Ashton long enough, so he was
an expert in hiding his emotions. I wasnât sure if he was actually innocent or putting up an act.
I racked my brains and calmed down. âWhereâs the volunteer?â I asked Ashton. I wouldnât believe he
didnât have anything to do with it until I saw the volunteer.
Ashton knew that was coming, so he looked to the mechanical door on his right. âOpen the door,â he
instructed coldly.
The door opened. I gave Ashton another glance before going into the room. I had to go through
another couple of rooms before finally seeing the volunteers who were taking the risk for me.
It was a room that measured a hundred meters square, and it was divided into four equal parts. The
volunteers were kept inside the glass walls. There was nothing but beds and desks inside. The
volunteers were wearing patient attire and living their lives inside as if they were merchandises on a
shelf. It made it easy for the researchers to observe the medicineâs effect.
âTheyâll go back safe and sound after the experiment. And theyâll be paid a million as thanks. Also, the
Fullers will take care of them for the rest of their lives,â Ashton said coolly as if he was just listing his
grocery list.
I knew he was doing it for me, but I couldnât accept that someone else had to be sacrificed for it. It
didnât even take one minute before I wanted to leave.
Ashton sent his men away and came up to me. âJust pretend youâve never seen this. I did this, so it has
nothing to do with you. If someoneâs gonna get bitten in the *ss, itâs me.â
It was the law of equivalent exchange. Ashton made it sound so easy, but what he did was controlling
someone elseâs life with money so nobody else needed to take the risk. It was insane. People should
be equal, but I couldnât tell him that when I saw the resolve on his face.
That was what weâd do for love. I did the same thing for Summer back then. Ashton was making the
same choice for the same reason. Telling them to stop at that point would mean death for those
volunteers. They had no choice but to wait for the antidote.
âI want to leave.â I didnât know what else to say, though I was relieved Ashton didnât risk himself for me.
I was immersed in my own thoughts on the way out. My questions were answered, but I still had that
feeling of unease. Did I miss something?
I glanced at Ashton as I went into the car, but he didnât seem different. I wondered if I was being
paranoid.
Ashton buckled himself calmly. He didnât even look at me, but he said, âI know what youâre thinking.â
A pause later, he stared at me coldly, but his anger was directed at something else. âIâll risk my life for
you, but we have to live until we get our vengeance. I wonât do anything thatâll hurt us. Do you think
thatâs selfish of me?â
He was a heroic man, but at the same time, he looked so melancholic. I was seized by an urge to hug
him, to tell him everything was okay.
Then I felt more at ease. As long as he was safe, nothing else mattered. I smiled and held his hand.
âIâm glad that you know what youâre doing. Professor Sanchez said that the toxin has mutated, so we
donât really know how long I can hold out. Weâre just delaying the inevitable. If you had risked yourself
for me and died, whoâd fend for baby and me?â
Ashton thought about what I said, though he never did reply to me.
There was no traffic in the dead of the night, but Ashton was still driving carefully. Something about him
made me feel uneasy. I could still remember how he looked that night no matter how many years had
passed. He was as calm as a pond on a windless day, but I could feel his love for me underneath that
façade, still going strong as ever.