Chapter 1425
When There Is Nothing Left But Love
I pulled a face helplessly. Marcus was always caring and would not make jokes in situations like these.
âYou would know. Iâd forgotten everything.â
âThe things in the past are not important,â Marcus said evasively as he blew on a spoonful of soup to
cool it down before bringing it close to my lips. âIt should be cool enough to drink now.â
When we were having our dinner, my thoughts wandered over to Ashton and Gregory. âYou know, even
if Ashton was a rich businessman with a lot of duties, heâs a very caring father. He even picked his kid
up during working hours.â
Marcusâ eyes flashed; his hands paused momentarily. âWhat kind of a person do you think Ashton is?â
âIt depends on which perspective youâre looking at. As a father, heâs pretty responsible. There were
some mistakes on his part, but he undoubtedly always thinks of his child. But as an acquaintance, he
has a very odd and unpredictable nature which makes him difficult to interact with. Iâm not sure if he
behaves like that in front of his child,â I analyzed out loud, hardly conscious that the amount of attention
I had paid to him was inappropriate.
âIs that soâ¦â Marcus said blandly but did not offer up his own opinion.
I glanced up distractedly only to realize that his attention had wandered too.
âWhatâs up with you?â I asked with concern; it was rare for him to lose himself in front of me. âIs
everything in the company going well?â
âEverything is fine,â Marcus said with a forced smile as he dropped a piece of salmon on my plate. âEat
up.â
If he didnât want to elaborate, I wouldnât think much more about it. I turned my attention back to my
meal, but we were both lost in our own thoughts.
After dinner when we were watching TV in the living room, Marcus gave me a card with a magnetic
chip.
I took it and saw that it was a brand new identification card that had my headshot and an identification
number belonging to Carlette Stovall.
It was the first time seeing my name being written down in print. It felt both strange yet familiar.
âThis is your new identity and life now. In sickness and in health, it will be yours to control. Do you like
your name?â asked Marcus.
To an amnesiac, there was no greater gift than a formal affirmation of oneâs identity. âThank you, I love
it.â I accepted it with joy.
The next morning after I saw Marcus off to work, I prepared to go for my usual walk.
When I exited the door, I saw a BMW parked across the road. Next to it was a man clad in a smart suit.
He stared at me intently.
In a split second, he was headed my way.
âHello.â
âHello,â I replied in confusion. âHow can I help you?â
The man studied my face intently but composed himself a split second later. âI would just like to
enquire,â he said politely. âIf there are any houses to rent around here. I quite enjoy your neighborhood
and would like to rent one for my boss.â
âIâm not too sure about this,â I said. âYou could ask the residential management office. I could help you
get a number to call.â
He was gentlemanly and soft-spoken, so I turned around and got the number from the maid for him.
âI am indebted to you,â he said most courteously as he reached out for the card I handed to him.
âYouâre most welcome. If we ever become neighbors, we will look out for one another.â
âOh, most definitely.â
The man nodded. With a final bow, he departed without another word.
It was such a minor episode that I had completely forgotten all about it until two afternoons later.
I had Marcusâs cat in my arms and was heading to the lawn when I noticed that the BMW was there
again. This time it was parked at the villa directly across from ours.
The front door swung open and the man I had met the other day emerged.
He walked around to open the back door. The figure of a man and a boy jumped down from the car.
Before I could react, Gregory had already noticed me. âMs. Stovall!â
The moment Ashton loosened his grip on Gregoryâs hand, the latter came bounding toward me.
Worried about his safety in crossing the road, I placed the cat down and met him halfway.
When Gregory reached me, he hugged my leg tightly and looked up at me with a smile. âItâs so good to
see you again!â
âHa! It didnât take you long to forget. I live here, remember?â I tousled his hair playfully as I moved
aside for him to get a better view of the villa behind me.