Chapter 1477
When There Is Nothing Left But Love
I gulped. Summoning all the courage I had left within me, I reached out and tugged Ashtonâs sleeve
gingerly. âAsh⦠Ashton?â I stammered.
A brief shudder ran through Ashton. With a start, he released Tiffany.
Tiffany crumpled to the floor like a rag doll.
The maid ran forward anxiously and helped Tiffany over to the sofa. All other eyes in the room,
including that of Nicolasâ, were fixed on Ashton simultaneously. Nicolas slammed his newspaper onto
the table, jolting the already-frayed nerves of everyone present. âAre you trying to rebel against me?â
he roared.
Ashton glanced at me, then down at Gregory, apparently unaffected by Nicolasâ outburst. He then
looked over to Tiffanyâs inert body with undisguised contempt.
He strolled over to where she lay feebly, then sneered, âWill you say it, or shall I make you?â
âIâll admit it, Iâll confess to everything! Just have mercy on me. I was wrong, Ashton,â Tiffany babbled.
She was almost incoherent with fear. Clenching the pillow sheâd picked up from the sofa, Tiffany hid her
face behind it as if she could thus avoid Ashtonâs wrath.
âI lied! You were never engaged to Thora. She promised me benefits in return for matchmaking the two
of you⦠Joseph is your most loyal subordinate. Emery has both a good professional and personal
relationship with you. I was the one who manufactured Scarlettâs obituary. She didnât betray you.
Audreyâs also your daughter⦠Dad was the one who arranged for the hypnosis. We sealed your
memories for your own good! I was wrong, but surely it doesnât merit a death sentence! Give me
another chance, please, Ashton. Iâm begging you, please have mercy on meâ¦â
Tiffany was almost groveling at this point. She had crawled onto the floor and knelt at Ashtonâs feet,
clutching at him wildly. Tears poured down her face in torrents.
My hands still covered Gregoryâs eyes, but Tiffanyâs sheer despair permeated any refuge I could offer
him from this nightmarish sequence of events. He began to whimper.
I stroked Gregoryâs back, partly to comfort and partly to quieten him down.
Tiffanyâs every desire had been accommodated to since she was young. Everything she ate or wore
had to be of luxurious quality. Tiffany could get anything she set her heart upon. This fine upbringing
had thus culminated in her attitude of absolute complacency.
However, Ashton had viciously brought Tiffanyâs whole world crashing down about her. She could not
even begin to comprehend the bitter environment that Ashton had grown up in, in which heâd carefully
cultivated his thirst for vengeance.
As Ashton had declared, Tiffany got what she deserved.
Tiffanyâs near-incoherent ramble had ignited, rather than extinguished, the fury within Ashton.
Narrowing his eyes, Ashton looked at Nicolas.
âDo you want to explain?â Ashton snarled. The grimace he wore looked almost demonic in its rage.
Nicolas remained unfazed. He had watched his daughterâs disgrace without flinching. I thought Iâd even
seen a glimmer of loathing flash across his eyes as if despising Tiffany for the shame sheâd incurred.
After a moment, Nicolas replied smoothly, âIâd initially thought that you showed the most promise and
was the one most set to inherit my position among the three of you. From the looks of it now, however, I
think I overestimated you.â
Nicolas then gave a slight nod to the bodyguard who had been standing unobtrusively in the side of the
room. He immediately fished out a stack of documents and spread them out on the table.
The photo stood out immediately amongst the rest of the documents. It clearly featured, in high
definition, a snapshot of the time Iâd spent with Marcus.
âYou almost lost your life six years ago because of Scarlett. I saved you! After so many years, youâre
still adamant about committing the same mistake. Now, youâre betraying your family for another Scarlett
once more. Take a good look. Is this person the woman you love? Sheâs just a substitute! When are
you going to wake up and realize that?â Nicolas shouted.
Ashtonâs eyes swept over the array of documents, then pursed his lips critically. âItâs true that you saved
me. Donât pretend to be so noble, though. You knew that I had to be alive for the Hall family to continue
living in peace.â
Ashton paused. He picked up the photo and examined it closely, then snorted, flicking it away as if it
was useless garbage. âThereâs no need for you to interfere with my business. Perhaps you should
worry about your own route of escape first.â
âHave you remembered everything?â The neutral expression on Nicolasâ face suddenly shifted.
Ashton, however, remained silent.
Maddened by Ashtonâs absolute disregard for him, Nicolas violently stood up, bellowing, âAshton, Iâm
talking to you!â