When There Is Nothing Left But Love
Chapter 1026

Chapter 1026

Death sentence?

I spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with Laurel and Tabitha, then returned to the villa.

I arrived to see Nora in the midst of moving out of the villa next door, much to my astonishment. She’dhired a bunch of professional movers who streamed in and out of the doorway toting boxes of varioussizes.

Nora stood just outside the door supervising them, occasionally reminding them to be careful with herthings.

I stood rooted to the spot in the yard, watching her. Nora saw me out of the corner of her eye andturned in my direction. Our eyes met, and I could see that hers were swollen and red with crying evenat that distance.

What on earth has happened?

I hadn’t much of a clue what had transpired and didn’t suppose it was a suitable time to ask. I smiled atNora embarrassedly, then stepped into the villa. Ashton was still stuck at Moranta fighting Armond.Cameron had originally extended an invitation to Summer and me to return to K City in the meantime.However, I was busy resenting Armond for having deceived me and in no mood for socializing.

I was vexed but was determined to try and accomplish something.

Back at the villa, I collapsed onto a chair in fatigue. At that moment, the doorbell rang.

I strolled over and peered out of the window. Nora was standing outside, patiently waiting for mebeyond the gate of my yard.

I hastily walked out to the yard and beckoned her. “Do you want to come in?”

Nora shook her head. She replied glumly, “It’s all right. I came over to return this to you.” Having thusdeclared, Nora wriggled the bracelet that she was wearing off her arm, then handed it to me. Channinghad originally given me a matching set of bracelets. I’d given one to Nora and kept one for myself. Theyweren’t worth much, but they were a significant token of my and Nora’s friendship.

I looked down at the bracelet lying in Nora’s outstretched palm, then looked back at Nora. “Thisbracelet belonged to your grandmother. If you’re here to ask for it back, I’ll return it to you. There’s noneed for you to return anything to me. I gave the bracelet to you in the first place because of therelationship between our families and because I believed that our friendship was genuine. I neverthought that anything could ever come between us. I see now that perhaps I was wrong. Even if that’sthe case, I don’t want your bracelet. I gave it wholeheartedly to you back then, and I don’t intend to askfor it back even though things have turned sour between us. You can do whatever you like with it.Throw it away if you wish.”

I turned to shut the gate without waiting for her reply.

Nora, however, stopped the gate with one swift motion. She paused, then said in a trembling voice,“Thank you, Scarlett.”

I smiled faintly but said nothing. I had a rather accepting attitude towards friendships and whicheverwinding paths they ultimately took. I had never pursued anyone, accepting the eventual end of anyrelationship stoically. In the three years that I’d spent waiting for Ashton, I knew that despite how muchI loved him, I would never fight for our relationship if he’d decided to give it up.

If I wasn’t even ready to strive for the person I’d loved wholeheartedly, I won’t be willing to chase after afriendship. Nora was presently entangled in her own difficulties, and I thought the best course of actionwould be to retreat and respect whatever decision she made.

Since Nora had evidently made her choice to part ways with me, there was no point dwelling anyfurther. I thus chose to flash a bright smile at her and replied, “There’s no need to thank me. I wish youall the best in your future endeavors.”

It was an absolutely meaningless, patronizing phrase that I’d always loathed. I now uttered it withabsolute sincerity, however. I did hope that Nora and I would each come to replace our own happinesseventually.

It was truly goodbye. I would no longer continue journeying through life with Nora, but I hoped that mywell-wishes would remain with her when I could not.

The metal gate closed with a steely clang. I exhaled, then walked slowly back into my villa. Just as Iwas about to head into the room to sleep, the doorbell rang a second time. I opened it to see Nora stillstanding outside.

Staring fixedly at me, she muttered, “Whether you believe me or not, I have to tell you that I was drunkthat night at the Imperial Hotel. If I had known that he would have turned out to be so violent, I wouldnever have dreamt of calling you. I never wanted to cause you any harm, not even once.”

I looked at her and smiled as it was a relief. “I know. I never once thought of blaming you. Don’t worry.Go on back.”

I had indeed never blamed Nora for anything that had happened. I was merely wary that Armond hadbeen using Nora as a pawn all along.

I was on the verge of swinging the gate back shut when Nora piped up. “Brandon’s woman was boughtover by Tessa. You should be careful. It’s not safe for you to stay here alone.”

I looked at Nora, bewildered at her sudden revelation. “Got it, thank you,” I hesitated then added, “I’ll besure to take care of myself.”

Nora hung her head, then turned and walked back to her villa.

I looked at her departing figure with a twinge of regret. Nora was never malicious. She’d simply madethe mistake of falling in love with the wrong man.

…

It had never occurred to me to spy on Tessa. I’d initially planned on meeting her in person but wasworried about alarming her. If I confronted Tessa directly, there was a possibility that she would revealeverything to Armond. He would then make a move against Brandon who was vulnerable and at hismercy now. The truth was Armond had no weaknesses so far. At the same time, he was cold-bloodedand poisons filled his veins. Thus, he would want to ensure complete secrecy by sending Brandon tohis maker to seal his mouth forever.