When There Is Nothing Left But Love
Chapter 1468

Chapter 1468

“Do we know each other?” I stammered hesitantly, frowning.

“It’s me,” The man muttered thickly. He looked as if he was struggling to quell some intense emotionthat was rising within him. He cleared his throat, then said, raising his voice, “It’s me, John Stovall.”

John’s eyes were brimming with tears. When his statement elicited no response from me, he looked atrueful, then asked, “Have you really forgotten who I am?”

John? I pondered. That name sounds strangely familiar…

My eyes darted from him to the little girl standing just beside him. Realization dawned upon me.

John was a member of the Stovall family and “Scarlett”’s relative. I recalled briefly seeing him listedamongst the material that Ashton had given me. John had grown out his beard, which hindered mefrom recognizing him at first glance.

According to Ashton’s plan, I was to battle John in court over custody rights.

Why do I feel such an overwhelming surge of regret within me now? I wondered. The sight of John andthe little girl standing next to each other caused an unspeakable ache in my heart.

I felt sorry for agreeing to Ashton, for using the pretense of “Scarlett” to tear John and the little girlapart.

In the living room, John sat the girl down on the sofa facing me. He then placed the manila envelopehe’d brought along with him on the table beside.

Before we’d entered, John had briefly announced, “I’m taking you with me.”

He seemed to be in a great hurry. Once the maid had brought us a round of water, John immediatelybroke the ice by saying frankly, “The Stovall family and the Moore family have never given up onsearching for you. To take care of the child, as well as to accumulate enough funds, we arranged tomigrate. We’d even made the entire company move. It was all to no avail, however. That’s why I wasonly able to finally meet with you today.”

John sounded weary. He’d spoken calmly, but I could detect more than a hint of sorrow in his voice. Infront of the child’s inquisitive eyes, however, John had to maintain his composure. He paused and tookseveral long, deep breaths. Lowering his gaze for a while, John’s elegant fingers drumming furiously onthe surface of the manila envelope as he contemplated how he should continue.

“I know you don’t remember anything. I’m here for you. Don’t worry about anything else. This envelopecontains DNA proof of your relationship with Audrey, as well as a Share Transfer Agreement of half ofStovall Corporation’s shares. When you return, you’ll be the second-largest major shareholder inStovall Corporation. Just focus on your own happiness for the rest of your life and leave the rest to me,”John finally declared.

Before I could respond, John exhaled, then turned towards the little girl. He took her hand gently, thenled her over to me. “Audrey, this is your mommy,” he said tenderly.

Audrey bit her lip and looked at me uncertainly. She turned back to face John, who smiled at herencouragingly and gave her a nudge. Audrey turned back to look at me with an enormous beam on herface. “Mommy!” she called out with a sweet voice.

Audrey had initially appeared more cautious than Gregory had been at our first meeting. She seemedemboldened now by John’s affirmation that this was indeed her mommy. Audrey ran towards me asfast as her short legs could carry her and wrapped her stubby arms around my neck. Sobbing, shecried again, “Mommy! I missed you!”

Audrey spoke in Ustranasion, and even though I wasn’t fluent in the language, I was nonethelessmoved by the earnestness with which Audrey cried. As she clung to my neck and wept, my heartbroke. I, too, embraced her.

It was the oddest feeling. Just as I had when I’d hugged Gregory, I felt a sudden rush of tears now as Iheld Audrey’s small body in my arms.

After a long time, Audrey stopped crying. Both of us looked at each other, smiling despite our tear-stained faces.

Audrey’s resemblance to Ashton was uncanny. Their large, dark eyes were practically identical. Themain difference, however, was that Audrey’s eyes were soft and gentle, without a trace of theruthlessness in Ashton’s.

I opened my mouth to speak, but Audrey broke in, saying, “Mommy, it’s my birthday today. Are yougoing to spend it with me?”

She smiled winningly at me. However, I could see undercurrents of grief ripple beneath her sunny eyes.

As much as I did not want to cooperate with Ashton, I could not bring myself to refuse Audrey andshatter her heart.

Thus resolved, I swallowed the words that were on the tip of my tongue.

I reached out and ruffled her hair, saying, “Audrey, you haven’t met your brother, have you? Gregorywill be coming back for lunch later. Do you want to go play in his room for a while? We’ll give Gregory asurprise when he comes home.”

“Sure!” Audrey bounced on her feet happily, clapping her hands in glee. “I have a brother! I want tomeet my brother!”