When There Is Nothing Left But Love
Chapter 1471

Chapter 1471

He’d just finished speaking when John violently shrugged him off. Caught off-balance by John’s abruptjerk, Joseph fell to the floor.

Joseph’s moans of pains mingled with Audrey’s piping voice. Joseph made a great effort to get up, butJohn cruelly stepped on him, hard, condemning him to lie pinned on the ground.

“You were never a match for me. How dare you touch me? You’re really a worthy sidekick for Ashton! Adog behaves exactly like its master. You’re both pathetic,” John spat resentfully. Every word, thoughdirected at Joseph, was clearly meant for Ashton’s ears.

In one swift motion, John took his foot off Joseph, then spun around and sauntered over to Ashton.Without hesitation, John threw a hard punch in Ashton’s face, then immediately followed it with a flyingkick.

Ashton flew backward, landing on the grass patch by the curbside. He struggled to stand, but Johnlunged forward and wrapped both arms around Ashton’s neck. He strangled Ashton and the latter’sface instantly darkened into a deep crimson. The fall had entirely wiped off Ashton’s earlier dignifiedmanner.

“You didn’t see this coming, did you? I wasn’t able to take Letty with me six years ago. I will now,” Johnjeered. Through gritted teeth, he continued, “Look at you. You haven’t improved at all. Do you expect tobe able to keep Scarlett with you based on that feeble amount of strength alone?”

By then, the servants had all crept out of the main house to watch the scene. They fretted over whetherthey should intervene but ultimately were overcome by their fear. No one stepped forward.

I, too, was dumbfounded by John’s sudden violence. Recovering, however, I glanced at Ashton’s paleface in worry.

Is John really intending to kill Ashton? I thought, horrified.

It seemed that I had no cause for concern, however.

When Joseph staggered over, however, intending to wrench John and Ashton apart, John had alreadytaken a few steps back and was dusting his hands.

Beside me, Audrey was still singing blissfully. “Jingle bells, Jingle bells, jingle all the way…”

John coolly straightened his clothes, then directed an icy look at Ashton’s crumpled body. John thenstepped over to where Audrey and I had been waiting and said tenderly, “Let’s go home.”

He once again knelt down and tapped Audrey gently on her shoulder for her to turn around.

As if rehearsed, Audrey spun around on her heels gladly. She clung to John, babbling eagerly, “Did youwin, Uncle John? Did you win?”

John gazed at her soberly, then thumbed her on the nose. “Of course, I won! How can Uncle John everlose, huh?”

“Hooray!” Audrey cried. It all seemed like a game to her where Uncle John had warded off the badguys. However, her eyes darted alertly to Ashton, who was stumbling to his feet behind John. Audrey’slittle brow furrowed at the sight. She pursed her lips, asking tentatively, “Uncle John, were you fightingthat bad man just now?”

Audrey made it perfectly evident that she was rather unimpressed. Her frown had deepened almostinto a sulk.

John looked behind him uncertainly. The arrogant demeanor John had been wearing from his earliervictory faded. He suddenly looked rather unsure of himself.

Ashton, to everyone’s surprise, rescued John from his humiliation. “Audrey, it’s all right. Daddy justtripped over and fell. It doesn’t hurt at all!” he said brightly.

One would have almost believed him if not for the bright-red specks of blood around his mouth. Hissmile was almost a grimace.

As he spoke, Ashton occasionally drew in his breath sharply through his teeth. He was clearly in agony.Looking at the sorry sight he made before us, I felt a surge of pity well up within me.

Ashton, are you sure it doesn’t hurt? I wondered.

Audrey was clearly moved. Her large eyes blinked rapidly, tears glittering in them.

Noticing Audrey’s distress, John hastily picked her up, soothing her. He pressed Audrey’s head into hischest, then turned to look at Ashton scornfully. “I raised Audrey for six years and can count the numberof times I’ve made her cry on one hand. Look at her state after just meeting you once. Do you thinkshe’s really better off with you?”

Without waiting for Ashton to respond, John turned to me. “Let’s go,” he said curtly.

Ashton was clearly incapacitated and could not restrain John. I thus followed John out obediently.

John had parked his car outside the villa. Once the three of us had gotten on, he immediately steppedhard on the accelerator. The car flew towards the suburbs.

“Where are you bringing me to?” I asked curiously.

John gave me a look through the rearview mirror. He then said blandly, “To the airport. I’ve hired aprivate plane for us. It’ll be arriving shortly.”