It struck me like a freight train—I’d completely overlooked the Whitman family. As Ashton’s newly named heir, his absence should’ve set off alarm bells. They should’ve been tearing the world apart looking for him, not just sitting idly by.

Instead of launching a proper investigation, they were sending people to Alice, fishing for information through her. It didn’t add up. Something was wrong.

Trying to ignore the slump in Alice’s shoulders, I ...