“The Drake family wants me to come back,” Ashton said, his tone calm but heavy with meaning. He didn’t need to elaborate—I understood immediately.

The Drakes had stayed oddly silent through everything Ashton had endured. Why? Who knew. They were a family with their own agenda, and nothing about them ever seemed straightforward.

“What are you thinking?” I asked, watching him carefully. Then, with a teasing smirk, I added, “Let me guess—you don’t ...