Vance, sharp as ever, instantly picked up that something was off. Ashley’s gloomy expression, the awkward silence, the heavy vibe hanging in the air—it all screamed trouble. This time, Vance wasn’t about to play guessing games. He cut straight to the chase.

“Did I screw something up? Just tell me straight. No need to feel weird about it—we’re friends, right?”

Ashley lifted her head, startled by his bluntness. “Oh, no… you didn’t do anything wrong. You’ve actually ...