ASHLEY

Anita meant it when she said she had to get me a chilled drink. We stopped by at a bar to take some glasses. For a moment, I forgot everything that was bothering me.

It was in the middle of all that unwinding that I got a text from Carson. My heart leaped as I opened his text. He wanted to know where I was and why I was not back in the palace yet.

I felt so loved and valued. Even though he had exempted himself from all the activities in the palace, he still noticed my absence and checked ...