Frederick tilted the bottle back, draining the last drop of vodka like he was trying to drown something deeper than alcohol could ever reach, his throat tightening as the burn slid down, his other hand gripping his phone so hard it almost looked like it might crack under the pressure.“And just so you know, Dad,” he said, his voice rough but stubborn, laced with something raw and unyielding, “I’m getting Cassie back, even if it’s the last thing I do.”On the other end, Adrian barely had time to respond, probably already preparing the lecture Frederick didn’t want to hear, but Frederick didn’t give him that chance. He ended the call without hesitation, like cutting off the last thread of reason, then stumbled toward the bed, his steps uneven, his head already starting to spin.Sleep didn’t come easy, and when it did, it wasn’t kind.The next thing he felt was the brutal aftermath—the pounding headache crashing into him the second his eyes opened, his mouth dry, his body heavy, his thou
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