We got into my car and drove straight to the Asher estate.Neither of us spoke much during the drive.The city moved around us as usual—traffic, pedestrians, the distant hum of construction—but inside the car everything felt strangely quiet.The calm before a storm.Jason rested his arm along the door, staring out the window, clearly deep in thought.I knew that look.He was already planning.By the time we reached the estate gates, the guards had been alerted. The gates opened immediately and we drove up the long stone path toward the main house.As soon as I stepped out of the car, the front doors opened.Alice burst out first.“Amber!”She ran straight toward me and wrapped her arms around my waist.Alex followed a little more calmly, though the relief on his face was just as clear.“You’re back,” he said simply.I hugged them both tightly.“Of course I am.”Inside the house, the atmosphere was far less peaceful.Pamela was sitting at the large living room table, surrounded by tabl
Read more