Chapter 141: The sidelines

Ashley’s POV

I woke to the first sliver of morning light creeping through the blinds, its pale warmth doing little to shake the lingering exhaustion weighing me down. I was tempted to close my eyes again, pull the blanket over my head, and pretend that everything was fine, that last night’s events hadn’t happened. But it was no use; there was too much to do, too many questions without answers. And the worst of it? The thought of Andreas—how we’d left things, his anguished expression, the edge in his voice… It twisted in my chest like a knife.

With a sigh, I grabbed my phone, planning to call Liv and tell her everything about the investigator’s findings and the possibility that Ashton might still be alive. But a message from Thomas lit up the screen instead: I miss you. Let’s meet up. I rolled my eyes, irritation flaring. This was the last thing I needed. I’d had enough of Thomas’s messages, his attempts to stay in Ashton’s life as if he somehow deserved a place here. Ignoring him, I t