But with injuries that stretched from her arm to her back, Ashley had no choice but to rely on Aunt Lavinia to help clean her up, carefully avoiding the wounds while changing the dressings each time.

Now, at last, that restriction was gone.

"Yes... Finally, I can try the bathtub and play with bubbles," Ashley said with a light, almost teasing tone, masking the quiet excitement blooming inside her, making her forget all the tangled thoughts that were bothering her moments ago.

Aunt Lavinia’s smile deepened, gentle and indulgent. "Good thing I prepared everything for you," she said, her voice warm with affection. "There are bath bombs under the sink, along with essential oils, body scrubs, and a few other things. Take your time and choose whatever you like."

She paused, her gaze softening even more. "And if you find something you enjoy, let me know. I’ll make sure it’s added to the monthly supplies, so you’ll always have it ready."

After saying all that, Aunt Lavinia gathered the medical kit and quietly excused herself, leaving Ashley alone. The moment the door closed, the bright, playful expression on Ashley’s face faded, replaced by her calmness and seriousness.

She then drew in a slow breath and turned her gaze toward the window, her thoughts settling into a quiet rhythm.

By now, she had grown used to life in the estate, so much so that it almost felt as if she had always belonged there.

Adapting had always been one of her strengths, and over the past few days, she had come to understand more about the people around her. Her brothers were not only powerful and wealthy, but incredibly busy, their time constantly divided by responsibilities beyond the palace walls. And yet, they chose to stay.

They stayed for her.

It wasn’t something they said outright, but it was clear in their actions and in the time they carved out, in the effort they made to get to know her, to ensure she never felt like an outsider.

They didn’t want her to think she was insignificant or unwelcome. Instead, they showed her, again and again, that she had a place with them. Even when Ophelia’s subtle provocations surfaced, her brothers stood firmly by Ashley’s side, their quiet support never wavering.

And for that, Ashley was deeply grateful.

But now that doubt had taken root, now that she sensed something was wrong with her body, and that Aunt Lavinia, perhaps even her brothers, might already know, Ashley felt a quiet resolve begin to form within her.

Questions could wait. Answers could be uncovered later.

"But first... a bath," she murmured to herself.

She pushed herself up from the soft bed, her movements cautious at first. The moment her feet touched the plush rug, she wavered slightly, her body unfamiliar with standing unassisted after days of rest.

A faint weakness lingered in her legs, or perhaps it was only in her mind. She steadied herself, breathing out slowly until her balance returned. Then, testing it further, she gave a small hop.

No pain.

No strain.

Not even a whisper of discomfort from her bones or joints, her ribs, once broken, felt as though they had never been injured at all.

With that realization settling quietly in her chest, Ashley made her way to the bathroom. One by one, she slipped out of her clothes before turning the tap, letting the tub fill with warm water, no, hotter than most would prefer.

She had always liked it that way, the heat almost scalding, enough to numb her skin and melt away the lingering tension in her body. Only then did she feel truly at ease, as though every trace of fatigue could be washed away along with it.

While the tub slowly filled, Ashley moved toward the sink to look for the bath bombs Aunt Lavinia had mentioned. The moment she found them, she froze, then blinked.

"Holy... shit..."

Her eyes widened as she picked one up, instantly recognizing it. The Eighth Continent bath bomb. She had heard of it before, ridiculously expensive, rumored to sell for around fifty thousand dollars, and she had never quite understood why.

But as she turned it in her hand, something caught the light. Tiny golden flecks shimmered across its surface.

"...Is that... 24-karat gold?" she murmured under her breath, half in disbelief.

For a moment, she just stared at it, then let out a quiet breath before turning off the faucet. Without overthinking it, she dropped the bath bomb into the steaming water, watching as it dissolved into swirling colors and faint gold dust.

After that, she grabbed a rose body scrub infused with amethyst bamboo salt, the faint purple hue glinting softly under the light.

It felt absurd, almost unreal, like she was about to bathe in something far too luxurious for comfort, like rubbing gold into her skin. And yet...

Her brothers could afford it. And more than that, they had prepared all of this for her.

That thought alone warmed her chest, softening her earlier unease. A small smile tugged at her lips as she slipped into the bath, the heat enveloping her as she let out a quiet hum, allowing herself, just for now, to simply enjoy it.

Two hours later, Ashley finally stepped out of the bath, her skin soft, moisturized, and faintly glistening under the light. The lingering warmth clung to her, leaving her feeling refreshed in a way she hadn’t experienced in a long time.

She couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face as she dressed, slipping into a fitted pencil skirt and a light chiffon top.

Today, she had a purpose.

She planned to visit her older brother at his company, not just to spend time with him, but to get closer, to observe. If there was truly something unusual about their bodies... then she needed answers. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

And perhaps, just by watching carefully, she might start to uncover the truth behind the secret they all seemed to share.

When Ashley came downstairs, she found Aunt Lavinia already busy, calmly directing the household staff as preparations moved along in quiet efficiency. The moment Ashley stepped into view, however, the rhythm of the room seemed to pause, if only for a second.

Her hair was neatly gathered into a low, professional bun, a few soft strands left to frame her face. Dressed in a crisp white chiffon top paired with a tailored pencil skirt and finished with sleek black Christian Louboutin heels, she carried herself with a poise that felt entirely different from before.

_______

Hello again, everyone. I’m really excited to share some wonderful news with you all. My book "The Alpha’s Regret: Return of the Betrayed Luna" has officially expanded beyond its audio drama adaptation and is now available on Amazon, where you can grab the first volume. On top of that, the first volume of the audio drama is also out on kokoroaudio.com for $6.99.

I’m incredibly grateful for all the love and support you’ve shown me, and I hope you’ll continue to follow and enjoy Addison’s journey with her fated mates. Every Golden Ticket, Powerstone, and gift you send truly means a lot; it keeps me motivated and inspired to keep writing. Thank you so much, my little goddesses.