For a moment, Hannah stood at Victoria's office door, hesitant to knock. But she had been summoned, and there was no way she could avoid it. Finally, she gathered her courage and knocked.

"Come in," Victoria's voice came from inside.

Hannah opened the door and entered. Her heart pounded harder as she sat across from Victoria, but she didn't lower her gaze. She looked directly at Ashton's mother.

Victoria's demeanor was the same as always—cold and expressionless. She was busy with the files on her desk and only shifted her attention to Hannah after a moment.

"There was a bit of a mess yesterday," Victoria said. "Ashton already told me,...