Ashley POV

After kicking off my high heels, my feet padded quietly toward the sound, not sure if I could trust my instincts or not, given how drained I was at the time. Yet, I felt both glad and anxious as I found my parents in Dad's study at home. Glad, because I was relieved Dad had left the healing center and finally returned home. Anxious, because the expressions on my parents’ faces left no room for me to feel emotionally relieved.

Mom's lips pressed into a thin line as she stood leaning against one of the bookshelves that adorned the wall, while Dad sat behind his desk, his hands...