Williams POV.

Because I needed to be alone, to process everything that had happened, I had dismissed my driver and convoy of bodyguards earlier, before I even went to the auction event. So, I was driving alone. The night was cool, the roads quiet as I navigated the familiar route to my mother’s house. She had always been a source of comfort and wisdom, and tonight, I needed that more than ever.

I pulled up to her house, the soft glow from the windows welcoming me. As I walked up the steps and knocked on the door, I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me. It had been a...