A flicker of concern crept into her thoughts. Were they going this far just for her? Spending this much simply to make up for the years she had been gone?

Or... was this something ingrained in them? The quiet pride of an aristocratic family, one that, no matter how much it had declined, would never allow itself to appear anything less than its best?

Ashley’s thoughts spun in a restless whirlwind, one question chasing another, yet when she glanced around, the words died on her lips. Her brothers all looked exhausted, subtly, but unmistakably so, and she couldn’t bring herself to burden them further.

A stray thought surfaced, almost absurd in its timing. ’No matter how starved a camel became, it would still tower over a horse. Perhaps... this was something like that.’ Even if their family had declined, perhaps their foundation was still far beyond what she could easily measure.

She didn’t know anymore. What she did know was that she hoped they weren’t wasting money just to keep up appearances. If that were the case, then everything they were doing now would be nothing more than throwing resources away.

And yet, her instincts as someone who understood business refused to stay quiet. If this was how they handled things, then she would need to step in eventually. Once she returned with them, she would have to find a way to stabilize things, to ensure they weren’t overspending for the sake of pride.

Her gaze drifted briefly around the cabin again before her thoughts began to settle into something more rational.

’This jet... it was likely chartered.’

That made far more sense. There were plenty of private jets available for rent, after all, and owning one outright would be a liability unless it was constantly in use. From what Apollo had mentioned, his business was still relatively small; there was no way it could support owning something like this.

’Yes... chartering it was the only logical explanation.’

Reassured by that conclusion, Ashley gave a small, almost imperceptible nod to herself. The tension in her body finally began to ease.

Then, as she leaned back, the soft leather seat seemed to cradle her completely, the cushion beneath her yielding just enough to make her feel as though she were sinking into it. The quiet hum of the cabin, combined with the lingering exhaustion in her body, pulled at her senses until, before she even realized it, her eyes had closed, and sleep gently claimed her.

"You’re awake?"

The words reached her just as her eyes fluttered open, her senses still groggy from sleep. For a moment, everything felt hazy, until her gaze lifted and met Apollo’s face, close enough that she could make out every sharp, familiar feature. It took her a second to realize he was carrying her.

The shift in perspective made her blink, and only then did she notice they were already descending from the private jet. She must have fallen asleep the moment she sat down, before they had even taken off.

Now, judging by the quiet hum of the surroundings and the grounded stillness of the aircraft, they had already landed. An hour... maybe more had passed without her realizing it.

Apollo carried her down with steady ease, as if her weight meant nothing at all. But when Ashley’s gaze drifted past him...

She froze.

Waiting outside was another Rolls-Royce. Not just any model, but a customized, extended Phantom, looking all sleek, imposing, and unmistakably extravagant.

For a brief moment, Ashley felt her mind go blank, a dull buzz filling her head as if her thoughts had short-circuited. She didn’t even want to process it anymore. At this point, there was only one thing left echoing in her mind—

’How much money had just been spent?’

"Hang on a little, we’ll be home soon," Apollo murmured, his voice low and reassuring as he carried her toward the car.

As they approached, the driver stepped forward and opened the door, bowing with quiet respect. When his gaze lifted to Ashley, there was a gentle, almost fatherly warmth in his smile.

Apollo put her down into the seat with care, fastening her seatbelt himself before slipping in beside her. One by one, the others followed: Gage, Ace, Daemon, Aunt Lavinia, and Archivalt.

The moment Archivalt’s head touched the backrest, he was out, asleep almost instantly. No one reacted; it was clearly something they were used to. The atmosphere inside the car settled into a calm, familiar rhythm.

Aunt Lavinia reached for the small fridge built into the side, pulling out a bottle of water, but paused.

After a brief thought, she returned it and instead took out a thermos she had prepared earlier. Pouring a small amount of warm water into a cup, she handed it gently to Ashley, her actions careful and attentive.

"Here, drink a little to wet your throat," Aunt Lavinia said gently, a fond smile softening her features as she leaned in with the glass.

Before Ashley could reach for it, Apollo’s arm moved first. He took the glass from Aunt Lavinia and brought it closer to her lips, as if intending to help her drink it himself. Ashley blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the gesture, but she quickly accepted it from his hand.

The moment the warm water touched her lips, she realized just how much she needed it. She drank it all in one go, the steady warmth easing down her throat and settling her nerves, grounding her in a way she hadn’t expected.

"Do you need some painkillers?" Apollo asked, his voice threaded with concern as his gaze lingered on Ashley’s bandaged arm. Even beneath her clothes, strips of gauze were visible at her collar, a quiet testament to just how many injuries her body carried.

The thought unsettled him. With everything she had gone through and the constant movement during the trip, he couldn’t help but worry that she was in pain but was choosing to stay silent. Perhaps she was afraid of troubling them, afraid of becoming a burden.

A flicker of guilt tugged at him. To Apollo, it felt like the kind of restraint often seen in children who had grown up without security, mostly those who learned too early to endure everything on their own. And the thought that Ashley might have lived that way... it didn’t sit well with him.

So he asked, gently but directly, giving her an opening, so she wouldn’t have to bear it alone.

At his question, Ashley found herself hesitating, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. The journey hadn’t been entirely smooth; there had been moments of jostling, subtle shifts that should have tugged at her injuries. And yet... she hadn’t felt any real pain.

It was strange.

For a brief moment, she wondered if she simply had a higher pain tolerance than most, or if the shock of everything she had witnessed had numbed her senses entirely, like some unseen barrier her mind had raised to shield her from feeling anything at all. The thought lingered, uncertain, something she couldn’t quite explain.

But no matter how she turned it over, the answer remained the same. She wasn’t in pain.

So, after a quiet pause, Ashley shook her head.