Chapter 135
Epilogue
“It’s done.”
Ashley opened his eyes at the flat, detached voice. The medical staff were finishing up, removing the IV from his arm and tidying the space around him. He sat up, pulled down his sleeve, and adjusted his clothes.
He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror on the wall. Hollow eyes, shadows beneath them—his pale face made everything look even more stark. It was nothing new. He ran a hand through his hair and turned away.
Wearing a white shirt with a few buttons undone and a suit jacket tossed over it—no tie—Ashley stepped into the hallway, where a woman waiting there straightened her posture.
He walked right past his father’s secretary, who had been waiting for hours while he received the injection. He didn’t even glance at her. She followed without hesitation, unfazed by his reaction.
“Are you feeling well?” she asked. “According to the steward, your pheromone levels were quite high.”
“They’re gone now.”
Of course they were. He’d had them drained via injection. She kept speaking, walking beside him without invitation.
“Mr. Dominique Miller asked me to check on your condition. He’s concerned about you constantly relying on chemical extraction for your pheromones.”
At that, Ashley suddenly let out a sharp, humorless laugh. The bitter sound made the secretary fall silent.
“Concerned? That man? About me?”