While Nathan and Maddison were locked in their own quiet war, tearing at each other in ways neither would openly admit, Ashley's life in the Gildenvale estate began to settle into a steady and peaceful rhythm.
Day by day, her brothers grew closer to her, their presence no longer distant or unfamiliar, but warm and grounding in a way she hadn't expected.
Ophelia, on the other hand, made no effort to hide her displeasure anymore. Though she didn't confront Ashley directly, her irritation surfaced in sharper ways, like the subtle barbs in her words, dismissive glances, and the occasional eye roll she didn't bother to conceal.
Yet to Ashley, those actions barely registered as wounds. If anything, they felt childish, too trivial to truly matter.
The others seemed to share that sentiment. The brothers didn't interfere, nor did they make a spectacle out of it. They understood that Ophelia hadn't accepted Ashley yet, and perhaps wouldn't for some time.
