We sat in the car and drove back home.

When I entered, I saw my mother standing in the center of the living room, drinking her wine — probably waiting for me.

(Oh, by the way, we took a detour because I wanted to eat ice cream. That’s why she reached before us.)

"Father has called you to the study," she said.

I stormed into Father's study, still fuming. 

"You wanted to see me?" I snapped. 

Father looked up from his desk, his face cold and unreadable. 

"Sit down," he said sharply. 

I stayed standing. 

"I didn’t do anything wrong," I said, crossing my arms. 

"You embarrassed this family tonight, Ashley," he said, his voice low but filled with anger. 

"You raised your voice at Luca Romano in front of everyone," he said, standing up now too. "Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?" 

"I don't care who he is!" I shouted. "He should’ve apologized for what he did!" 

Father’s eyes narrowed. 

"You don’t get to ‘not care.’ In this world, appearances are everything. Respect is everything." 

"So I’m just supposed to let people walk all over me?!" 

He slammed his fist on the desk, making me jump. 

"You will act with grace. With dignity. Not like some reckless child!" 

I felt my throat tighten, but I refused to look away. 

"I’m not going to be silent just to make you look good," I said through gritted teeth. 

Father’s face darkened. 

"Until you learn your place, Ashley, you are a liability. And I don't tolerate liabilities in this family." 

For a moment, neither of us said anything. 

Then I turned on my heel leaving the study, slamming the door behind me, my hands still trembling from the argument.

I walked down the hallway, ignoring everyone, and pushed open the door to my room.

Throwing myself onto the bed, I stared up at the ceiling, letting the silence wrap around me.

But no matter how hard I tried to push everything away — the party, the fight, the embarrassment — all I could think about was Luca Romano.

His cold eyes, the way he barely flinched when I yelled at him...

A shiver ran down my spine, but I couldn't tell if it was fear or something else.

The man who bumped into me didn’t even flinch at my outburst—like he was used to storms and chaos, and maybe even liked them.