Dusk Snow Hides All Return (Rowan and Adrienne) novel Chapter 4

She was carrying a thermal food container, looking worn out, though it didn't take anything away from her sharp, elegant features. The second she heard his words, her brows pulled together.

"What do you mean, no family? I'm right here, aren't I?"

"Rowan, you crossed a line with Desmond first. Your parents and I were just furious in the moment. You've been punished. Let's just drop it, okay? Stop holding a grudge."

She paused, softening her voice. "I've cleared my schedule this past week. Pushed back all the important meetings at the company. I'm here to take care of you."

Rowan looked at her. Looked at the way she'd deliberately softened her eyes, listened to the fake warmth in her words. But his heart was a wasteland. Not a single ripple.

He was about to tell her not to bother when his phone rang on the nightstand.

Video call. Mrs. Ashford.

Rowan swiped to answer.

His parents and Desmond filled the screen, a sun-drenched beach behind them.

Mrs. Ashford's voice carried a trace of guilt, but mostly entitlement. "Rowan, you're awake? So... Desmond got really shaken up by what happened. He's been in a rough place, so we brought him to the Maldives to clear his head. We probably won't be able to make it to the hospital to take care of you. You know... what you did last time was really out of line. Think of this as a little something for Desmond. Don't take it personally, okay?"

Rowan watched Desmond nestled between their parents on the screen, that smug, satisfied smile on his face. His chest just felt hollow. He couldn't even feel the pain anymore.

"Mm." One word. That was all he said.

Mrs. Ashford clearly hadn't expected him to be this calm. She froze for a second, like she wanted to say more, then finally mumbled, "Is... is Adrienne with you? Let me talk to her."

Rowan just passed the phone to Adrienne without a word.

Adrienne took it and walked over to the window.

Rowan couldn't make out the whole conversation, just caught snippets. "Desmond really wants you to come too..." "Desmond's still pretty fragile..." "Desmond wants to see you..."

He watched the hesitation flicker across Adrienne's face in profile. But deeper, behind her eyes, there was no missing it—worry. And longing.

Rowan's lips curved, barely.

When Adrienne hung up and walked back to the bed with a complicated expression as if trying to find the right words, he spoke first. His voice was flat. Empty.

"Go be with Desmond. I'll hire a private caregiver."

Adrienne froze, like she hadn't heard him right. "...What?"

"I said, go to the Maldives. Be with Desmond." Rowan repeated it, no emotion in his voice. "I don't need you here."

Adrienne's expression darkened.

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