"All right, but don't try to tough it out. If it starts to hurt, tell me. We'll get you something for it," Apollo said, his tone firm but gentle as he reached out and patted her head again.
Over the past three days, Ashley had begun to notice the habit. It came so naturally to him, those quiet, reassuring gestures, that she no longer resisted. Instead, she simply smiled and nodded in response.
For a fleeting moment, though, the warmth stirred something else. A memory. Brent and Blake had been like this, too, attentive, indulgent, and always looking out for her. Back then, she had believed it would last.
The thought left a faint bitterness on her tongue, her smile turning just slightly wry.
A question surfaced in her mind, uninvited and persistent. 'Would these new brothers remain the same? Would they continue to treat her with the same care, the same quiet affection… no matter what happened in the future? Or would everything change the moment things fell apart?'
