Chapter 265

I woke up with a stuffy head, a blocked nose, and a hangover. My head throbbed, my limbs ached, and my heart fluttered in a strange, jumpy rhythm—the result of a sleepless night. I saw Ashton's text and didn't reply. I didn't want to talk to him. Not until I'd sorted out what was going on in my own head. Franklin was dead. My father was dead. I couldn't remember the last time we'd had a peaceful conversation. The last time he spoke to me without trying to squeeze something out of Ashton. The last time he gave me a smile that felt even remotely fatherly. Still, he was my father. He gave me life. I could at least spend one day mourning him. Right? I called Fabrizio to ask for the day off. He didn't answer. His hangover was probably worse than mine. I remembered how much he'd drunk last night. I rang Peter Carl instead and told him I wasn't coming in. "You and Fab both," he said, sounding unsurprised. "What did you two get up to last night?" I gave a vague answer. "It's fine. Take all the