As Ashton crossed the threshold of the building, his heart began to race uncontrollably, each beat echoing in his chest, while his steps quickened to a frantic pace. The mansion sprawled before him, vast and uncharted, a place he had never truly explored or cared about. His obsession with underground affairs had blinded him to the need for a plan regarding Belle's safety. He had simply commanded his loyal man to take her away and had become consumed by other pressing matters. The peculiar aspect of this place lay in its male-dominated aura, a palpable sense of danger lurking around every corner for a young girl like Belle.
As he ventured further, the sounds of merriment echoed through the hallways, a chaotic revelry that contrasted sharply with the gravity of his situation. The crowd had
