Anastasia''s heart skipped a beat when she heard the word "jailbreak."


    She dashed inside, nearly colliding with Rowan as he was heading out the door. He froze for a moment when he saw her, caught off guard.


    "Rowan, where are you going?" Anastasia''s tone was all business.


    Hot on his heels, Hanna burst in, frustration written all over her face. "Anastasia, please! Knock some sense into him-he''s lost it. He wants to break Asher out of prison!"


    Hanna was beside herself. She''d poured her heart into getting Rowan back on his feet, taking care of him day and night, and now he wanted to throw it all away.


    Who in their right mind would even consider busting someone out of prison?


    Anastasia squared up to Rowan, her eyes sharp. Rowan just muttered, "He''s my brother."


    "He''s a criminal," Anastasia shot back, her voice steely. "You want to join him in jail? The police still haven''t closed the case on those four men from the cave. If you go now, you''re basically signing your own death warrant."<fn6fe6> ?????? ???? FιndNovel</fn6fe6>


    Rowan''s face was nk. "I killed someone. If you know that and don''t report it, you''re breaking thew too. You should turn me in."


    "That''s not the same," Anastasia insisted. "Those four got what they deserved."


    If anyone else was involved, Anastasia wouldn''t have hesitated to call the cops. But this was Rowan-she just couldn''t do it.


    Even if it meant breaking thew, even if she got charged as an aplice, she''d take it.


    Rowan had saved her life. Without him, she might not still be here.


    Things aren''t always ck and white, right or wrong.


    Hanna, still fuming, raised her voice. "Rowan, I saved your life, remember? That means you owe it to me not to waste it. You think going solo to bust someone out is heroic? It''s stupid! Asher treated you like dirt-he doesn''t deserve this!"


    Rowan just stood there, stone-faced, which only made Hanna angrier.


    Anastasia couldn''t make sense of him, either. He was practically begging for trouble, and for what? Asher had never done a thing for him.


    Hanna grabbed Rowan''s wrist. "Come inside. Now."


    Rowan shook her off. "My life. My choice. Stay out of it."


    That stung. Hanna''s face flushed with hurt and fury. "You''re such a pig, Rowan! Fine! Go on, get yourself killed for all I care!"


    She was on the verge of tears as she stormed off, mming her bedroom door behind her.


    Anastasia stood there, the air thick with awkwardness.


    Rowan''s expression softened, regret flickering across his face. Maybe he''d gone too far.


    "Rowan, just think this through,"


    Anastasia said quietly. "You only get one life? Nobody actually wants to die. Can you''re Just feltmei


    So set on doing something this reckless?"  s


    Rowan just mmed up again.


    His stubborn silence could drive anyone crazy.


    Anastasia let out a frustrated sigh. "This isn''t only about brotherly love, is it? Something else is going on. You can tell me."


    Rowan pressed his lips together, refusing to say more. He wasn''t about to


    confess that he really was nning to throw his life away.


    Herman and Anastasia had been covering for him this whole time. Sooner orter, the truth woulde out and they''d go down with him.


    Now that he knew Autumn was Julie''s real mother, he was sure Autumn wouldn''t leave Anastasia alone. If his crimes were discovered, Anastasia would be caught in the fallout.


    He''d recovered now. Busting Asher out was just a way to get himself caught. If he could save Asher, great. If not, at least the mess would end.


    "Anastasia," Rowan said suddenly.


    “Yeah?” Anastasia''s voice softened, waiting for him to go on.


    But Rowan fell silent again.


    Anastasia never one for patience, was about to lose it. "What''s going on in that head of yours?" she blurted. If she could crack his skult open and peek inside, she would.  s


    Rowan finally spoke. "Autumn is Julie''s real mother. Be careful around her."


    “I know,” Anastasia replied. “She was behind my kidnappingst time, too. She''s


    out for revenge for Julie. I get it. But... what''s your point?"


    Rowan frowned. "You already knew?"


    "Yeah..." Anastasia nodded, then


    suddenly put the pieces together "Waits that why you want to break


    et dragged down with you?"


    out? Because you''re worried


    s


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