Jason walked up to Anastasia, already knowing why she was there.


    "Anastasia," he said straight out. "You can''t see Rowan right now. Not until the trial starts-no visits allowed."


    "How is he?" Anastasia pressed, her voice tight. "Did he say anything?"


    She chose her words carefully. Jason was a friend, but he was still a cop.


    “I can''t tell you that. It''s the rules.” Jason''s tone was regretful. "Rowan just got back from the hospital this morning-he tried to poison himselfst night."


    Anastasia stared at him, stunned, anxiety churning inside her. "Why would he do that? Does he have no regard for his life? How is he now?"


    She felt angry and helpless all at once.


    "They got to him in time; he''s okay for now," Jason said. "If there''s any upside, it''s that now anyone thinking of hurting him will have to think twice."


    Anastasia understood immediately. With Rowan in custody, she''d feared Mr. Walker might pull strings so Rowan would just disappear.


    She pressed on, "What about Autumn? Any word from her?"<fnb8fc> The source of th?s content is F?ndNovel</fnb8fc>


    Jason hesitated. "Nothing. Not a peep. Go home for now, Anastasia. If anything changes, I''ll let you know."


    Mr. Walker and Autumn were both keeping quiet, but Jason had already been told to stay out of it.


    He and Herman had seen thating. There was no way Mr. Walker would get his hands dirty himself if he did, the whole thing would blow up and wreck his future.


    No, Mr. Walker''s best move was to pretend none of this concerned him.


    With no solid proof, who could actually touch Autumn? Not to mention, she was pregnant.


    For now, all Jason and Herman could do was keep Mr. Walker on edge and look for more evidence.


    Anastasia realized there was nothing more to ask. “Jason, can you tell Rowan something for me? ''Where there''s life, there''s hope.""


    "I will," Jason promised.


    He headed inside. Anastasia lingered a moment, then turned to leave-only to spot Hanna across the lot.


    Hanna was here for answers too.


    Anastasia hadn''t seen her the night before and had been worried. Now, seeing Hanna safe and sound, she finally felt a little relief.


    Hanna walked over. "How''s he doing?"


    "...He''s surviving." Anastasia really didn''t know what else to say. Locked up-how good could anyone be?


    Hanna nced back at the police station, then at Anastasia. "That''s just who he is-always living for other people. First for Asher, and then for you. He never thinks of himself Asher died Rowan was Rowan was finally free, and he still handed over thatst bit of freedom for you."


    s


    Anastasia fell silent. If she''d known what Rowan was nning, she would''ve stopped him.


    "Actually, before he turned himself


    in, I knew what he was going to do. I didn''t stop him. If that''s what he wanted. Het him Hanna''s voice softened, more to herself than to Anastasia. "Do you know how Rowan''s mother died?"  s


    Anastasia just looked at her, waiting.


    Hanna went on, "He and Asher weren''t even really half-brothers. Rowan''s real dad disappeared afterputing murder-gone, no trace. His mom remarried Asher''s dad, but then she vanished too, just left Rowan behind. Asher''s father kept him, raised him as his own, even told everyone he was his son. But Asher always resented Rowan for it."  s


    Hanna had only learned the truth from the letter Rowan left her after he confessed.


    Now she understood why Rowan gave himself up—not just for Anastasia, but to pay back his stepfather''s kindness.


    Asher''s death in prison wasn''t random; Rowan dragging Autumn into this was his way of getting justice for Asher.


    Hanna managed a sad, self-deprecating smile. "We''re both orphans, he and I. Maybe that''s why I liked him. In this world, we''re the same we''re both outsiders."


    Anastasia was shaken. She''d never really known Rowan''s story until now.


    Being abandoned by your parents and surviving on your own... it was almost unimaginable.