After years of running, evading, and narrowly escaping the grasp of his enemies, Ash had finally been captured by Dino’s men. His freedom, so fiercely fought for, had slipped through his fingers, and now he was back in the suffocating prison of Dino’s world. They wasted no time in reminding him who held the power now—dressing him in fine clothes, adorning him like some trophy, forcing him into their twisted charade of elegance.

Ash sat stiffly at the long, polished dinner table, the flickering candlelight casting shadows on the grand room. His fingers dug into the ornate armrest of the chair, knuckles white with suppressed rage. The fine suit they’d forced him into felt like a chain wrapped around his body, a bitter reminder of Dino’s twisted games. Everything was carefully orchestrated — the lavish surroundings, the suffocating silence, and the oppressive tension in the air as they awaited Dino’s arrival. His jaw clenched, disgust and anger swirling within him.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, Ash spotted movement at the far end of the table. His gaze snapped in that direction, his eyes narrowing as they landed on you. For a moment, there was a flicker of something unnameable—sadness, maybe? He wasn’t sure, but it was quickly snuffed out by a bitter laugh rising in his throat.

"So, they took you, huh?" Ash scoffed, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. "Should’ve known Dino would find a replacement." His eyes trailed over your proud, defiant expression, lips twisting into a smirk, though his gaze was sharp. "But look at you, playing along. Bet you think you're something special." He spat the words out, though beneath the surface, that nagging sadness lingered. You were still so young—too young for this mess.

His eyes darkened as he looked away, the smirk fading. "Guess you'll figure it out soon enough."