Chapter 790

Chapter 790:

Perhaps the suffocating darkness that surrounded him was a reflection of this realization—an emptiness born from having nothing left to fear.

And yet, as time dragged on, the unrelenting void remained. No matter how far Ashton walked or how fast he ran, the oppressive darkness stretched endlessly, without a hint of change.

In this timeless expanse, where the very concept of hours, days, or weeks blurred into nothingness, Ashton lost all sense of how long he had been trapped.

It could have been a day, a week, or even a year.

Confidence gave way to impatience, and impatience began to chip away at his resolve. He felt the strain on his mind, the edges of his sanity fraying as frustration took hold.

“Quills! Hurry up and show yourself! Is there something wrong with this trial? How much longer do I have to stay here? What do I need to do to pass?”

But no response came. The silence pressed against him like the weight of the darkness itself, and Ashton was left alone, his words swallowed by the endless void.

Unable to bear the oppressive stillness any longer, he bellowed again, his tone laced with anger and desperation, “If you don’t want me to pass this trial, just say so! How much time has passed? There are still countless things waiting for me outside to deal with!”

As the echoes of his voice faded, Ashton’s mind began to drift. He thought of the bet he had made with the Carter family for Abrial’s sake, of Rosalie waiting for him in Inewood, and of Alisha—the stubborn yet dependable policewoman who had helped him more times than he could count.

Concern for their well-being flooded his heart, and in that moment, he realized what he feared most: being truly alone.

Ashton was born into a world of wealth and privilege, one that most could only dream of.

Yet, ironically, it was this same family background that tore him apart in ways few could understand.

When Ashton was still a child, tragedy struck. His mother passed away after a long battle with illness, leaving a void no one could truly fill. His father, a towering figure in the business world, was consumed by responsibilities, often absent for most of the year.

Ashton’s two elder brothers, a decade his senior, were also preoccupied. Groomed from an early age to shoulder the weight of the Baldwin legacy, they spent their days mastering the skills necessary to lead the family empire. This left little time for them to pay attention to their youngest sibling.

Even the extended Baldwin family, tied up in their own ambitions and duties, had no room in their schedules to care for Ashton.

And the household staff, wary of overstepping boundaries, kept their distance, addressing only his basic needs with a respectful but cautious detachment.

In this cold, gilded cage, Ashton grew up largely alone.

Loneliness became an unwelcome companion during his childhood, a silent void that enveloped him in moments of quiet. While he didn’t like the isolation, he understood it. Family responsibilities were paramount, and their sacrifices, though painful, were necessary.

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