I stood there as tension hung in the air, watching Jackson shake his head before casually suggesting that we join him for a meal. Before Ashton could respond, I stepped forward and cut in, my voice calm but firm as I told him we had other things to handle and that he should go eat without us.
Jackson frowned and snapped back at me, clearly annoyed, reminding me that I was the one who had called him back from M Country. His words hit harder than expected, and for a brief moment, I felt my strength dip. I exhaled slowly and gestured toward myself, trying to lighten the moment as I reminded him of my condition, making it clear I needed to be careful and not push myself too hard.
He then shifted his attention to Ashton and suggested that I head home without him, insisting that Ashton was the one he actually needed to speak with. Ashton turned to him, his expression steady, and asked directly what he wanted to discuss.
