Rowan Vale did not ask Willow to leave with him that day.

“If you’ll allow it.”

“That isn’t up to me.”

“It is,” he said. “Everything involving you and Ava is up to you now.”

Willow almost looked away.

For fifteen months, no one had spoken to her like that.

Not with respect.

Not with patience.

People had demanded.

Accused.

Pitied.