Drake gazed at his reflection after his shower, letting out a deep sigh. His family was a tangled web of problems, and his mother always seemed to expect him to fix them. He'd hoped Leslie's issues could be resolved, but his father's obsession with the succession weighed heavily on his mind.

It was a distant memory when he was groomed to take over the family business, but an incident with Nate Biggins, Binky had deemed it best for Drake to step away.

Drake's memories of that time were hazy, but one thing stood out vividly: the overwhelming relief that washed over him when he didn't have to follow in his father's footsteps. Shed of the weighty expectations, he felt a sense of freedom that was still with him.

A soft knock at the door broke the silence. "Drake?" His wife, Victoria's voice was gentle.

"I'll be out in a minute, Vic," he replied, knowing she was likely pacing with worry. He'd gone straight to the shower after returning from his parents' house, a place that always left him feeling...unclean, despite his mother's immaculate standards.

When Drake emerged from the bathroom, Victoria was sitting patiently on their bed. "Dad doesn't want Anton to get his second ring, Leslie's chopped off all her hair, and Mom thinks Leslie might be a lesbian," Drake said, preempting Victoria's questions as he sat down beside her. "Beverly tends to...overreact, and you know how Leslie can be. But Binky voicing those concerns to you...that's a different story." Her voice trailed off, and Drake nodded in understanding. “I know. It means he’s been thinking about it for a while and saying these things aloud can be dangerous. Right or wrong, no one in Paradise appreciates someone who’ll renege on a deal,” Drake's gaze drifted off, concern etched on his face.

"And it puts Valerie in a tough spot – if Binky doesn't follow through on the agreement, Anton will likely divorce her just to spite him," Victoria said.

Drake had never been fond of Anton as a son-in-law, especially given his suspected role in their son, Alexander's shooting. But Valerie was adamant it was a love match, and Binky saw business potential, so the situation was out of Drake's control. The family's forced acceptance of Anton was a delicate dance, one that Drake navigated with caution. “We can only wait and see what happens,” Drake said.