Thorian’s expression darkened, his patience thinning as his gaze locked onto me with visible disgust.
“Do you hear yourself?” he snapped. “Stop embarrassing me.” His voice hardened further. “Go home. Stay with Ashley. How can you just leave her alone like that?”
My teeth ground together, the bitterness rising uncontrollably.
“Do you even care about her?” I shot back.
His reply came instantly, firm, almost offended.
“What kind of question is that? Of course I do. Everything I build, everything I handle—it’s all for her. She’s my only child.” His tone carried pride now. “When she grows up and becomes part of another family, I’ll make sure she leaves with everything she deserves. She’ll stand tall because of me.”
Every word hit like a blade.
The anger inside me exploded, tangled with grief so deep it felt suffocating.
“Stop lying to yourself, Thorian!” I snapped, my voice shaking. “If you actually cared, you wouldn’t have left her alone out there—for her.” I shot a glance at Selindra. “She was six. Six years old. Did it ever cross your mind that she might’ve been terrified? That she needed you?”