236. Athena
Something was wrong with Claudia.
I had noticed it the moment she was called for dinner, and she didn’t come. Claudia never missed dinner—especially not when her father asked. At first, I brushed it off as one of those rare moments when she just needed space. We all had them. But when she finally arrived, sliding into the seat beside Carlos, her entire demeanor felt… off.
She was distracted. Tense. And even though she tried to mask it with a small smile, I could see the strain in her eyes.
I debated for a moment—should I read her thoughts? It would be easy, just a small dip into her mind, enough to understand what was bothering her. But no, that would be an invasion of privacy. Claudia was my friend and my foster daughter and if she wanted to talk, she would.
Except… her t
