Layla’s heart pounded as she faced her father, the weight of his presence suffocating in the dimly lit tunnel. The flickering torches cast long, menacing shadows against the damp stone walls, making his form seem larger, more inescapable. His expression was calm, as if he had foreseen this confrontation long before she even dared to suspect his betrayal.
“You always did have a stubborn streak,” Gideon mused, his voice smooth, unhurried. "I wondered when you'd finally start asking the right questions."
Layla clenched her fists at her sides, the fury inside her barely contained. “You were never preparing me to lead,” she said, her voice shaking with anger. “You were preparing me to control, to be another tool in your war.”
Gideon exhaled, as if disappointed. "You make it sound so crude, d
