Chapter 22: Broken Promises
"Apologize?" Soleia echoed after him with a scoff of disbelief. "You'll have me apologize to your mother after what she said? You heard her loud and clear from your chambers, I'm sure."
Orion said nothing. His eyes were as cold as the winter outside, unflinching as he stared at Soleia with no emotion other than hatred. She let out a shaky breath, fighting every nerve in her body from instinctively cowering back.
"Apologize," he repeated. "Or do you need me to persuade you to do so?"
"Have you forgotten everything you said yourself last night at Ralph's abode?" Soleia asked in incredulity.
She tried to glance past him, curious to see if Elowyn was playing a hand in Orion Elsher's sudden change in attitude, but he moved swiftly to block her gaze. With his hulking, towering body, Soleia was unable to catch a glimpse of anything behind him.
Orion continued to stare stonily at Soleia. "Apologize, and leave at once."
"You're throwing me out?" Soleia asked, her eyes bulging out in shock. Then, in a softer voice, she said, "Don't you remember a single word of what you have promised Ralph? He's still waiting for you to help him."
"The promises were made to a friend," Orion said as he folded his arms across his chest, flexing his impressive biceps as he did so. "Ralph Byrone has decided to spend the night with a woman with whom I am still wedded to. I consider that less of what a friend might do, but rather an enemy, wouldn't you think?"
This was the same man who had made such fervent promises last night. He had seen how bad Ralph's condition was with his own eyes― how could he have changed his mind so quickly?