Chapter 72: Confrontation
First tell me, why did you betray me? Why did you betray our people?."
"I’m just trying to protect you by telling you to leave. As for the other questions, I can’t explain it now."
I let out a bitter laugh. "Really? That’s what you call this? Telling me to run with no explanation like I’m some stupid girl who doesn’t deserve the truth?"
He stepped forward. "It’s not safe for you here."
"I don’t care."
He froze. I could see the words forming in his throat, but I wouldn’t let him speak first.
"You don’t get to do this," I hissed, taking a step toward him. "You don’t get to pretend like we never knew each other. Like we weren’t—" I broke off, jaw clenched. "Like you didn’t matter to me."
His shoulders tensed. He turned away from me, hands gripping the back of a chair like he might crush it.
"Lucas," I said, voice softer now. "What happened to you? Where’s the man I trusted with my life?"
He didn’t speak. Not for a long time.
Then, quietly, like a wound finally tearing open, he said, "He’s dead."