“You’re overreacting,” Aarev said evenly. “We just went on a walk to the park. It’s not like I kidnapped him.”
Jace’s grip on me tightened just a fraction, making me whimper before I could stop myself. It wasn’t that it hurt, but more about the sudden stress that I hadn’t been expecting.
Instantly, his hand loosened. His thumb brushed my arm as he looked down at me. His voice shook as he said, “I got home almost an hour ago.” Guilt filled my chest. I hadn’t realized we’d been out for that long. I guess I’d been distracted by Aarev’s prodding. “You didn’t leave a note—anything.”
“I-I texted you,” I said quickly, pulling back just enough to look up at him. “I did. I promise, Daddy, I—”
Jace looked down at me, eyes blazing and wild and terrified all at once. “I didn’t get any texts.”
Cold washed through me. “W-wait, I’ll show you—I sent it right before we left.”
I twisted in his hold until he released me, then grabbed my phone from where it sat on the entryway table. I fumbled withit, the screen lighting up as I went back to Daddy’s side.
My messages were already open from earlier.
And the text sat there.
Unsent.
“I-I thought I sent it,” I whispered, panic blooming in my chest. “I swear I thought I did.”
Daddy closed his eyes for a second, like the weight of that nearly crushed him.
Then he looked back at Aarev.
“You had him leave the house without telling me,” he said, deadly quiet now.
“I didn’t make him do anything,” Aarev replied. “He wanted to go. And frankly, Jace, the fact that you’re reacting like this—”
“You do not get to decide what’s best for him,” Daddy snarled. “You don’t get to undermine me in my own home.”
“I wasn’t undermining you,” Aarev shot back. “I was making sure he knows he has autonomy. That he’s allowed to exist outside of you—that he should!”
My head was spinning. “Please don’t fight,” I said softly, pressing myself closer to Daddy’s side. My fingers curled into his shirt again. “I just wanted to see the ducks. There was a swan.”
Daddy looked down at me, all the anger draining out of his face at once, replaced by something raw and aching. “You scared me,” he said hoarsely. “I thought you… God, Elior.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I thought you knew. I wouldn’t have gone if I thought—”
“I know,” he said quickly, cupping the back of my head and pressing my forehead to his chest. “I know, baby. This isn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong, okay?”
Aarev watched the exchange, his expression tight. “Jace, this level of fear isn’t healthy—”
Daddy’s head snapped up. “Go.”
Silence fell heavy between them.
“I’m serious,” Daddy continued, his voice deadly calm. “You do not come near him again. You do not speak to him. You do not get to confuse him or scare him or plant ideas in his head because you think you know better.”
Aarev’s gaze flicked to me. “Elior—”
“No,” Daddy cut in instantly. “We’re done here.”
Aarev held my eyes for a moment longer. I didn’t know what to do with my face. With my heart pounding and my hands shaking, I just wanted him to leave.
“I just want you to be safe,” Aarev said quietly.
“I am,” I whispered. “Why can’t you just believe me?”
