“She’s your daughter, Dad!” Leo shot back, a rare edge creeping into his tone. “You can’t just ignore her. What if something’s wrong?”
Martinez’s expression hardened, annoyance creeping into his features. “Selene is an adult. She can take care of herself. We have business to handle.”
Leo’s jaw clenched as he stepped back, frustration radiating from him. He was always the dutiful son, doing his best to keep Martinez happy, but my absence was starting to crack his facade. I felt the tension building, a reminder of how quickly loyalty could be tested.
As I floated nearby, watching the exchange, a pang of sadness hit me, mixed with betrayal. I wanted to scream, to let Leo know I was still here, that I hadn’t just vanished. But all I could do was watch him grapple with a father who would rather focus on his empire than acknowledge his own flesh and blood.
The evening rolled on, filled with laughter and celebrations while I lingered in the background, unseen and unheard. I floated through the room, watching as Martinez held court, charming his guests and basking in their adoration. I had always been a shadow in his light, and now I felt even more invisible.