I grabbed my suitcase, ready to leave this miserable chapter behind. But for a moment, panic flickered across Gilbert's face. He grabbed my arm instinctively, his voice trying to sound calm, though I could hear the desperation beneath it.
"Lily, stop making trouble. I didn’t mean to break the appointment that day. How about this: if Keenan wants to go to the zoo in a few days, I’ll arrange for it."
My heart hardened even further. He didn’t even know. Keenan had been dead for days and Gilbert was still acting like everything could be fixed with empty promises. He hadn’t cared enough to ask how Keenan was doing, hadn’t even been around to see what happened.
I slowly pried his fingers off me, my voice steady. "No need."
For the first time, Gilbert seemed genuinely shocked. He had never seen me so indifferent, so final. He could sense something slipping away, something he had never thought possible—my complete detachment from him. His instinct to control kicked in and he made a move to follow me, to stop me.