Chapter 95. Bound By Expectations

Ethan’s POV

I paced the length of my study, the air around me heavy with frustration. My thoughts were a whirlwind, each one sharper and more damning than the last. I couldn’t wrap my head around Lily’s actions. How could she have endangered Victoria like that?

Behind me, Lily stood by the window, arms crossed defensively. She wasn’t crying yet, but the storm in her eyes warned me that the tears weren’t far off. Her silence was maddening, a refusal to acknowledge the gravity of what had happened.

She has shut down since I told her that Victoria had been found, and perhaps she was back to wishing she hadn’t returned.

“You think I’m being unreasonable?” I asked, my voice cold and sharp.

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she turned to face me, her expression a mix of defiance and guilt. “I told you, Ethan. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I didn’t know what to do!”

“Didn’t know what to do?” I scoffed, spinning around to face her f