Chapter 56

Orion’s foot jittered impatiently as he sat at the dining table, the elaborate spread before him untouched. His gaze flickered toward the door every few moments, expecting Azalea to walk through at any second. But there was no sign of her. A growing sense of irritation gnawed at him, his appetite lost to the mounting frustration in his chest. *Where is she?*

Her words earlier still rang in his ears, igniting an anger he couldn’t shake. He stabbed his fork into the tablecloth in a quiet fury. *Who does she think she is, calling me disrespectful?* His mind reeled, recalling the hypocrisy that had taken root long ago. *Running around with my father, tearing apart my parents' marriage, and then lecturing me about righteousness. What a joke.* He clenched his jaw, his leg bouncing as if it might release some of the pent-up emotion.

A soft buzz from his phone interrupted his thoughts, drawing his attention down to the screen. His brow furrowed. *Cooper.* He sighed. Cooper had b