Chapter 173

SEBASTIAN

Diego didn’t respond immediately.

That silence… measured, deliberate… told me he was already shifting into damage-control mode.

“Seb,” he said finally, his voice steady in a way mine no longer was. “I need you to come home.”

I let out a sharp breath. “You are not listening… are you? Dahlia is missing.”

“I heard you.” Diego’s calmness pisses me off at the moment. “Just come home.”

“I’m not leaving.” I snapped.

“You are,” he countered calmly. “You’re not thinking straight.”

“I don’t have the luxury of thinking straight,” I snapped. “Dahlia is still missing. That’s the point.”

“And that’s exactly why you need to come back,” he said. “You’re spiraling. You’re chasing ghosts. If something breaks now, you won’t see it clearly.”

“I don’t need a lecture,” I shot back. My chest felt too tight, like rage and panic were fighting for the same space. “I need answers.”

“And you’ll get them,” Diego replied. “But not like t