~Evric's POV~
He stopped me instantly, pulling his hand away and pushing back slightly from the table. "Enough. Don't talk about him again and—"
I didn't let him finish the rejection. I knew I had to push him, gently, past his initial defensive wall.
"I understand how you're feeling right now," I said, my voice steady but firm. "I know this brings up a lifetime of anger and pain, and you have every right to feel that. But no matter how much you want to shut down or get angry, you still need to see him."
I leaned in, trying to catch his gaze. "He's your father, Zayn. He left you when you were younger, yes. That failure is entirely his. But ignoring him now doesn't fix the pain; it only denies you the chance to look him in the eye and say everything you've ever wanted to say. It denies you the chance to see if he is truly a changed man, or if he's the same selfish person you remember."
