Silas' jaw clenched, his surprise morphing into indignation. "But this is my life!" he boomed, his voice echoing off the polished walls of the cabin.
It was the first time he had ever raised his voice to his father. The weight of their expectations felt like a suffocating fog. "How can you, how can anyone, make these decisions for me?" His frustration simmered, threatening to boil over. "I can't marry Lara, Dad, and no one can force me to!"
He shot up from his chair, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. His gaze, usually warm and trusting, now held a fierce glint as he locked eyes with his father. The foundation of his trust, the unshakeable belief that his father would always be in his corner, felt fractured.
