He looked away, his voice tinged with regret. "Maybe not. But I can't show weakness, not now. If they see any doubt in me, it'll only make things worse."
Avery reached out, her fingers brushing his arm. "But you're not alone in this. You have people who care about you, who believe in you."
Ethan looked back at her, his eyes shadowed by the weight of his responsibilities. "And what if that's not enough? What if Marcus is right, and I'm losing control?"
Her gaze held steady, her voice soft but firm. "You've led them this far. They wouldn't still be here if they didn't believe in you."
He let out a weary sigh. "I just wish they could see that everything I'm doing is for them. For all of us."
Avery's hand lingered on his arm, grounding him. "They'll see it, Ethan. Give them time."
