Chapter 18

• “Called you her mother?” Xavier completed her sentence for her, his voice steady but laced with an undertone of sadness.
• Zarina nodded, desperation and confusion etched across her features. “Exactly. Why did she…do that?”
• Xavier’s fist clenched tightly as he struggled to find the right words to answer her question. His eyes darted around the room, searching for a way to explain the situation. “Because, Zarina…” he began, trailing off as he tried to compose himself. “Let me show you instead.”