Chapter 544

• Apphia
• My father is not the man he once was. He has lost weight, his eyes dull, and he has a permanent scowl on his face. It seems he has lost all spark in life. I want to turn and walk in another direction, but my legs won't move. For some reason, he scares me. Why am I scared? I try to get in his head and read his thoughts. There is only contempt, no kind memories of me whatsoever. It's just hurt and hate. He still blames me for his mate's death. And then realization dawns on me: this man has always hated me; my mother's death was only the tip of the iceberg.
• His eyes darken, and he regards Jerry beside me, mindlinking him.