Mark’s grin widened, mistaking my act of vulnerability for genuine weakness. He took another sip of his drink, seemingly relishing in the dominance he thought he had.
“Why? Because she needs to learn, old man. She needs to know her place. You should have taught her that.”
His words were venomous, each syllable dripping with contempt. But beneath his arrogance, I detected the faint trace of a coward—a man who thrived on the illusion of power granted by fear and wealth.
