Martinez shrugged, his focus drifting back to the deals and numbers swirling around him. “There are more important things to worry about than her. We have a rival gang to crush, and I don’t have time to babysit.”
“She’s your daughter, Dad!” Leo shot back, a rare edge creeping into his tone. “You can’t just ignore her. What if something’s wrong?”
Martinez’s expression hardened, annoyance creeping into his features. “Selene is an adult. She can take care of herself. We have business to handle.”
Leo’s jaw clenched as he stepped back, frustration radiating from him. He was always the dutiful son, doing his best to keep Martinez happy, but my absence was starting to crack his facade. I felt the tension building, a reminder of how quickly loyalty could be tested.
As I floated nearby, watching the exchange, a pang of sadness hit me, mixed with betrayal. I wanted to scream, to let Leo know I was still here, that I hadn’t just vanished. But all I could do was watch him grapple with a father who would rather focus on his empire than acknowledge his own flesh and blood.
The evening rolled on, filled with laughter and celebrations while I lingered in the background, unseen and unheard. I floated through the room, watching as Martinez held court, charming his guests and basking in their adoration. I had always been a shadow in his light, and now I felt even more invisible.
Amidst the clinking of glasses and the sound of music, the weight of my absence pressed heavily on my chest. I had wanted to be part of this world, to share in the laughter and success. But as the night wore on, I realized how futile that desire had been. Martinez had never wanted me here, and now I was just a ghost haunting the edges of their perfect lives.
As the evening began to wind down, I watched Leo mingle with the guests, putting on a brave face even as worry clouded his eyes. He was the one who truly cared, the one who noticed when something was off. I wanted to reach out, to let him know I was still here, still his sister, but the words wouldn’t come.
Hours passed, and as guests began to leave, their laughter fading into the night, Leo lingered for a moment longer. His expression was somber as he looked around, probably searching for a sign of me. I felt a flicker of hope that he might realize I was gone, that he might search for me, but that moment passed as quickly as it came.