Zane's expression remained carefully unreadable, but her cold dismissal hit harder than he expected. His chest tightened, masking the faint ache that lingered beneath his composure.
He wasn't someone easily affected by others' opinions, especially when spoken with irritation or disrespect. Yet this woman—whose existence shouldn't have mattered to him in the slightest—kept stirring something within him that he couldn't quite define.
Swallowing hard, Zane turned to face her again. Selina was already eating, unbothered by his presence, refusing even to glance his way.
She ate quietly, savoring each bite with deliberate calm.
Taking a few steps forward, Zane stopped six feet away, keeping a respectful distance.
"You're always welcome to reach out to me," he said, his tone quiet but steady. "I'm always here."
