Chapter 13: Watch and Learn

**Thelma Zane’s POV** He didn’t respond immediately, nor did he refuse. My father remained silent, his gaze fixed on him with an intensity that made me shift uncomfortably. I glanced between the two, unsure of what was happening. The tension between them was palpable, like the quiet before a storm. Sir Aldrich, the playful man who had just moments ago been trying to charm me, now seemed like a completely different person. His once lighthearted demeanor had vanished, replaced by a calm, unyielding presence. His lips were pressed into a firm line, his silver-gray eyes meeting my father’s unwaveringly. For the first time, he struck me as a true warrior—one unafraid of confrontation. My father, on the other hand, was nearly unrecognizable. Gone was the warm, joking man I knew. In his place stood someone regal and authoritative. His noble bearing was undeniable, and his gaze carried a weight that demanded respect. Though he often made me laugh, in that moment, I couldn’t meet hi