Chapter 49: The Weight of a Lie

**Aldrich’s POV** When had the rift between my father and me begun? What caused it to grow so wide? I couldn’t pinpoint the moment or the reasons. Time, pride, and unspoken misunderstandings had built a barrier neither of us dared to cross. Yet, love—real and honest—had the power to shatter it. Perhaps love in all its forms worked the same way. I found myself reflecting on this as I drove, my mind racing faster than my car. The sun was setting, casting a golden hue over the horizon, but my thoughts were fixed on Thelma. *I’m sorry, Thelma. I felt your pain, sensed the distance growing between us, but instead of confronting it, I used my own self-righteousness to bury the truth. I’ve never been in love before, and when obstacles appeared, I ran. I was a coward, afraid of losing you if I mishandled things.* *You should be angry with me. I deserve it. But if I take the first step to mend this, will you forgive me?* I wasn’t sure. The memory of that night, of the silence th