Chapter 222: The Wasteland Within

**Thelma Zane’s POV** Not everyone in the team liked me. Some outright opposed me, while others harbored quiet disdain or looked down on me as if my presence was an inconvenience. If this had been years ago—when I was a self-conscious eighteen-year-old—I might have agonized over their opinions. I would have questioned myself endlessly. What had I done wrong? Was I too fragile? Had I made mistakes that caused unnecessary hardships? How could I change to win their approval and respect? But now, those days of seeking validation were behind me. I still asked the first three questions, but the last? I scoffed at it. I wasn’t here to make friends or win admiration. My mission wasn’t about earning everyone’s love or fitting into their narrow perceptions of leadership. Their acknowledgment might smooth the journey, but it wasn’t the goal. Besides, did their approval even matter? If gods couldn’t win universal favor, why should I expect to? At the end of the day, their opinions h