336: A Calculated Response

As Alex hung up the phone, a mix of frustration and resolve settled over him. The conversation with Lillian had been as revealing as it was disappointing. Lillian's plea, cloaked in desperation and a feigned willingness to change, had been transparent to Alex. He knew his sister all too well—the pattern of manipulative behavior was all too familiar, and Alex was not about to be drawn back into the cycle of empty promises and subsequent betrayals. Emma watched Alex’s face, noting the tight set of his jaw, the slight narrowing of his eyes—a clear sign that the call had not gone as Lillian might have hoped. “It’s hard, isn’t it?” she said softly, breaking the silence that had fallen between them. “To cut ties, especially when it’s family.” Alex turned to her, his expression softening slightly. “It’s necessary,” he replied, his voice firm. “Lillian’s actions have consequences, and I can’t keep putting out fires she starts. It’s time she learns that her actions have real, lasting im