Chapter 6: A Daughter's Perspective

Maya looked up, shaking her head. "It wasn't your fault, Dad. You left early for an emergency briefing. I just wanted to help." She paused, tracing the rim of her glass. "What scared me wasn't just the officer... it was how quickly he decided who I was before I even said a word." Marcus pulled up a chair beside her. "People often project their own cynicism onto others, Maya. But you never have to accept someone else's false perception of you."