Isiah's gaze, though seemingly indifferent, held a glimmer of awareness as he watched Lexie return to her previous spot.
He had been prepared for her tears, a response to their strained interactions and her own internal struggles.
His intention had been to create a distance between them, to maintain the façade of detachment he often wore.
However, what transpired next left him stunned. Lexie, despite her tears and vulnerability, did something unexpected.
Instead of simply retreating to her place, she took a seat directly across from him, her gaze unwavering, her determination palpable.
This unexpected act from Lexie seemed to challenge the emotional distance he had tried to establish.
It was as if she refused to be pushed away, her presence a silent but powerful statement of her resilience and her desire for connection, even in the face of his indifference.