"One floor?" Finn looked up at Marcus. "Someone died. The team broke. Aria retired. And you're still talking about momentum and the Hale name?"
Marcus paused. "I'm trying to make you stronger so this doesn't happen again."
"No." Finn stood from his chair. "You're trying to make sure I don't embarrass the Hale name by staying inactive too long."
Marcus's jaw tightened. "I'm trying to make sure you survive. If you let grief make you weak, the Tower will kill you next."
"Elliot is already dead!" Finn's voice rose for the first time. "He died because I pushed us into Floor 10 thinking momentum mattered more than being ready."
The room went completely silent.
Finn's breathing was heavy while he stared at his father. "You never ask if I'm okay. You never ask what happened in that floor. You only ask when I'm climbing again."
Marcus stared at his son while something shifted in his expression. "You think I don't understand loss? I lost your mother to the Tower. I know what it takes."
