The Silverwood Legacy

Chapter Seven: Confrontation and Confusion

Rowan's heart pounded as she pulled into the driveway of the cottage. The weight of her discoveries at the library pressed heavily on her mind. She had hoped that her father would be ready to discuss what she had found, but the expression on his face as she approached the porch told her otherwise.

Her father stood on the porch, his posture rigid and his face flushed with anger. As Rowan approached, he fixed her with a piercing, intense look that sent a shiver down her spine. The usual warmth in his eyes was replaced by a steely, unreadable glare.

"Rowan," he said, his voice low and seething with a barely contained fury. "I thought I made it clear that there are things you're not ready to understand. You've been searching for answers that you're not prepared for."

Rowan took a step back, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and confusion. "Dad, I—"

"Don't 'Dad' me right now," he cut her off, his tone sharp. "You need to listen to me. If you keep digging into these matters, you'll only find danger. The time is not right for you to know these things."

Rowan's mind raced, her confusion mounting. "But why? I found something at the library—a family tree with strange symbols and animals. What does it mean? Why are you hiding this from me?"

Her father's expression hardened further, and he took a deep breath, trying to control his anger. "I'm trying to protect you, Rowan. There are dangers involved that you can't even begin to comprehend. The secrets of our family are not meant for you to uncover right now. I'm doing this for your own safety."

Rowan's confusion deepened. "But how am I supposed to stay safe if I don't even know what I'm up against? I feel like I'm being kept in the dark, and it's tearing me apart."

Her father's eyes softened slightly, but the frustration in his voice remained. "I understand that this is difficult, but there are forces at play that are beyond our control. The answers you seek come with risks, and right now, you need to trust me when I say that it's not the right time."

Rowan's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "How can I trust you if you won't even tell me the truth? It feels like you're shutting me out, and I don't know how to handle that."

Her father's face showed a flicker of regret, but his resolve did not waver. "I'm not shutting you out because I don't care. I'm doing it because I do. I want to keep you safe from harm, even if it means making decisions that you don't understand."

The argument left Rowan feeling more isolated than ever. Her father's anger and cryptic warnings only added to her frustration. She turned away, feeling the sting of tears in her eyes. She had hoped that this confrontation would bring clarity, but instead, it had only deepened the mystery and heightened her sense of helplessness.

As she walked inside the cottage, she felt a growing resolve to understand the truth, no matter how difficult it might be. The discovery at the library had opened a door to more questions, and the confrontation with her father had only strengthened her determination to uncover the secrets surrounding her family.

Rowan knew she needed to find a way to navigate the dangerous and confusing path ahead, but she also understood that she couldn't do it alone. The shadows of secrecy and danger loomed large, and she was determined to face them head-on, no matter the cost.