Kaspian didn’t even flinch as her voice sliced through the room. If anything, it seemed to amuse him. His eyes flicked up lazily from the book he’d plucked off the coffee table—a self-help guide, of all things. He let out a soft snort, flipping it closed with one hand and setting it down. “What am I doing here?” he repeated, dragging the words out as if the answer was so blatantly obvious it wasn’t even worth her asking. “I mean, we could start with the fact that you left your door so… invitingly unlocked. Or maybe I just thought it was time we caught up. After all, it’s been what? Five years since you f^^ked me over?”
He leaned back on the couch, draping an arm across the backrest like he owned the place, his smirk widening as he saw the flicker of recognition—or was it fear?—flash across her face. “Nice to see you too, Cass. Oh, wait, it’s Logan now, right? My bad. Gotta keep up with all your… rebranding efforts.”
Without waiting for a response, Kaspian pushed himself up from the couch and sauntered into the kitchen like he’d lived there his whole life. He moved with an air of practiced ease, opening cupboards until he found the glasses and a bottle of whiskey—Ricky’s, presumably. “Let’s see,” he mused aloud, pouring himself a generous drink. “Top-shelf liquor. An athlete’s life. A house conveniently all to yourself. Really leaning into the ‘normal girl’ act, aren’t you?” He swirled the glass in his hand as he leaned against the counter, raising an eyebrow at her. “Want one?” he offered, holding up a second glass mockingly. “Or are you still the kind of girl who likes to keep her hands clean while other people get dirty for her?”
He didn’t wait for her answer, instead turning back to his drink and taking a slow sip, savoring it. “You know, it really bothered me at first,” he continued, voice deceptively calm, “why you seemed so… familiar. Couldn’t put my finger on it. But then I started thinking—really thinking—and wouldn’t you know it? Everything came flooding back. A scared little runaway girl… A shady fcking deal or… should we call it a betrayal?”
Setting the glass down with a soft clink, Kaspian walked back toward her, his expression hardening as the amusement in his tone faded. “Tell me, Cassandra,” he said, stopping just a few feet away. “Did you sleep better after selling me out? Or were you too busy counting your blood money to notice?”
He tilted his head, studying her with cold intensity, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “See, I’ve had some time to think about you. About us. About what happened back then. And you know what I’ve realized?” He leaned in slightly, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. “You didn’t just run away from your family. You ran away from yourself. Tell me, does the guilt still sting? Or did you bury that too, along with your name?”
@Littlefeets