The soft clink of glasses and the low murmur of conversation hum in the background, but it's Cassian who commands the space. His presence is always a little too sharp, too aware, like he knows everything even when he's pretending not to. He leans back in his chair, swirling his drink with casual elegance.

"You've been quiet tonight," he says, eyes gleaming with mischief. "That's not like you, King." I meet his gaze, all calm exterior, but inside, there's a churn I can't ignore. Cassian's always playing with me, always pushing the boundaries of what I'm willing to reveal. He's good at it. Too good. I don't want to talk about the things that gnaw at me—the things I'm trying to keep buried. So, I deflect.

"You got something on your mind, Cass?" His smile is barely there, but it's enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

"Actually, I do. Something I know you've been avoiding," he says, leaning forward, his voice low. "Rumor has it you have a fiancée. How is she?" The mention of that familiar situation cuts through me like a blade. I take a slow breath, trying to keep the edge out of my voice. No point hiding it from Cassian. Even if I have not told him about the engagement, he has a knack with my secrets so there's no point denying it to him.

"What about her?" Cassian's gaze sharpens, his smile widening ever so slightly.

"You don't have to say a word, Atlas. I already know she's gone. Disappeared without a trace. Ran away. And I don't think I need to tell you how the Kensingtons have tried to keep that little detail under wraps." His words land like stones, heavy and pointed. I feel my jaw tighten, but I can't let him see how deeply it stirs me. I swallow before answering, careful to keep my tone neutral.

"I know she ran away. It's not news to me." Cassian raises an eyebrow, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Oh, I know you know. What surprised me was how quickly the Kensingtons managed to sweep it under the rug. That's impressive. They have always been good at hiding things, Atlas." He pauses for a beat, his eyes never leaving mine. "But it's funny, isn't it? How they think they can keep things buried, and then we have a way of coming to light." I feel a flicker of discomfort, but I force myself to remain still.

"What's your point?" Cassian shrugs, taking another sip of his drink.

"No point. Just...an observation. Though, I do find it interesting how no one seems to know why she ran. No one knows the real reason. You don't, do you?" His words hit like a subtle jab, but I keep my expression neutral. It's a subject I've avoided at all costs, and Cassian knows that. He's always prying, always digging. But I don't give him the satisfaction of reacting. Instead, I lean back in my chair, keeping my voice steady. The weight of his words hangs in the air, but I won't bite. I never do when it comes to engagement I don't have a choice but to agree on. Cassian leans in slightly, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Speaking of the family...I hear her twin brother has been busy." His voice is smooth, his smile wide, but there's something sharp in his eyes that cuts through the pretense.

"Twin brother?" I ask, though I already know where this is headed. He raised a brow.

"You don't know that your wayward bride-to-be has a twin?" I rolled my eyes.

"That's not what I mean," I corrected him. I just wanted to see if I heard him correctly, that he's referring to him. Cassian sits up a little straighter, eyes narrowing with a new, sharper focus.

"I heard something from Wren today. He mentioned it in passing, like it was no big deal." He pauses, letting the tension hang in the air before he lets the words drop.

"Turns out your little brother-in-law, Alexander—perfect little Kensington—applied to Vale & Wren. My company." He repeated making sure he tells it to me straight. I wanted to smash my fist to his face when he said perfect little Kensington. Cassian's grin widens, but there's something cold about it.

"Yeah. Apparently, he's keen on making a name for himself in the publishing world. Not much of a surprise, right? The perfect Kensington, without a scandal in sight, not a whisper of trouble. Just...neat, polished, and ready to take the world by storm." He chuckles lightly, the sound almost mocking.

"Unlike his twin sister, who's always in the tabloids, the darling of the parties, the notorious party girl with a reputation that precedes her. Alexander, though—he's the opposite—never a whisper of anything untoward. Not a tabloid headline in sight." Cassian leans forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with curiosity, and he tilts his head, as if weighing his next words carefully.

"But Alexander...he's a mystery, isn't he? No messy drama, no public missteps. Just...pristine. So controlled. So perfect." His tone shifts slightly, playful but still probing, like he's trying to peel back the layers.

"It makes you wonder, doesn't it? What's really behind that perfectly polished exterior." I feel a spark of irritation rise within me, but I shove it down. I know Cassian well enough to understand he's goading me, pushing at something I don't want to confront.

"Cut to the chase," I say, my voice firm. "What do you really want?" I said as I watch Cassian as he leans back in his chair, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. He takes his time before answering my question, his eyes never leaving mine. The silence stretches between us, thick with tension, and I feel the weight of it in my chest.

"What do I want?" Cassian repeats my question, dragging it out like it's some sort of riddle he's going to unravel. "You know, Atlas, I could tell you I just like to stir the pot. That I'm just looking for some fun, watching you squirm a little." His chuckle is quiet, almost too calm, and it grates on my nerves.

"But that wouldn't be entirely true, would it?" I don't say anything. I'm already bracing myself for whatever game he's about to play. He's always like this—teasing, poking, pulling at things he knows I'd rather keep buried. I try not to react, but I can feel the irritation bubbling just under the surface. He watches me, studying every shift in my expression, every twitch of my body.

"What I really want..." His voice drops lower, and I feel like he's taking his sweet time. "Is for you to stop pretending you don't care about the little details. About what's happening around you." I let out a breath through my nose, trying to keep my face neutral. He's always digging, always looking for cracks to exploit. I'm not giving him the satisfaction this time.

"How long do you think he'll last?" Cassian continues, his voice now a bit more probing, dangerous in its casualness. "You think he'll be able to keep up? Create something of his own, or will he crumble under the weight of all those expectations?" The question stings. But it's not about whether Alexander can handle our world. It's about whether he can carve out a name for himself outside of the suffocating legacy of the Kensington's. That's the real question. And it's one I don't have the answer to. Cassian smirks, his eyes narrowing just a fraction.

"You know, Atlas... the Kensington name, it's a powerful thing. It opens doors. It gets people noticed. But do you think Alexander can step out from underneath that shadow? Build something for himself, without that name? Because if he's hoping to just coast along, thinking the Kensington name will carry him, he's in for a rude awakening." I swallow hard, the weight of his words pressing against my chest. Alexander, trying to stand on his own without the luxury of his family's name. The thought makes my stomach twist in a way I can't fully explain. Cassian leans back again, sipping his drink slowly, watching me.

"You know he's got to prove himself, don't you? If he wants to make it in this world...he can't just rely on the Kensington legacy to open doors for him. It's not that easy." I don't respond. I can't. I'm too focused on the image of Alexander trying to build something without that name. Can he do it? Will he be able to? Cassian seems to savor my silence, letting the tension build between us. Finally, he speaks again, his voice quieter, but still filled with that strange amusement.

"I guess we'll see. Won't we, Atlas?"