The moment I see Cassian's text, my brows knit together.
"Bring Ray to this location at noon. No questions. It's a surprise."
A surprise? I don't like the sound of that. Cassian and surprises? Not exactly a reassuring combination.
I type back. "What's happening there?"
His reply comes almost instantly. "Just trust me."
I scoff. Trust? That's a word I wouldn't associate with Cassian. But before I can argue further, Ray peeks over my shoulder, catching a glimpse of the text.
"Mummy! Is that about my birthday?" His eyes light up with excitement.
I hesitate. "Uh… maybe."
He grabs my hands, bouncing on his feet. "Please, can we go? Please?"
I sigh. This is exactly why Cassian didn't tell me. He knew I wouldn't refuse if Ray was excited. Sneaky.
"Fine," I say reluctantly. "We'll go."
Ray cheers, running off to get ready. Meanwhile, I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at Cassian's message.
What exactly are you up to, Cassian?
***
I park the car in front of a luxurious cinema building, still unsure if this is a good idea. Cassian didn't tell me much, just an address and the promise that it would be a surprise. Ray, however, is buzzing with excitement in the passenger seat, practically bouncing as he looks out the window.
"Mummy, hurry!" he pleads, unbuckling his seatbelt before I even turn off the engine.
I sigh. This is for Ray, I remind myself as I step out and take his hand.
The doors to the cinema swing open, and a familiar figure stands at the entrance, hands in his pockets, a confident smirk on his face.
"Welcome to Ray's private movie night," Cassian announces, stepping aside to reveal the transformed space.
The lobby is decorated with giant cutouts of Ray's favorite characters. The air smells like fresh popcorn, and soft instrumental music plays in the background. A large banner hangs across the entrance to the screening room: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RAY!
Ray's mouth falls open. "Whoa! Is this all for me?"
Cassian crouches to his level. "All of it. And guess what? This isn't just any movie night." He gestures toward a staff member, who hands Ray a special VIP pass with his name on it. "You're the guest of honour. That means unlimited popcorn, snacks, and the best seat in the house."
Ray lets out an excited squeal and bolts inside. I exhale, watching the sheer joy on his face. Cassian really did this?
We step into the private theater, and to my shock, it's not just a regular movie playing, it's a personalized animated short film starring Ray himself. His favorite superheroes battle villains, and in the middle of the chaos, the hero turns to the screen and says, "We need Ray to help us win this fight!"
Ray gasps. "That's me! That's me!"
Cassian chuckles, settling into a seat beside me. "I had some connections. Got a team to make this for him."
I turn to him, studying his face. No arrogance. No smugness. Just a man genuinely happy to see a child smile.
Then the actual movie starts, and Ray dives onto a bean bag chair in front of the screen, eyes glued to the action. Cassian, on the other hand, doesn't just sit and watch, he gets up, grabs a foam sword from a pile of props, and starts acting out the battle scenes.
I blink. Cassian… playing?
He dodges invisible attacks, jumps onto the armrest of a chair, and lets out a dramatic, "Take that, villain!" before pretending to fall in slow motion.
Ray bursts into laughter, grabbing a toy blaster and joining in. They duel, rolling across the floor like a pair of overgrown kids.
I sit back, arms crossed, watching the prince, the man I once thought incapable of anything beyond arrogance, completely lose himself in the moment. There's no royal formality, no calculated charm. Just Cassian, free and unrestrained, playing like he never got to as a child.
A strange feeling stirs in my chest. He never had this, did he?
As if sensing my gaze, he turns to me, breathing heavily from all the jumping. He grins, slightly out of breath. "You're missing out, Celeste. Join us."
I shake my head, pretending to be indifferent. "I'll pass."
He raises a brow. "Scared you'll lose?"
I scoff. "I just don't make a fool of myself in public."
Cassian smirks, then tosses a foam sword onto my lap. "Suit yourself." Then he's back to dueling with Ray, laughing like a man who just discovered what freedom feels like.
And for the first time, I see him, not as a prince, not as the arrogant man I despised, but as someone else entirely. Someone I don't recognize.
And that scares me more than anything.
Ray is still bouncing with excitement, his hands full of prizes, his cheeks flushed from laughter. I watch him, feeling warmth spread through me, but also a nagging wariness. Cassian has been different today, so present, so engaged. He played with Ray like a child himself, like he was reliving something he'd lost.
I shake off the thought. This doesn't change anything.
Just as I'm about to thank him for the day and leave, Cassian kneels in front of Ray, holding out a neatly wrapped box.
"One more surprise, buddy."
Ray gasps. "For me?"
Cassian nods. "Go on, open it."
Ray's small hands tear through the wrapping with excitement, revealing an action figure. Not just any action figure; the exact one Ray has been talking about for months but couldn't find anywhere.
His mouth drops open. "No way! Mummy, look!"
I blink in disbelief. How does Cassian even know?
"This is so cool! Thank you, Uncle Cassian! You're the best!" Ray throws his arms around him in an excited hug.
I stiffen. Uncle Cassian?
I glance at Cassian, expecting him to look smug, but something flickers across his face, something raw, almost vulnerable. He hesitates for a second before patting Ray's head. "You're welcome, champ."
I clear my throat. "You didn't have to do that."
He stands, his gaze locking onto mine. "I wanted to."
Before I can reply, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small velvet box. "And I have something for you too."
I freeze. "Cassian, I don't need…"
"Just open it."
Something in his tone stops me from arguing. My fingers tremble slightly as I take the box and flip it open. Inside, nestled against dark velvet, is a delicate gold chain with a locket. It's beautiful, too beautiful.
I hesitate before opening the locket, and then, my heart stops.
Inside is a tiny photograph. Our wedding kiss.
It wasn't supposed to mean anything. The wedding was arranged, and that kiss was for the cameras, nothing more. But somehow, the way it was captured, the angle, the way our faces align, the emotion it seems to hold - it looks real. Too real.
I feel lightheaded. "Why… why would you give me this?"
Cassian watches me closely. "Because I regret not seeing what was in front of me. And I wanted you to have something to remind you that, whether you believe it or not- you were once mine."
My breath shudders.
Ray, still completely unaware of the tension, peeks at the locket. "Wow, Mummy! You look like a real princess!"
Cassian smirks, eyes never leaving mine. "That's because she is one."
I snap the locket shut and step back, shaking my head. "I… I don't know what you're trying to do, Cassian, but this doesn't change anything."
He takes a step forward. "I know. But it's a start."
I clutch the locket so tightly it almost bites into my skin. My mind screams at me to throw it back at him, to tell him he's wasting his time. But my heart… my heart is betraying me.
Ray tugs at my sleeve, still talking about how much fun he had. And that's when I realize something that chills me to the bone.
Cassian isn't just winning over Ray.
He's getting to me too.