Light spilled through the tall windows, gilding the silk sheets in pale gold.
Caspian stirred lightly in Zayden's arms, nose buried against his chest. The warmth was safe. Familiar. Then—
_Bzzzt. Bzzzt._
The phone on the side table vibrated, sharp against wood.
Zayden's eyes opened instantly. Cold. Alert. He shifted just enough to grab the phone and mute it with a tap, careful not to jostle Caspian.
Caspian frowned in his sleep, brows knitting, but curled closer and drifted off again.
Zayden's gaze dropped to the screen. _Elaine._
His jaw tightened.
Sliding out of bed without a sound, he padded to the balcony, bare feet silent on marble. The glass door shut with a soft click behind him.
He answered. "What is it?"
"Sir, our right branch..." Elaine's voice was tight. "It's blocked. Badly."
Zayden frowned. "What do you mean, blocked badly?Are you serious? That's our most reliable path—"
"Sir..." Elaine hesitated.
"Speak. I don't have much time. Explain."
A deep breath on the other end. "It's... it's Mr. Augustus, sir."
Zayden's eyes turned sharp. Ice seeping in. "Don't tell me."
She nodded, though he couldn't see her. "Yes, sir. He attacked our men. Didn't kill anyone. Just... didn't let them go. I got the branch-cut signal, so I thought I should inform you immediately."
He exhaled slowly, forcing calm into his lungs. "Okay. I'll handle it."
He ended the call and dialed another number. It was picked up on the first ring.
"Oh?" Augustus's cold voice slid through the speaker, amused. "I don't understand even now—how did you get the news so fast? I didn't let a single guard go this time."
"What do you want?" Zayden's tone was frost. No warmth. Just a hairline crack of hurt underneath.
"Tch, tch, tch. Where are your manners, son? That's not how you talk to your father."
"If you have anything to say, say it. I'm not calling again. Don't blame me."
Augustus chuckled, low and light. "You're getting rude day by day. Is it because you found someone precious to hold?"
Zayden understood the implication. His jaw locked. His fist tightened until his knuckles went white.
"Well, well. Don't be angry," Augustus continued smoothly. "I just want to meet the person for whom you made a mess in the meeting and left without clearing it."
A pause. Then: "Visit your home. Your mother wants to meet her son-in-law."
_Click._
Zayden ended the call.
---
In Augustus's office, silence reigned. He stared at the phone in his hand, expression blank, then turned and handed it to the old secretary standing by.
"Release them," Augustus said.
"As you wish, sir." Edward bowed slightly and left the room.
Augustus turned his gaze toward the wardrobe wall. Framed photos lined the wood—friends, family, allies, his younger self alone. But his eyes stopped on one.
A little Zayden, no older than seven, holding a real gun in one small hand and Augustus's hand in the other. Both of them smiling wide at the camera, sun in their eyes.
"You grew so fast, son," he whispered to the empty air. "That I didn't even realize."
---
*[Back in Zayden's bedroom]*
Caspian's eyes fluttered open. The bed was cold beside him.
He scanned the room and spotted Zayden on the balcony, phone pressed to his ear, shoulders rigid.
Not wanting to intrude, Caspian slipped out of bed and went to o the washroom. When he came out, Zayden was still on the phone, voice low and clipped.
He didn't want to disturb him. So he quietly left the room.
Downstairs, the scent of butter and coffee greeted him. Elara was already at the dining table, swinging her legs.
He beamed. "Elara!"
She looked up, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Brother-in-law!" She shot up and ran toward him for a hug—
Caspian held her hands to stop her, laughing. "Okay, okay, take it easy. You'll make me fall at this rate."
She pouted but stopped, bouncing on her heels. "Fine. You're as mean as my brother." She grabbed his arm and whispered, conspiratorial: "So... you slept in brother's room?"
Caspian's gaze darted away. "Ah... I think breakfast is getting cold. I should tell Zay—" He tried to bolt, but Elara caught his sleeve.
"Okay, okay, I won't ask. Let's talk about something else." Caspian nodded, grateful. "Yeah. Let's talk about college. I'm going to college too, you know."
Elara's eyes went huge. "Really? When? Which college?"
They sat at the dinning table.
"I don't know," Caspian admitted. "Zay said he'll tell me once it's done."
"Ohhhh," she drawled. "Now you want to make me jealous because you have brother?"
Caspian completely ignored her, turning toward Mrs. Vesper instead. "Do you need any help?"
"Ah, no, no, Young Master. We've already done everything."
"Wow," Elara grinned at him. "Now you're also ignoring me. How rude of you, brother-in-law."
"At least he's listening to one of my pieces of advice," Zayden chimed in from the doorway.
They both looked back.
"Zay..." Caspian's whole face softened into a smile.
Zayden crossed to him, bent, and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Why did you leave without telling me?"
"You were busy on the phone," Caspian answered calmly. "I didn't wanna disturb you."
"You're not a disturbance." He ruffled Caspian's hair.
"Hello, I am also here," Elara reminded them, waving.
They both turned. She immediately felt nervous under their combined gaze. "Ahh... why are you both staring at me? You can talk to each other. I'm not seeing." She covered her eyes dramatically.
Caspian just smiled. Zayden shook his head and started filling a plate, setting it in front of Caspian. "Eat."
Caspian nodded and picked up his fork.
"Why are you here this early?" Zayden asked Elara while eating.
"Oh, I forgot." She tapped her own head. "I'm here because Mother said you both are coming, so I came to take you with me."
"I know the way to my home," Zayden said dryly, amused by her excitement.
"I'm not here for you anyway," she huffed. "I just added you because Mom told me to." She turned to Caspian. "I'm here for brother-in-law."
Caspian choked on his food, coughing slightly. Zayden handed him juice and patted his back, then shot Elara a look. Elara just turned her focus toward her own breakfast.
"I will not be able to come," Zayden informed her. "I have some errands to run. Take Caspian with you. He'll be bored alone at home. And before dinner, take him back here."
Elara stared at him. "But Brother, Mom's been asking for you for so long. Can't you visit home? We all miss you. You know Sister Lysandra is also asking about you."
Caspian glanced at Zayden, who kept eating, face blank—like Elara was talking about someone else.
"If they miss me, they can come here," Zayden said flatly. "I'm not that far."
"But Brother—"
"Enough, Elara." His voice dropped, just a fraction harsh. "You know I don't like to repeat my words."
Caspian felt the chill in it, but said nothing. He just ate quietly.
"Caspian," Zayden said, turning to him.
Caspian looked up quickly. "Huh?"
"Come to me before leaving. I have something to talk to you about."
Zayden started to stand, but Caspian grabbed his arm. "Zay... finish your breakfast. It's a bad habit."
Elara grinned widely at his determination. Some maids looked away to hide their laughter.
Zayden's expression softened. He sat back down without a word and resumed eating. Caspian focused on his food too.
"Ah, I also want someone like brother-in-law," Elara declared loudly.
Zayden just gave her a stare. Caspian ignored her again.
Just like that, the room's atmosphere eased back to normal.
---
*[Later, in the study]*
Caspian entered without knocking. Zayden stood by the window, on his phone. He turned, saw Caspian, and gestured for him to sit on the couch.
Caspian sat quietly. Zayden finished the call in seconds, walked to the desk, and opened a drawer. Inside was a new phone, sleek and black.He picked it up and walked over to Caspian and sat beside him—too close, without any space—and held the phone out for him.
Caspian glanced between the phone and him. "What is it?"
"Your phone," Zayden said. "Take it with you. My number's already saved. If anything happens, just call me. Okay?"
Caspian hesitated. "Ah... that... umm..."
Zayden frowned slightly. "What is it, love?"
"I..." Caspian met his eyes, light blue and uncertain. "Don't know how to use a phone."
Zayden exhaled and pulled him into a hug, smiling against his hair. "You know, sometimes I just want to lock you away from everyone else."
"Why?" Caspian asked, curious, tilting his head up.
"Ah." Zayden took a deep breath. "I also wish I knew the answer."
He let him go, took Caspian's fingers in his, and started teaching him slowly. Patient. "Here. You tap like that. And this way. Then here—"
Zayden's phone started to ring on the desk.
"See?" Zayden nodded to it. "That's how you call."
"Wow... that's so amazing," Caspian breathed excitedly. "Can I do it myself?"
"Of course. Just repeat what I told you."
Caspian carefully repeated the steps. A second later, Zayden's phone rang.
Zayden showed him the screen, his name flashing. Caspian's face split into a wide, delighted grin.
Zayden's thumb brushed Caspian's cheek. "you can go now but I want something.
"But Elara's waiting."caspian hesitated.
"That's not my business" Zayden rejected his excuse.
Caspian's smile faltered. He stood, clutching the new phone. "Zay..."
"Hmm?"
Instead of answering, Caspian stepped close, rose on his toes, and pressed a shy, lingering kiss to Zayden's lips. Chaste. Sweet. A promise.
Zayden froze for half a second, then his arms came around Caspian, deepening it just enough to steal his breath before letting him go.
"Call me when you reach," Zayden murmured against his forehead, voice rough. "Every hour if you can."
Caspian nodded, cheeks pink. "I will."
Zayden hugged him once more, tight, like he was memorizing the weight of him. "Go. Before I change my mind and lock the doors."
---
Elara was pacing by the front doors, Darius standing silent behind her. She lit up when she saw Caspian. "Finally! I thought Brother was gonna chain you to the bed."
Caspian flushed crimson. "Elara!"
They climbed into the car. As it pulled away from the palace gates, Caspian glanced back, he already started to miss him.
Up in the study, Zayden stood at the window. Hands in his pockets. Watching.
He didn't move until the car disappeared behind the trees.
Only then did his expression changed. He took a deep breath to calm himself.
His phone started to ring.He picked up his phone. " Did you already done the transfer of the college fund. And wipe his old records."
"I have done this already sir" Elaine answered calmly.
Outside, the wind shifted, rattling the glass like a warning.
Let Augustus play family. Zayden was busy building Caspian a future he couldn't burn down.
But Zayden still didn't know that what his father had already done behind his back.
---