Cassian's grip on his glass tightened.
The boy—Oliver—was standing just a few feet away, looking around the ballroom with wide-eyed curiosity. Beside him, the girl—Olivia—was whispering something urgently.
Cassian barely noticed.
He was staring at the boy's eyes.
His own.
Dark. Sharp. Unmistakable.
A cold wave of realization washed over him. It wasn't possible. It couldn't be.
Yet, standing in front of him was a child who looked exactly like him.
A child he had never met.
Or had he?
His mind spun, reaching for explanations. Maybe he was imagining it. Maybe it was a coincidence. Maybe—
"Oliver! Olivia!"
Elara's voice cut through the air like a blade.
Cassian turned just in time to see her rushing toward them, her face pale.
Panic.
Not just any panic—the kind that only came from fear of exposure.
And suddenly, everything clicked.
Across the Room
Elara's pulse raced as she hurried toward the twins.
How did this happen? She had told them to stay in the office. She had made sure they were safe.
Yet here they were—in front of Cassian.
And Cassian was staring at Oliver like he had seen a ghost.
Elara reached them, placing a firm hand on Olivia's shoulder while subtly pulling Oliver closer. "What are you two doing here?" she whispered harshly.
Oliver pouted. "I just wanted to see the ballroom."
"You weren't supposed to leave my office!"
Olivia folded her arms. "It was his idea."
"Olivia!" Oliver protested.
Cassian's voice cut through the tension like ice.
"Elara."
She stiffened. Slowly, she turned to face him, her mask of professionalism slipping back into place. "Mr. Rhys. I apologize for the disturbance. My children weren't supposed to be here."
His eyes never left Oliver. "Your children."
Elara's throat dried. "Yes."
A slow, measured pause. Cassian wasn't an impulsive man. He was methodical, strategic.
And right now, he was assessing. Calculating.
"You never mentioned having children," he said smoothly, but there was something in his voice—something dangerously close to suspicion.
Elara forced a polite smile. "It never came up in conversation."
His gaze flickered between her and Oliver. Too sharp. Too observant.
"You should get them back to their room," he said finally.
Elara nodded quickly. "Of course. Enjoy the rest of your evening."
She turned, guiding the twins away, her heart hammering.
But as she left, she could feel his gaze on her back.
Watching. Thinking. Suspecting.