Chapter 24
Trista's POV
I yanked my hand away. "Your old flame is waiting for you. Go on."
Cassian glanced back at the Day Clinic Tower, then back at me. His fingers clamped my wrist.
He pulled me toward the car. "I came to pick you up. We're going to see your parents together."
My feet stopped. I froze.
This was his standard "de-escalation protocol"—when my emotions flared, he'd turn the situation toward "family"—accompanying me to see my parents, giving expensive gifts, or arranging my life.
A sincere apology, confession, or moment of vulnerability never happened.
I pulled my hand free. My voice was level. "No need. My parents don't need you to worry."
The sentence hit him like a dull nail. He frowned but didn't let go. "I already called Ulva. She made salt-baked sea bass and ro
