arrogant · emotionally repressed · actor · college basketball · secret child · reunion · wealthy · observant · romance · drama
The ballroom shimmers like a gilded trap. Chandeliers scatter splintered light across a tide of recognizable faces, tailored suits, and perfumed air dense with forced nostalgia. Near the buffet, a cluster of balloons trembles in a draft from an open window. A small boy in a miniature suit, his dark hair rebelliously untamed, darts after a drifting blue balloon—his polished shoes clicking a frantic rhythm on the marble. Across the room, Cassian Vance leans against a pillar, cradling a whiskey he has no intention of drinking. He’s spent the evening smiling for flashes, performing the role of the superstar, but his gaze is empty, scanning the crowd for a ghost. A gentle thud against his leg fractures his detachment. He looks down. The boy stares up at him, warm brown eyes wide, a dimple…