Claire's POV
I hated this narrative that everyone thought I had abandoned Evander. It stung every time I heard it, as if my absence had erased everything we had shared. I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my emotions in check.
Caspian blinked at me, clearly startled by my outburst. "Oh," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "I didn't know that part…"
"You didn't need to know," Evander snapped, his tone sharp and defensive. He came between us like a shield. "What happened between us is none of your business."
Caspian raised his hands in mock surrender, his signature smirk returning. "Alright, alright! No need to bite my head off. I was just curious. But hey," he added, his grin widening slightly, "this actually makes more sense now."
"What makes sense?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him. His cryptic comment was irritating, and I wasn't in the mood for games.
