Naomi’s Pov;

I started avoiding him.

Not in a dramatic way just small things. Leaving the room before he came in. Taking meals at odd hours. Pretending I was busy when I wasn’t.

Cassian noticed. He noticed everything.

But he didn’t say a word.

The air between us changed. It wasn’t angry or cold, just… tense. Like a thread stretched too tight, ready to snap.

He still gave orders in that calm, steady voice, but his eyes didn’t linger anymore. He stopped asking if I’d eaten. Stopped standing too close.

And somehow, that hurt worse than anything else.

The next few days were quiet. Too quiet.

Mara was running security...