Caius’s POV
Control is not something you take in at the moment. It’s something you build long before the moment ever arrives. And right now, sitting in this courtroom, watching everything unfold exactly the way I expected, I can feel it.
Control.
I lean back slightly in my seat, adjusting the cuff of my sleeve as my lawyer speaks, his voice smooth, measured—precisely the tone I paid for.
He knows what he’s doing. More importantly, he knows what I want. Not just a win, a statement.
Across the room, Lumi sits still. Trying very hard to look like she’s composed. I almost smile, because I know her. Or at least, I knew her. And this version of her? This controlled, quiet, steady version?
It’s not real, it’s temporary. People like her don’t change overnight. They adjust, pretend, hold it
