Chapter 61: We failed her
Casaio poured a generous measure of alcohol into his glass, the amber liquid catching the light. He swirled it once before raising it to his lips.
"Gabriel is getting married before you," Dominick remarked, eyes fixed on the document in his hand as he casually flipped through its pages. "Shouldn’t you and Zilia have set a wedding date by now? Mom and Dad were really looking forward to hearing some news."
Casaio raised an eyebrow and took a seat across from him, the glass resting lightly in his hand. "And what about you?" he shot back. "You and Juniper haven’t made any announcement either."
Dominick closed the file. "We’re making the announcement tomorrow," he said. "The wedding’s in three months. Juniper is particular about auspicious dates and traditions. She wanted to make sure everything aligns properly."
A faint smile touched Casaio’s lips. "Good to know. Congratulations to both of you," he said sincerely, before downing the contents of his glass in one long swallow.
Dominick leaned forward slightly, his tone shifting. "Talk to Zilia again, Casaio. Mom and Dad are growing impatient. If she keeps refusing to commit, they might suggest you end things altogether. Then, Mom may choose a mate for you."
Casaio set the glass down on the table with a soft clink, offering only a hum in response at first.
"I did try talking to her," he said after a moment, his gaze fixed on the table rather than Dominick. "She told me that marriage doesn’t define what we are. That we’re already mates, and no ceremony can change that."
He leaned back slightly, exhaling through his nose. "And like I mentioned before... she wants to focus on her business right now. That’s where her priorities lie."