"So tell me, Kayden," his father began casually, though his eyes were sharp, watching him closely, "how is the relationship between Thaddeus and Lena?"
Kayden froze for a heartbeat, the spoon halfway to his mouth. His stomach tightened as if the food in front of him had suddenly lost all flavor. He forced a small laugh, trying to mask the rush of thoughts in his head.
"They're… fine," he replied, carefully choosing his words. "You know Uncle Thaddeus, he's always busy with work, and Lena is… Lena."
His mother tilted her head with curiosity, clearly waiting for more. "Just fine? I thought the two of them were serious. We haven't heard much lately."
Kayden lowered his eyes to his plate, pushing the food around with his fork, willing his voice not to betray him. "Yeah, they're serious. I guess they're just private about it."
