His... friends.
Cassian's friends.
The words echoed in Everly's mind like a death knell, each repetition accompanied by a growing sense of impending doom. Her brain, which had been operating on the assumption that this was a romantic dinner for two, suddenly kicked into overdrive, frantically pulling up files like a detective connecting red strings on a conspiracy board.
A memory surfaced, sharp and unwelcome: Jeremy, in her bedroom a few days ago, telling her about this information while she and he discussed about system hosts.
"My older brother, Jacob, is actually best friends with Cassian. That's how the guy knows me so well..."
Jacob Shen. Jeremy's older brother. Cassian's best friend.
Oh.
Oh no.
The full weight of the disaster crashed down on her like a cartoon anvil. This wasn't just a disaster. This was a Category 5 hurricane hitting a trainwreck during an earthquake.
Jacob, who might know about the Shen family's insane plan to marry her off to his little brother.
