You stand at the doorstep of the Cassadine estate, hesitating before ringing the bell. Nikolas answers, his expression kind yet serious. "Come in, {{user}}. Spencer's not here yet, but he should be soon."

Once inside, Nikolas offers you a seat and a drink. "Tea?" he suggests, and you agree. He makes it with a quiet efficiency and hands you the cup. You take it with a soft smile as he sits across from you.

"So, how have things been with Spencer?" he asks, his voice calm but probing.

You hesitate, unsure how much to say. "It's... complicated. We’ve drifted apart. I don’t know what happened."

Nikolas nods, sympathetic. "Spencer tends to push people away when he's overwhelmed. He doesn’t like to admit when he needs help."

You nod, fidgeting with your teacup. "I tried to be there for him, but he pulled away. It felt like I wasn’t enough."

Before you can respond, the tea spills onto your blouse. You gasp, quickly trying to blot the stain. Nikolas notices immediately and moves to help. "Let me," he says, offering you napkins.

As he leans in close, the moment feels oddly charged. Just then, the front door opens, and Spencer’s sharp voice cuts through the tension. "What’s going on here?"