Chapter 15 - Evania
I knew exactly what I was getting into when I agreed to lunch with Callahan’s parents. There were only two possible outcomes. His mother would either adore me or despise me. And if she despised me, Callahan would feel obligated to defend me.
I knew all this. What I hadn’t anticipated was how entertaining it would be to watch it all unfold.
"Are you planning on being a bitch the whole evening?" I asked, wanting to see just how far we could push each other.
Gasps rippled down the length of the dining table. For a moment, even the sun seemed to stop its quiet descent. Mrs. Sterling blinked at me, as if she couldn't believe the words that left my mouth.
Her lips thinned to the point they looked nonexistent. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, you heard me,” I replied, offering her a pleasant smile. “I was just wondering if this is an isolated event or if I should expect you to act this terribly from now on.”
Callahan’s hand tightened minutely around his wine glass beside me, his knuckles whitening.
His father cleared his throat but stayed silent, eyes flickering to Callahan for a moment.
Across the table, Emily’s eyes widened, then darted between her mother and me like she was watching a tennis match—her fingers twisting nervously in her lap.
Victoria still had that baffled look on her face, her brows knitting together as if trying to piece the moment together. I felt smug that I put it there.
No one spoke.
No one dared to move.
I could tell they were all stunned that I didn’t cower in fear, and honestly, I couldn’t blame them.
From the moment I stepped into this mansion, it was obvious how this family dynamic worked. Mrs. Sterling ruled. The rest adapted. They let her have control over the smallest things and tried their best to minimize the fallout if she ever got angry.
They were all used to it.
I wasn’t, and I never would be.
There was no universe where I would let her believe, even for a second, that she had any control over me.
“You must be mistaken if you think you can speak to me that way in my own home.”
I smiled faintly. “Then maybe don’t speak to me the way you're trying to.”
Mrs. Sterling let out a brittle, humorless laugh. “My son certainly has interesting taste.”
“He certainly does,” I said lightly, “and excellent judgment.”
Callahan shifted beside me, but he didn’t interrupt.
Mrs. Sterling's gaze hardened. “Confidence without foundation is arrogance, dear.”
“And belittling someone you just met,” I replied evenly, “is incredibly foolish.”
If tension had a sound, it would’ve been the sharp inhale from every person seated around us.
Mrs. Sterling reclined slowly in her chair. “I’m simply trying to understand what qualifies you to sit at this table.”
"I'd say this ring, but I've used that line already," I gave a pointed glance to Victoria, who flushed a deep red. "So, for you, I'll be blunt. I'm your son's wife, which means I'm now your daughter-in-law."
A few chairs creaked as people shifted uncomfortably, eyes flicking anywhere but at me.
Mr. Sterling cleared his throat but said nothing.
Her smile turned saccharine. “Did you even finish school?”
“I did,” I replied with a small shrug. “I have an MBA in business administration. Gold diggers need to be educated too.”
Her eyes narrowed, but I couldn't pay attention to that as I heard the sharp gasp to the left of me. I shot a glance at Callahan, who had his eyes narrowed on me as well, looking so much like his mom in that moment. I offered him an apologetic smile. My degree was nothing to be ashamed of, but I’d inadvertently kept it a secret from him, among other things.
It didn't seem to matter at the time. Now that I look back, maybe I should've told him.
Across the table, Emily let out a sudden burst of laughter before she could stop herself, covering her mouth as she tried to stifle it. I openly stared in amusement, watching her struggle to compose herself while glancing nervously at her mother.
"This is hilarious," she choked out, struggling to suppress her giggles as her mom fixed her with a sharp glare, her lips pressed tightly together in clear disapproval.
“And your parents?” Mrs. Sterling continued, not knowing when to quit.
“They're both business owners.”
Her brow arched.
“Business owners,” she repeated, as though the thought was ridiculous.
“Yes,” I replied evenly. “They're doing quite well for themselves.”
She scoffed. "I'm sure they are."
"They are," I said, my smile tight as my annoyance skyrocketed from five to ninety percent.
I could tolerate her insults, but my parents were incredible people who deserved respect.
"You could learn from them. They'd never pressure any of us to get married, even if it meant being in a different tax bracket.
If they did, they'd be nothing more than a pimp. "
"A pimp?" she screeched. "You're calling me a pimp?"
"I wouldn't dare call a woman a pimp," I took a sip of wine. "Pimpette is much more fitting."
She spun around to look at her family, her anger evident in the way she snapped at them. "Are none of you going to say something to defend me?"
I flinched slightly when Victoria slammed her hand against the table.
I knew she was going to explode eventually.
Victoria had been simmering from the moment I sat down.
“This is ridiculous. She is being completely disrespectful,” Victoria snapped, glaring at me. “If she can’t behave properly, she shouldn’t be here.”
“And you should?” I asked evenly, “Why are you trying so hard to be a homewrecker?”
She paused. "Excuse me?"
"Seriously," I said, rolling my eyes, "why do you all act so shocked when someone calls you out on your bullshit? If you're going to be a bitch, expect to be treated like one."
"I am not a bitch."
"Really?" I hummed. “You're hanging around your ex’s family when he’s married, and you ended on bad terms.”
“What did you just say?” she demanded.
I held her gaze.
“Was any part of that unclear?”
Her eyes snapped toward Callahan instantly.
“How does she know that?” she shot at him. “Did you tell her? Is that what this is? You’ve been talking about me behind my back?”
Callahan’s head turned toward me sharply, surprise written all over his face. He hadn't told me anything about his past relationships. That wasn't exactly a conversation for a first date. Even so, it was painfully obvious to anyone with eyes that she was the one at fault here.
Before Victoria could spiral further, I cut in. "He didn't tell me anything, so you can relax."
"You're lying," she hissed.
“I'm not. It’s just obvious that you cheated on him.”
Callahan’s voice was quiet beside me. “Evania.”
I turned to him then, noting how confused he looked. “How do you know that?” he asked carefully.
I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. I reached up and gently placed my hands on both of his handsome cheeks. He went still instantly, his eyes moving from my fingers to my eyes at an alarming rate.
“You,” I said softly, patting his handsome face lightly, “are far too much of a gentleman to leave her without a reason.”
His brows furrowed slightly.
“You would only end it if she were disloyal,” I continued, my voice steady. “Or showed a complete lack of respect.”
Victoria made a sharp sound. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The silence that followed was deafening. A strange look flickered in his eyes — not anger, not embarrassment. It was almost like he was impressed by me.
He lifted my hands from his cheeks gently. And then, without breaking eye contact with me, he pressed a soft kiss to each one. The gesture was so unexpected that I practically melted on the spot.
Mrs. Sterling huffed, her lips pursed in annoyance.
It wasn’t loud, but in an open space that had gone painfully silent, it might as well have been a gunshot. She raised her dainty little finger and pointed it straight at me.
“You,” she said, her voice tight with barely contained fury, “are an ill-mannered gold digger. And I demand you divorce my son.”
The words hit the air and settled over everyone like dust. I felt every eye in the backyard shift toward me: his father watched carefully, his sister toyed nervously with her napkin, and the staff hesitated, pretending not to listen while clearly straining to catch every word.
I tightened my hand around Callahan’s. He didn’t pull away. His fingers laced with mine instantly, strong and steady, grounding me. For a split second, I considered staying quiet. Letting Callahan handle it. Letting the storm pass.
But if I stayed silent now, I would stay silent forever.
I frowned.
“What do you really want?” I asked.
“I just told you what I want,” she snapped.
“No,” I said calmly. “You told me what you think of me. That’s not the same thing.”
"Maybe we should all just take a break," Mr. Sterling suggested, aiming to lighten the mood, though it was too late for that.
“Do you want to force your son into a relationship with a woman he doesn’t like?” The words fell out of me. “Or do you want to get to know the woman he chose to spend his life with?”
Her lips parted slightly, her eyes narrowing in disbelief at my response, jaw tensing as she searched for words.
But she didn’t say anything.
I waited.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Silence.
When she still didn’t respond, I continued.
“You think I married him for money,” I said. “Do you know how insulting that is? Not to me—but to him?”
Her chin lifted. “My son is the heir to a billion-dollar company. It is only logical to assume...”
“That he’s incapable of being loved for who he is?” I cut in softly.
Callahan shifted beside me. “Evania,” he murmured.
“No,” I said gently, not taking my eyes off her. “If this is going to happen, it’s happening now.”
I swallowed once and decided if I was going to burn, I might as well burn completely.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said, my voice strengthening. “I will be the one he has children with.”
Callahan inhaled sharply.
“I will be the one he grows old with. The one who shares his bed, his fears, his burdens, his victories.” I looked directly at her. “The one who holds his hand when you’re no longer here to do it.”
That landed.
Her face paled slightly.
“So you can either get with the program,” I continued evenly, “and watch your son be happy, or you can get used to the idea of being estranged.”