Chapter 21 - Evania
The café door chimed as I entered, espresso and warm cinnamon enveloping me in a hug I hadn’t known I needed.
And then I saw them.
My sisters were huddled together in the far booth by the window, each of them holding a coffee like it was a prop in whatever interrogation they were about to stage.
Sabrina was leaning forward, animated as always.
Serena was nodding eagerly beside her. And Elena—calm, composed Elena—sat back with that quiet, knowing look she wore whenever she was three steps ahead of everyone else.
I exhaled slowly and slipped behind the counter.
“Morning, boss,” Crystal greeted with a bright smile, already packaging an iced Americano for a waiting customer.
"Morning," I said, tying my apron loosely, though I had no plans to work today.
I reached for my favorite mug—the pale blue one with the chipped rim—and began making my coffee the way I liked it. Two shots of espresso. A dash of cinnamon. Oat milk, not too much foam. My hands moved automatically, but my mind was elsewhere.
As much as I loved this café—loved the soft hum of conversation, the hiss of milk frothers, the comfort of routine—I knew things were shifting. My life was shifting. The reality of being tied to one of the wealthiest men in the country meant my schedule wasn’t exactly my own anymore.
I glanced at Crystal.
“You know,” I began casually, stirring my coffee, “I might need you to pick up more shifts soon. Possibly run the place for me most days.”
Her head snapped up. “Are you serious?”
I nodded. “I’ll still handle payroll and ordering. But day-to-day? You’d take care of that.”
Her face lit up like I’d handed her a winning lottery ticket. “I would love that.”
I smiled, genuinely relieved. “Good. Because things are… about to get complicated.”
She eyed me curiously but didn’t pry. Crystal had always been good at that, knowing when to ask questions and when not to. Coffee in hand, I turned toward the booth where my sisters were watching me like predators tracking prey. I quickly removed the apron and headed in their direction.
Sabrina's eyes shot to my left hand. She gasped. “Is that an engagement ring?”
Serena followed her gaze, then both of them froze.
“Elena,” Sabrina whispered sharply, gripping her arm. “Do you see that?”
“Oh, I see it,” Elena said smoothly, taking a slow sip of her coffee.
I slid into the booth across from them, deliberately slow, deliberately calm. Sabrina didn’t even bother with greetings. She grabbed my hand outright, before I could even set my mug down.
“What is this?” She lifted my hand, letting the diamonds sparkle.
Serena leaned in, eyes wide. “There’s a wedding ring as well.”
I smiled sweetly. “Good observation.”
Their heads snapped up to look at me in unison.
“What’s going on?” Serena pushed.
I leaned back, crossing my legs, letting the diamonds catch the morning light.
“Well,” I said lightly, “it’s funny you should ask.”
“Elena,” Sabrina accused suddenly, pointing at her, “why are you not shocked right now?”
She didn’t answer right away, watching everything unfold with a knowing smirk on her face. I smirked right back.
“Elena knew,” I said simply.
That was all it took.
Both twins whipped their heads toward her.
Serena stared at Elena. “You knew?”
“How could you keep something like this from us?” Sabrina added, scandalized.
Elena blinked. “Excuse me? She marries a billionaire, and I’m the villain?”
Silence.
Complete, stunned silence.
They blinked slowly. Then they both slowly turned to look at me.
Serena echoed faintly, “Married?”
“To what?” Sabrina asked in the same breath.
I took a slow sip of my coffee.
“To a billionaire,” I clarified calmly.
Their expressions would have been hilarious if I weren’t the one at the center of their impending explosion.
Serena deadpanned, “You’re joking.”
“I’m not,” I replied.
“You got hitched to someone after only knowing him for a short time and didn’t think to invite us to the wedding.”
I tilted my head. “When you say it like that, it sounds dramatic.”
“Because it is!” Sabrina exploded.
Before either of the twins could question me further, I reached into my purse, pulled out Callahan’s card, and waved it slowly in front of them, as if casting a spell.
Their reactions were instant.
Both of their eyes locked onto the card as if it were magnetic.
Serena leaned forward first, her sharp gaze narrowing slightly in recognition.
Sabrina’s mouth parted in silent awe. The black surface caught the café lights as I tilted it between my fingers, and they followed the movement in perfect synchronization.
Elena, seated beside Serena, pressed her lips together and looked down at her drink, clearly trying and failing to stifle a laugh.
Sabrina whispered, “You’re kidding.”
I tilted the card slightly so it caught the light. “Nope.”
Serena leaned forward. “Is that—”
“Yes.”
Sabrina blinked at me. “You just said you got married.”
“I did.”
“And you’re just…” Serena gestured vaguely at the card. “…waving around his credit card like a trophy?”
I slipped the card back into my purse calmly. “Me getting married is not the most important thing here.”
That got their attention.
Serena blinked and straightened. “It isn’t?”
"No. What matters is that he hurt my feelings."
The twins exchanged a look. Elena’s eyebrows lifted slightly, but she remained quiet.
“And retail therapy,” I continued evenly, “is a great way to make him pay for it. Pun intended.”
Elena couldn’t hide her laugh this time, which earned a snicker from me.
Serena’s expression shifted from confusion to understanding in seconds.
Sabrina’s lips curved into a slow, impressed smile.
Without another word, the twins rose to their feet.
Elena stood slowly, shaking her head in quiet amusement.
“Let’s go,” Serena said.
They didn’t let me elaborate. Soon, we were out of the café, walking briskly down the sidewalk.
“The first stop?” Sabrina asked.
“Barnes I hated knowing it was working.
“Well?” Elena walked over to me. “Did he give it to you, or should we start putting them back?”
“He gave it to me. He told me to go wild.”
“He did?” She grinned. “I like him.”