Elizabeth
The café buzzed with life.
Warm sunlight streamed through the glass windows, casting golden streaks across the floor, mingling with the scattered remnants of half-finished coffees and crumpled napkins.
The air was thick with the inviting aroma of roasted beans and vanilla syrup—something soothing, something that felt almost normal.
Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t quite fit in here.
But Lillian had practically issued a threat of bodily harm if I didn’t make an appearance. And Mary? Well, she would have tracked my phone and dragged me here herself if necessary.
So here I was, sporting a hoodie, sunglasses, and a paper cup that I’d been sipping on for what felt like an eternity.
Across the table, Lillian had her chin resting on her fist, her eyes sparkling with excitement as if she were watching a live rom-com unfold. Mary was indulging in an iced latte topped with so much whipped cream it could probably take down a small army.
“And then he told me about his first bike,” I murmured, glancing around as if the whole world might be eavesdropping. “And how he nearly met his end trying to impress a girl.”
“Oh my God,” Lillian gasped. “That’s ridiculously cute! I might just cry.”
“Boys are total idiots,” Mary chimed in, a teasing smile on her lips. “Idiots with charm. It’s a dangerous combo.”
A small smile crept onto my face, despite myself.
“He made me laugh,” I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper.
Lillian sat up straight, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“You laughed?”
Mary nearly dropped her drink in surprise.
“Out loud?”
“Yeah,” I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. “It seems I’m not entirely dead inside after all.”
Mary leaned in closer.
“So? What’s the verdict? Is Noah a serious contender or just a pretty face with some emotional depth?”
I hesitated for a moment. That’s when the realization washed over me. I wanted to share everything.
I longed to spill every detail—how his eyes sparkled in the moonlight, how he truly listened, how he reminded me I was more than just the legacy I had been burdened with.
But instead, I found myself saying,
“It doesn’t matter.”
Their expressions fell, disappointment etched on their faces.
Mary blinked in confusion.
“Um, what?”
And then, as if the universe had conspired against me, my voice slipped out with a weight I hadn’t intended.
“Because my dad’s alive.”
The table fell silent. Lillian’s jaw dropped in shock. Mary stared at me as if I’d just announced I was moving to Mars.
“I killed him,” I said, still grappling with the reality of it. “Five years ago. Mission critical. They labeled him a traitor. They said if I didn’t take the shot, everything would fall apart. So I did.”
Lillian’s mouth opened and closed, her mind racing.
“WHAT THE ACTUAL—”
“I watched him die,” I whispered, the truth crashing over me like a wave. “He bled out in my arms. I buried that memory. And now… he’s standing in my living room as if no time has passed.”
Mary slammed her drink down, her expression fierce. “I swear to God, if he faked his death and then waltzed back in like it’s all good—”
“I’ll break both his knees,” Lillian growled, her nails digging into the table with a determined fury. “And maybe give him a little stab. Just a non-lethal one, probably.”
“I’ll be your backup,” Mary added, her tone deadpan. “We can call it a ‘family reunion.’”
I laughed—a breathless, shaky laugh that slipped out when you’re unraveling and not quite sure how to hold it all together.
In that moment, it felt safe, as if it were just the three of us—girls in a café, free from missions, legacies, and the weight of bloodshed.
“He wants me for another operation,” I said, dropping the final truth like a match in a dark room. “Off-the-books. High stakes. And he wants Noah, too.”
Their eyes locked onto mine, full of concern.
“Why Noah?” Lillian asked, her brow furrowing.
“He thinks he’s useful,” I replied. “He’s been watching him. Analyzing him.”
Mary leaned forward, her curiosity piqued.
“And what do you think?”
I found myself staring at the foam in my cup, lost in thought.
“I think I’m nothing but a tool a lifeless robot for his disposal,” I admitted.
Lillian’s expression tightened.
“Don’t you dare say that. You’re not a drone, Liz. You’re allowed to feel something real.”
But the words echoed in my mind, not theirs, but his.
“He’s your weakness.”
“You smile. You hesitate. You hope.”
My father’s voice lingered, haunting me, taking up space he had no right to occupy. I leaned back, folding into myself.
“Anyway,” I said, my voice flat. “It doesn’t matter. Once the operation is done, it’s over. Noah won’t be part of the equation anymore.”
Lillian fell silent, and Mary didn’t buy it for a second.
“You’re lying,” she said softly, her gaze piercing through my facade.
I couldn’t deny it.
I wouldn’t. But I didn’t correct her either. Because if I let myself voice what I truly felt—
If I admitted that I wanted to cling to the way Noah made me feel—
Then I’d have to confront the truth that I wasn’t cut out for this life anymore. That I had changed, and change was a dangerous thing. So, I took a sip of my coffee and forced a smile, the kind I had been trained to wear.
Feel it all.
Show nothing.
“well I think this calls for a night out! We are going clubbing tonight!”
I looed up from my cup and groaned,
“Do I have to?”
I asked trying to put the plea in my voice as much as I can. Lillian nodded and Mary squealed.
“Well fuck it why not I always say no anway maybe this will ease my mind a bit.”
Wide-eyed and shocked they both laughed and squealed so loud I thought we would be chased out. Well, what could go wrong right?