Evelyn sat at the Hartleys' elegant dining table, her fingers wrapped around a warm cup of chamomile tea. The steam curled lazily into the air, its soothing scent filling the room. Across from her sat Sophia and Daniel, their faces a study in contrasts.
"I'm so sorry," Sophia began, her voice laced with a feigned sadness that made Evelyn's skin prickle. "I knew you'd be sad, but love is not a trivial thing. The moment I saw him, I just... liked him."
Evelyn took a sip of her tea, the warmth seeping through her, grounding her in the present moment. She had expected this kind of confrontation, but now that it was happening, she found herself feeling more detached than anything else.
There was no rush of anger, no deep sense of betrayal—just a faint disbelief at the way Sophia was handling the situation.
She glanced at Daniel, who was sitting stiffly beside Sophia, his eyes darting between the two women. He looked guilty as if he were a schoolboy caught in a lie, but there was something almost pitiful about it.
Evelyn couldn't help but smile tiredly at the sight. She had once thought of him as a potential partner, someone who could help her bridge the gap between her past and this strange new life. But now, that thought seemed almost absurd.
"Thank you for the memories," Evelyn said softly, her voice carrying no bitterness, just a simple acknowledgment of what they had shared. It had only been three weeks—he had kept her company when she was mourning her fallen comrades, offering a distraction from the grief that threatened to consume her. For that, she was grateful.
Daniel looked up at her, surprise flickering across his face. He seemed ready to respond, perhaps to offer some kind of apology or explanation, but Evelyn had already moved past it. There was no point in dragging this out any further.
Sophia, however, wasn't done. "Evelyn," she said, her tone shifting to one of insincere concern, "could we talk alone for a moment?"
Evelyn nodded, setting down her teacup and standing up. She could sense the hostility beneath Sophia's carefully composed exterior, and she knew this was going to be less of a conversation and more of a confrontation.
Once they were alone, the mask fell away from Sophia's face. She turned to Evelyn with a smirk, her eyes gleaming with a kind of malicious satisfaction that Evelyn had seen too many times before. "You know," Sophia began, her voice dripping with condescension, "I'm surprised you're taking this so well. I thought you'd be more… upset."
Evelyn raised an eyebrow, leaning against the armrest of a nearby chair. She crossed her arms, looking at Sophia with a calm that belied the tension in the room. "And why is that?" she asked, genuinely curious.
Sophia's smirk widened. "Because, darling, you've just lost everything. Daniel was the only thing keeping you relevant in this family, and now he's mine. What do you have left?"
Evelyn felt a surge of pity for Sophia—a woman so consumed by her insecurities that she needed to tear others down to feel secure. She could see through the bravado, see the desperation behind the words. Sophia wasn't just trying to assert dominance; she was trying to convince herself that she had won, that she had something worth taking.
Evelyn let out a quiet sigh, shaking her head slightly. "Sophia, you're mistaken if you think Daniel was the center of my life. He wasn't, and he isn't. I'm grateful for the time we spent together, but I'm not defined by who I'm with or by the approval of the Hartleys."
Sophia's expression faltered for a split second before she quickly recovered. "You're just saying that because you're trying to save face," she sneered. "But we both know that without someone like Daniel, you're just… nothing. A nobody playing shopkeeper."
Evelyn smiled, a genuine one this time, but it wasn't the response Sophia was expecting. "You're right about one thing—I do enjoy running my bookstore. It's a simple life, but it's mine. I don't need a man or a family name to validate who I am."
Sophia's eyes narrowed, clearly frustrated by Evelyn's unshakable composure. "You think you're so superior, don't you? But you'll see, Evelyn. This world isn't as forgiving as you think. You're out of your depth here."
Evelyn stepped closer, meeting Sophia's gaze with a level stare. "I've been through worse, Sophia. Much worse. If you think I'm going to crumble because of a broken relationship, you're mistaken. I know who I am, and I know what I'm capable of. Can you say the same?"
Sophia looked as though she might lash out, but then she seemed to think better of it. She turned on her heel, her footsteps brisk and sharp as she exited the room, leaving Evelyn standing alone.
Returning to the dining room, she found Daniel still seated, looking lost and uncertain. He glanced up as she entered, searching her face for some clue as to what had transpired between the two women.
"Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice hesitant.
Evelyn nodded, her expression serene. "Everything's fine, Daniel. I think it's time we all moved on."
He nodded, though he seemed to struggle with finding the right words. "I'm… sorry, Evelyn. I didn't mean for things to turn out this way."
Evelyn gave him a small, understanding smile. "I know. But it's okay. Really. We were never meant to last, and I think we both knew that."
He looked at her for a long moment, then finally nodded in acceptance. "Yeah… maybe you're right. I'm sorry, but I love her more."
*****
The quiet of the bookstore enveloped Evelyn, bringing a sense of calm that she hadn't felt in weeks. She focused on rearranging the shelves, letting the repetitive task soothe her mind. But just as she started to settle into the rhythm, the doorbell chimed, signaling a new customer.
Evelyn looked up, ready to greet whoever walked in, but her expression froze when she saw who it was. Standing in the doorway was a man she hadn't seen in months, but whose presence had always lingered in her memory like a shadow—Alexander Arcene.
Alexander Arcene, the Emperor of the underworld, was no ordinary man. He was a mobster of the highest order, a kingpin whose influence stretched far beyond the borders of legitimate society. He was dangerous, unpredictable, and worst of all, he was here, in her bookstore, looking at her with a mix of amusement and something else she couldn't quite place. This infuriating Lunatic.
"Evelyn Lancaster," Alexander said, his voice laced with a hint of mischief. "I must say, I didn't expect to find you running a quaint little bookstore. It's quite the departure from the battlefield, don't you think?"
Evelyn's eyes narrowed. She knew better than to show any sign of weakness in front of a man like him. "What do you want, Arcene?" she asked, her tone cold and clipped.
He smiled a slow, deliberate grin that sent a shiver down her spine. "I'm just here to visit an old friend. Thought I'd see how you're settling into civilian life. How's the adjustment going? Must be quite a change of pace."
When she didn't answer, Alexander's smile widened, as if her silence was exactly what he expected. He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "You know, I've been thinking. A woman of your talents… it's a shame to see you wasting away in a place like this. Why don't you join me? I could use someone like you in my organization."
Evelyn scoffed, the idea so absurd it almost made her laugh. "Join you? In your criminal empire? No thanks. I prefer my life free of illegal activities."
He chuckled a rich sound that filled the room. "Come on, Evelyn. You and I both know that you're bored out of your mind here. The military couldn't keep you down, and this place—" he gestured around the bookstore— "certainly can't either. Don't you miss the thrill, the challenge?"
Evelyn think for a moment and found her answers, the cost of that life was too high, and she wasn't willing to pay it again.
"No," she said firmly. "I'm done with that life. And I'm not interested in whatever you're selling."
Alexander shrugged as if her refusal didn't bother him in the slightest. "Suit yourself. But just remember—if you ever change your mind, my offer stands."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek black business card, embossed with his name in silver. He held it out to her, but Evelyn didn't take it. Instead, she glared at him, her hand inching toward the hidden holster on her hip.
Seeing her movement, Alexander's smile didn't waver. "Now, now, no need for violence," he said, his tone playful but with an underlying seriousness. "I'm just trying to be a friend."
In one swift motion, Evelyn pulled out her silver Glock and aimed it squarely at his head, her expression deadly serious. "Leave," she ordered, her voice cold as ice.
Alexander's laughter filled the room, a deep, genuine laugh that made her finger twitch on the trigger. "Ah, Evelyn, you haven't changed a bit," he said, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Fine, I'll go. But keep the card—just in case."
With that, he placed the card on the counter and turned to leave, his exit as smooth and confident as his entrance. As the door swung shut behind him, Evelyn let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She glanced down at the card, her hand instinctively reaching for it before she caught herself.
With a look of disgust, she crumpled the card in her hand and tossed it into the trash. She wanted nothing to do with Alexander Arcene or his world.
But as she turned back to the shelves, she remembered Sophia and Daniel. She realized that, despite everything, they hadn't managed to get under her skin the way Alexander just had. It wasn't their betrayal that truly angered her—it was the mere presence of Alexander Arcene, the man who seemed to know exactly how to push her buttons.