CHAPTER 27

I THINK I ALREADY DO...

The cafe was tucked into a quiet corner of the city, half-hidden behind an ivy-covered gate and a stretch of cobbled street no one really paid attention to. It was the kind of place you only found if you were looking or if you remembered. Abigail remembered.

She arrived fifteen minutes early, wearing a pair of wide sunglasses and an oversized hoodie that covered most of her face. She hadn’t told Luke. Not the guards. Not even the house staff. Just a simple note left on the kitchen counter: Went out for a walk. Needed air.

She knew Luke would be furious when he found out. But right now, she needed this, needed her. Needed someone who didn’t see her as a contract, a target, or a burden or probably as some leech who just got herself entangled to a man cause of some wealth,or let's say fame

She chose the back table, by the window, and ordered an iced drink just to keep herself from fidgeting. Her heart thudded as the doorbell above the entrance chimed. And then there she was.

Maya.

Bold as always, dressed in denim and boots, sunglasses perched on top of her curls like a crown. She spotted Abigail immediately and broke into a grin, crossing the room like it hadn’t been a full year since they last saw each other.

“You sneaky little ghost,” Maya said, sliding into the seat across from her. “You married a damn Vandell and vanished. Really? Just leaving and forgetting your only lovely best friend, it isn't fair you know”maya said jokingly

Abigail laughed, the sound catching in her throat. “Hi to you too.”

Maya leaned in, her voice dropping low. “I should slap you for disappearing like that. But I won’t. Because I missed you too much that some nights I cried out my damn eyeballs especially when the thought of not being able to see you ever crept in.”

“I missed you more than I can explain.”

Maya’s smile faltered for a split second, the teasing fading into something more serious. “You okay?”

Abigail looked down, tracing the rim of her glass with one finger. “Honestly? I don’t know. Some days I feel like I’m floating above my life. Like it’s not even mine.”

“Tell me everything,” Maya said, resting her chin on her hand. “Start from the top. The fake marriage, the billionaire drama, the gunshots I want the full soap opera, please and thank you.”

So Abigail did.

She told her about the contract. About how it started as an agreement, a survival tactic. About Luke the cold stranger who had slowly, against all logic, become someone she cared for deeply. About the gala. The threats. Walter.

Maya listened without interrupting, her expression unreadable.

When Abigail finally paused, voice hoarse, Maya sat back and exhaled. “Damn. That’s… that’s not what I was expecting.”

“I know,” Abigail whispered. “I didn’t expect any of it either.”

Maya tilted her head, studying her. “Do you love him?”

The question slammed into her like a gust of wind. Abigail looked out the window. “I think I could,” she said quietly. “I think maybe I already do. But I don’t even know if I’m allowed to seems like I have no right to it really scares me and it hurts.”

Maya didn’t scoff or lecture her like Abigail half-expected. Instead, she reached across the table and took her hand. “You’re allowed to love anyone you want, Abs. You just need to figure out if he’s strong enough to love you back the right way.”

A pause stretched between them, full of words unspoken.

“Does he know you’re here?” Maya asked.

Abigail shook her head. “No. I didn’t tell anyone. I just… needed this. I needed you.”

Maya smiled, squeezing her hand. “You always have me. Even if you marry a robot CEO next.”

They laughed together, the kind that came from deep in the belly. For a while, they forgot the world outside the wealth, the threats, the expectations.

But reality caught up the moment Abigail’s phone buzzed on the table.

Luke.

She stared at the screen, tension creeping back into her shoulders. The screen went dark before she made a move.

“You going to answer that?” Maya asked.

Abigail hesitated, then silenced the call.

Maya raised a brow but didn’t push. “You afraid of him?”

“No,” Abigail said, and meant it. “Just not ready to explain this yet.”

They lingered a little longer, sipping coffee, picking at a shared slice of cake, catching up on the parts of life that hadn’t made it into texts or voicemails something that was supposed to be felt and embraced.

As they stood to leave, Maya hugged her tight.

“Don’t disappear again,” she said against her hair.

“I won’t,” Abigail whispered back. “I promise.”

"...she whispered, heart pounding harder.”

But as she stepped out of the cafe and walked toward the car she had parked discreetly a few blocks away, her stomach knotted.

Because promises didn’t always survive secrets.

And Luke Vandell didn’t take kindly to being left in the dark.

And right now…

Abigail wasn’t sure if she’d just chosen courage, or made a mistake she’d regret. She didn't even know which, but almost immediately it felt like it didn't matter, all that mattered was finally she got someone to talk to, lean on in times of trouble and someone to soothe herself in. Someone that truly and wholly understands her and doesn't see her in a bad light and wasn't going to use her.

Right now all that seemingly mattered was that she had Maya and she was so grateful for it, she turned to look at the direction Maya had taken and felt like following her immediately but she knew that was going to remain a wish and nothing more, if they was anything she had the freedom to do, that was wishing and unfulfilled dreams but atimes it seemed like like owned the entire her leaving her nothing to own of herself.