Escaping Evil Through Time

Chapter 35: Coffee and Consequences

The Thursday night sibling gathering had become a tradition long before most of them could drive.

No matter what happened.

No matter how busy life became.

Somehow they always ended up back at Impresso Espresso.

The familiar smell of coffee filled the air.

Outside, the sun slowly disappeared beyond the ocean.

Inside, the usual chaos unfolded.

Ryan was arguing with Jake.

Cameron was pretending not to listen.

Della was complaining about not being invited to enough family events.

Nathan sat back with a coffee, enjoying the show.

For a little while—

Everything felt normal.

Kali needed that.

Especially lately.

Missi.

Malaki.

Syndicate.

The weight of it all never seemed to stop anymore.

A loud voice from a nearby booth pulled her attention away.

"...I'm done, Rachel."

Kali glanced over.

A woman sat with another woman near the window.

Something about her looked familiar.

Then she realized who it was.

Jessica.

Darrel's wife.

Or maybe not for much longer.

Jessica looked exhausted.

The reporter across from her leaned forward.

"What do you mean you're done?"

Jessica laughed bitterly.

"The same thing every woman means."

She took a sip of her coffee.

"He's been lying for years."

The reporter frowned.

"Lying about what?"

Jessica hesitated.

Then lowered her voice.

Unfortunately not low enough.

The Evans siblings heard every word.

"Darrel isn't human."

Silence.

The reporter blinked.

"What?"

Jessica looked around carefully.

Then continued.

"I know how that sounds."

The reporter stared.

Jessica's expression hardened.

"I'm serious."

A pause.

"I've kept his secret for years."

The table of siblings went completely silent.

Nathan slowly lowered his coffee.

Ryan looked at Jake.

Jake looked at Ryan.

Nobody spoke.

Jessica continued.

"I'm filing for divorce."

The reporter's eyes widened.

"What happened?"

Jessica laughed.

A harsh sound.

The kind that comes from heartbreak.

"He got his mistress pregnant."

The entire café seemed to stop.

Kali felt her stomach drop.

Across the table—

Nathan muttered:

"...Well that's not good."

Jessica shook her head.

"I covered for him."

Her voice cracked.

"I protected him."

Another pause.

"And this is what I get."

The reporter sat forward.

"Jessica..."

Jessica stood.

Tears filled her eyes.

"I'm done protecting him."

Then she walked out.

The bell above the café door rang.

Silence followed.

The reporter looked down at her notes.

Then at the door.

Then back at her notes.

Ryan groaned.

"Oh no."

Nathan nodded.

"Oh yeah."

Jake leaned back.

"She's going to publish it."

Nobody disagreed.

Because they all knew she would.

Kali stared at the empty doorway.

Already feeling the disaster coming.

As if they didn't have enough problems.

As if Missi wasn't still missing.

As if Malaki wasn't still out there somewhere.

Now—

The entire world might learn Darrel's secret.

And none of them were ready for what came next.