Amara's POV
It had been a week since the whole Nathaniel mess, and while I was still nursing my bruised heart, Mira had practically dragged me to this upscale café-gallery for what she called "healing therapy through coffee and art."
The place was beautiful—sunlight filtered through tall windows, artworks lined the walls, and soft jazz played in the background. Mira ordered our drinks while I took a seat near the window, quietly absorbing the mellow ambiance.
And then they walked in.
Two tall, devastatingly good-looking men—identical twins—with a confident gait that made heads turn. One had a slight scar at the corner of his eyebrow, while the other wore glasses with silver frames that made his eyes stand out. They were dressed effortlessly in tailored coats, their energy loud even in silence.
Mira leaned toward me. "Are we… hallucinating? Or did Zeus send us personalized healing gifts?"
I laughed. "You're ridiculous."
Before we could whisper more nonsense, the twins walked right over to us—just like that. No hesitation.
"Excuse me," said the one with the glasses, his voice smooth like melted chocolate. "We were wondering how the sunlight dared to compete with the brightness sitting at this table."
Mira blinked. "Did he just flirt in poetic form?"
The other one—scarred brow and a wicked smirk—leaned toward me. "He's worse when he sees pretty women."
"Good thing he's not alone," I replied, smirking back before I could stop myself.
The glasses twin looked at Mira. "Name's Riven. And this is Ronan."
Ronan gave a low bow. "And we couldn't help but be drawn to two women who look like they walked out of a dream."
Mira crossed her arms with a sly smile. "A dream, huh? So which one of us is the princess and which one is the villain?"
Ronan winked at her. "Depends. Are you the type to steal hearts or break them?"
Mira laughed, absolutely entertained. "Maybe both."
Riven turned to me with a softer tone. "And you? You look like you're hiding a story in those eyes."
I raised a brow. "Maybe I am. But I'm not sure I'm ready to share it with a stranger."
He smiled, not cocky—just warm. "Then let me not be a stranger for long."
I couldn't deny it. There was something magnetic about them. And for the first time in weeks, I felt… light.
Mira leaned close to me and whispered, "Please tell me we just met our next big distraction."
I whispered back, "Or maybe something more."
Riven and Ronan pulled out chairs and joined us like it was the most natural thing in the world. We weren't sure how long we stayed there, caught up in bold banter and lingering glances. But one thing was clear—
Trouble had arrived.
And this time, it came in twos.
Mira's POV
It was like the universe had suddenly decided to make up for lost time. Sitting beside Ronan felt like being strapped to a rollercoaster—one lined with sparkles, sarcasm, and slow-burning heat.
"So," he asked, leaning on his elbow across from me, "what's a multi-talented beauty like you doing wasting time at a boring café like this?"
"Wasting time?" I scoffed. "This place has amazing coffee, live jazz, and me—clearly, the one bringing all the sparkle to your otherwise average afternoon."
His laugh was deep and unfiltered, the kind that made people turn. "Alright, Mira. Fair enough. But you forgot one thing."
I raised a brow. "What's that?"
"You're also sitting across from a dangerously charming man who's very close to asking for your number."
I tilted my head. "Dangerously charming, huh?"
"Maybe not dangerous," he said, pretending to reconsider. "But definitely a little bad in the best ways."
I smirked, biting my lower lip to hide how much I enjoyed his energy. "Then maybe I'll be just a little bad and give it to you."
Meanwhile...
Amara's POV
Riven wasn't like Ronan. He was quieter, but every word he spoke felt loaded—like he was peeling back invisible layers with the subtlest of glances.
"I'm sorry if we came on strong earlier," he said, stirring his espresso. "My brother's... more thunder, I'm more rain."
I smiled faintly. "That's actually kind of poetic."
He looked up at me, his gaze steady. "So is your silence. You've been carrying something. Not sadness, exactly. Just... weight."
It hit like a whisper in a storm.
I dropped my gaze. "You don't even know me."
"I'd like to," he said softly.
It felt strange, the ease of this moment. The way he wasn't asking me to be okay, or perfect, or anything—just real.
So I told him the truth. "I was in something. With someone. He asked me to keep it secret, said we'd go public once we were serious. I waited... then he disappeared."
Riven's jaw tightened. "He was a coward."
I looked up, surprised by the steel in his voice.
"People like that don't deserve you. But if he couldn't love you in the light, he didn't deserve your heart in the dark."
I blinked hard, trying to hold back the sting behind my eyes. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me," he murmured. "Just... let someone prove they can show up for you fully."
And somehow, I knew he meant himself.
Across the table, I caught Mira grinning as Ronan whispered something in her ear. And just like that, something in me softened.
Maybe this wasn't a distraction.
Maybe, just maybe... it was the start of a new chapter for both of us.