Chapter 57
As I parked my car in front of Linda’s small, unassuming home, a wave of uncertainty washed over
me. Doubts crept into my mind, and I couldn’t help but question if I had made the right decision to
come here tonight. My feelings for Timothy were bing moreplicated with each passing
day, and I worried that spending time with Linda, his “lover“, would only exacerbate my internal
struggle.
Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and walked up to the front door. Before I could even knock,
the door swung open, revealing Linda’s warm smile. “Evie!
“Linda!” I forced a smile.
“It’s so lovely to see you. Come on in. I just started dinner!”
Her weing words eased some of the tension in my chest, and I stepped inside, feeling grateful
for herforting presence. Hopefully, dinner would provide the sce I needed.
As I followed her into the cozy kitchen, the scent of a home–cooked meal enveloped me, evoking a
sense of nostalgia and familiarity. The table was set with care, and the sight brought a small smile
to my lips.
“Thank you for having me, Linda,” I said, trying to push aside my worries and focus on the present
moment.
She smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting genuine kindness. “You’re always wee here, Evie. Also,
dinner’s almost done.”
As Linda bustled around the kitchen, I couldn’t help but take in my surroundings. Her home was
cluttered but inviting, filled with trinkets and photographs. My eyesnded on one particr photo of
Timothy, his arms wrapped around Duke as he faced away from the camera.
Their smiles were radiant and seeing Timothy so happy together made my heart. ache with a mix of
emotions. There were several others like it with just Timothy in the image. Timothy ying hockey,
going grocery shopping, or even brushing his teeth.
He was always facing away in the photos. They could’ve bene candid shots, but not one of them
featured Linda. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he didn’t even
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know she was there half the time.
Before I could dwell further on the photos, Linda called, “Dinner’s ready!”
I walked back into the dining room and found her setting the steaming tes of key chicken
Wellington on the table. I felt my mouth water as I was drawn toward the delicious looking meal.
“I hope you like it, dear. It’s one of Timothy’s favorite dishes,” she said.
Her mention of Timothy took some of the pleasure out of the meal. I wanted to know more about
their rtionship, about the depth of their bond, but I was afraid to pry. I didn’t want to reveal the
intensity of my feelings for him, especially to someone as caring and kind as Linda.
As we sat down to eat, I tried to focus on the meal, on the vors and textures that danced on my
tongue. Linda chatted animatedly about her day, about the people. she had met, and about her
Yet, even as she spoke, my mind kept wandering back to Timothy. I couldn’t help. but wonder if he
ever talked about me to Linda, if he confided in her about his life. and his hopes and dreams. I felt a
pang of jealousy at the thought of him sharing those intimate moments with someone other than
me.
As the evening wore on, I realized that I couldn’t keep my feelings bottled up any longer. I needed
to at least ask her about how things were between them. Linda. seemed kind enough not to take it
personally.
“Linda, can I talk to you about something?” I asked tentatively, my heart pounding in my chest.
Her eyes softened. “Of course, Evie. You can always talk to me about anything.”
“You said you and Timothy met online. How long until you made things official?”
Linda’s eyes twinkled with fondness. “I was just a dumb fan on one of us forums. Most people don’t
know this, but secretly goes on those fan pages and masks as a fan, just to see what people say.”
I wondered if he’d reacted to Aria on some asions. She was a frequent poster.
I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “I couldn’t help but notice all the photos of
Timothy around your home, and the way you talk about him, it’s
evident that you have a very special connection. How did your rtionship with him develop?”
Linda’s face lit up with joy as she began to recount the story of how she and Timothy had met and
the memories they had shared. She spoke with such passion and love, like a woman reliving the
most cherished moments of her life.
“I don’t know what I’d do without him,” Linda finished, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “I don’t think
I’d handle a life without him.”
As she spoke, my irritation began to surface. I had hoped for some rity, but instead, I was
confronted with a vivid disy of Linda’s love for Timothy. Every word she uttered seemed to
deepen the chasm between us, and my jealousy only intensified.
“He’s such a wonderful person, Evie,” Linda continued, a dreamy look in her eyes. “We’ve been
through so much together, and he’s always been there for me.”
“That’s nice,” I gritted out.
I tried to hide my frustration behind a forced smile, but inside, I was seething. It felt like Linda was
gloating about her rtionship with Timothy, unting their connection in front of me. I didn’t want to
hear about all the special moments they had shared or how much he meant to her.
As Linda continued to gush about Timothy, my irritation turned to anger. I felt like an outsider in my
own friendship with him. It was as if I had been living in a fantasy, believing that our bond was
unique and special, only to discover that he had another person in his life who meant just as much
to him.
I tried to interject, to redirect the conversation, but Linda was too engrossed in her memories to
notice my difort. It felt like she was rubbing salt in the wound, unknowingly driving a wedge
between us.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I excused myself from the table. “I’m sorry, Linda. I just
remembered that I have an early morning tomorrow. I should head home.” Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.
Linda looked puzzled but understanding. “Of course, hon. Thank you foring over. It was lovely
to have you here!”
I forced a smile and quickly made my way to the door. As I stepped outside, the
cool night air offered some sce, but my emotions were still in turmoil. I needed. space to process
everything I had learned, toe to terms with the reality of Timothy’s rtionship with Linda.
With every tale Linda recounted, I felt more and more like an outsider, an interloper in a rtionship
I didn’t fullyprehend. My frustration with her obliviousness grew, and I regretted agreeing to
dinner. I should have known that this would only exacerbate my feelings.
But my obsession with Timothy was a double–edged sword. While it drove me to seek answers, it
also made me anxious and ufortable. I was torn between wanting to know more about him and
fearing what the truth might reveal.
On the drive back home, my mind was a whirlwind of emotions. My obsession with Timothy had
be all–consuming, and I couldn’t escape the feeling that I was spiraling out of control. The
unease I felt around Linda and the depth of her rtionship with Timothy only added to my state of
turmoil.
I knew that I needed to confront my feelings and address the root of my obsession. Perhaps it
wasn’t just Linda that was infatuated with him, as much as I loathed that
oue.
As Iy in bed that night, I made a silent promise to myself to just mind my business. Yet, as I shut
my eyes, the images of Timothy and Linda together haunted me, and I feared that my journey of
pulling away from him was screeching to a halt.
What was I going to do about Linda?
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