Chapter 137


    The holiday season had descended upon the city like a nket of snow, and with it. came a flurry of


    festive celebrations and gatherings. Rain turned to a harsh slect, then into plush, dreamy snow.


    The air was crisp and tinged with the scent of pine, and the city was adorned with twinkling lights


    and glittering decorations. For Aria and me, however, the joys of the season were overshadowed by


    the lingering turmoil in our lives.


    The tumultuous events involving Timothy and Ste had left us reeling. Of course, leave it to Lucas


    to introduce some fun back into our lives. He extended an invitation to apany holiday party of


    his that night while he was over for dinner.


    “We could all use a break from the chaos,” he had said with a warm smile.


    When the night of thepany party arrived, and Aria and I found ourselves standing in front of the


    grand entrance to the venue. The building was bathed in a warm, golden light, and the strains of


    festive music wafted through the crisp winter air. We had dressed in our holiday best, our attire a


    reflection of our desire to immerse ourselves in the festivities.


    Lucas greeted us with a cheerful smile as we entered the venue, the ambiance of the party


    immediately washing over us. The room was adorned with twinkling fairy lights and gands of


    evergreen.


    “Wee!” Lucas eximed, his enthusiasm infectious. He leaned in a hugged us both. “d you


    both made it.”


    As the evening unfolded, Aria and I found ourselves swept up in the joyful atmosphere of the party.


    Weughed and danced with Lucas‘ colleagues, letting go of the weight of our troubles for a little


    while. The music was infectious, and the camaraderie of our coworkers created a sense of unity


    and belonging that we had. been craving.


    Lucas was the life of the party, his energy and enthusiasm contagious. He led us in a spirited


    rendition of a holiday ssic, and soon, we were all singing and dancing together in joyful


    abandon.


    As the night wore on, however, the strains of the music and theughter of our coworkers began to


    fade into the background. My thoughts inevitably turned to


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    Timothy. I found myself retreating into a corner for a moment, having to count my breaths as they


    grew more ragged.


    Aria found me there, her concern evident in her eyes. “Evie, are you okay?” she asked, her voice


    filled with worry.


    I turned to her, my emotions threatening to spill over. “I just can’t stop thinking. about him,” I


    admitted, my voice quivering with anger and sadness. “I know he messed up, but I can’t help but


    wonder if there’s more to the story.”


    Aria ced aforting hand on my shoulder, her gaze filled with empathy. “I understand, Evie,”


    she said softly. “But you can’t let his actions consume you. You’re better off now.


    I nodded. She was right, of course, but letting go of the anger and resentment was easier said than


    done.


    As we returned to the party, the night continued to unfold in a whirlwind of Excelebration and


    revelry. Aria and I joined in the festivities once more, determined


    to make the most of the moment and find sce in the joy of the season.


    The pulsating music, the swirling lights, and the energetic chatter of the partygoers around me


    seemed to blur into a whirlwind of colors and sounds. Lucas and Aria’s attempts to lift my spirits had


    worked to some extent, but the ache in my heart still throbbed beneath the surface. I felt like I was


    floating through the night, detached from the revelry around me.


    As we continued having fun on the dance floor, the rhythm of the music began to work its magic,


    pulling me back into the present. For a brief moment, I let myself forget the pain that had consumed


    me for weeks. The beat of the song pounded in my chest, and I twirled, feeling the weight of my


    worries momentarily dissipate. But then, as if the universe conspired to shatter my fragile respite,


    my gazended on a pair of cold, disapproving eyes. An older man was looming in the midst of the


    fun, taking sips of his champagne as he watched me from across the room. His coldness and


    disapproval were palpable, but even more strange was the familiarity in his features.


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    My heart pounded in my chest, and my steps faltered as I returned his harsh stare.


    Lucas noticed the change in my demeanor and leaned in to speak over the music. “Evie, what’s


    wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”


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    My voice trembled as I struggled to form the words. “Lucas, who’s that guy?”


    Lucas frowned, a troubled expression darkening his features. “Ugh, that’s Kamran Hayes. I didn’t


    know he’d be here, Evie.”


    My heart skipped a beat. “Kamran H–Hayes?” I stuttered.


    “Yeah!” Lucas rolled his eyes. “Timothy’s dad.”


    “Timothy’s dad,” the words escaped my lips and I began to feel dizzy. I grabbed Lucas‘ sleeve for


    support. “What is he doing here?”


    Lucas shrugged. “He doesn’t seem like much of a party person, but he does work for another


    branch of ourpany, Fitzgerald and Co.”


    Aria, who had also caught sight of Kamran, chimed in, “Did you say Timothy’s father?”


    I shook my head, my anger ring up like a sudden wildfire. “This is just perfect!” “Evie-” Aria


    reached out to me, but I forced augh.


    “I’m just getting a drink,” I told them, stepping away.


    I excused myself from Lucas and Aria and headed toward the bar. Maybe a strong drink would help


    me get through the night.


    However, as I approached the bar, I didn’t notice Kamran until it was toote. Our collision was


    idental, but the tension in the air was anything but unintentional. His piercing gray eyes locked


    onto mine, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of recognition in his gaze.


    “Evie,” he said coldly, his voice as sharp as ice.


    My anger red up, and I clenched my fists. “Kamran,” I spat his name like a curse. “What are you


    doing here?”


    He studied me with a calcting gaze. “This is a free country, isn’t it? I can go wherever I please.”


    I took a deep breath, trying to quell the storm of emotions threatening to engulf me. “I–I suppose…”


    “Well, it’s nice to see you in person finally,” he continued. “I thought I got a good


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    enough look, what, with your face stered all over the news, but seeing you in 3D dimension


    offers a different perspective.”


    “I don’t want anything to do with you or your family, Kamran,” I said quickly. “All that media outrage


    is just…Timothy and I aren’t-”


    His lips curled into a disdainful sneer. “Ah, yes. My prodigal son, who tried to choose some gold–


    digging whore over his own flesh and blood.”


    My


    clenched even tighter, and I could feel my face flush with anger. “Don’t


    you dare call me that! You don’t know anything about me!”


    Kamran’s eyes narrowed, and his tone grew venomous. “Oh, I know enough. You took advantage of


    my son’s kindness and attempted to drain him of everything he had. You’re just like the rest of


    them.”


    I couldn’t contain my rage any longer. Without a second thought, I grabbed a ss. of champagne


    from the bar and threw it in Kamran’s face. The liquid sshed across his expensive suit, and the


    crowd around us fell silent, their attention drawn to the explosive confrontation.


    I red at him, my voiceced with fury. “Screw you AND your son!”


    Kamran wiped the champagne from his face, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and humiliation.


    “You’ll regret this, Evie.”


    I turned on my heel and stormed away from the bar, not caring about the stares. and whispers that


    followed me. I found Lucas and Aria on the edge of the dance floor, their faces a mix of concern and


    confusion..


    “Evie, what happened?” Lucas asked, his voice filled with worry.


    I didn’t hold back my frustration. “That asshole happened!”


    Lucas put aforting arm around me. “Evie, let’s get out of here. This party’s dying down


    anyway.”


    I nodded in agreement, my anger still simmering beneath the surface. “You’re right. Let’s go.”


    We made our way to the exit, leaving behind the glittering lights and the pulsating music. As the


    cold night air hit my face, I felt a mixture of relief and regret. Encountering Timothy’s father was like


    the next big hit to my ego.


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    Lucas squeezed my shoulder as we hailed a cab. “Don’t let him get to you. All those business guy


    typesck social awareness, it seems.”


    Aria added, “And you showed him who was boss anyway. Screw his perfect little


    suit.”


    As the cab pulled away from the party, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had made the right choice by


    confronting Kamran. The anger and bitterness that had gued me for weeks still clung to me like a


    heavy weight.


    He told me that I’d regret it. From him, that didn’t sound like an empty threat. He could make this


    case a lot moreplicated.


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