Chapter 139
TIMOTHY POV
Timothy had grown weary of the constant summons to dinners with Ste. It seemed that she had
made it her mission to integrate herself into his life, and it was a mission he had no choice but to
begrudgingly ept. So, when yet another dinner invitation arrived, he couldn’t summon the
enthusiasm to decline.
As Timothy arrived at his family’s imposing home, he had expected a quiet evening with Ste,
Kamran, and Andy. However, the scene that greeted him was far from what he had anticipated.
Most of his rtives had gathered in the grand dining room, their animated conversations filling the
air.
Timothy’s brow furrowed as he took in the sight. A family gathering was at the bottom of the list of
things he could handle now. He had no desire to engage in the social niceties that family gatherings
often entailed.
As he entered the dining room, Timothy’s eyesnded on Andy amongst the sea of
atives. He couldn’t help but notice the way his family members fawned over Andy. They spoke on
his aspirations and big business deals, and Andy took it all in with a cheesy grin.
His Aunt Margot leaned in to whisper something to Andy, herughter filling the room. His uncle
patted Andy on the back, offering words of praise.
Arge hand pped down on his shoulder and Timothy whirled around. He was met with the stern
his father, who greeted him in the most underwhelming way possible.
“You made it. Finally,” Kamran grumbled, downing the rest of his drink. “Wish you could show up on
time, like your brother.”
Timothy’s irritation simmered beneath the surface as he watched Andy revel in the attention. It
wasn’t that he begrudged his brother’s sess or charm, but rather the tant favoritism that
grated on his nerves. He had always felt like the ck sheep of the family, the one who never quite
measured up to their expectations.
Ste, sitting beside him, seemed unfazed by the family’s adoration of Andy. She carried herself
with a grace and poise that had undoubtedly been honed through years of social maneuvering. Her
smile was polite, her words carefully chosen.
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She was made for this world. Timothy couldn’tprehend it.
“Timothy, darling,” she whispered, her voiceced with a hint of sweetness, “isn’t it wonderful to see
your family all in one ce?”
Timothy couldn’t muster the same enthusiasm. There were some non–family individuals lingering
about. It also wasn’t often that his family came around at all, but they weren’t going to turn down a
nice evening in a luxurious mansion.
“It’s something,” he replied, his tone curt.
Timothy’s eyes narrowed as he watched Andy, resplendent in a tailored suit, basking in the
attention of their rtives. It was a role Andy had grown. ustomed to
–
the golden boy, the sessful businessman, the one who had made all the right choices.
Timothy forced a smile onto his face as he approached the table, trying to muster all the charm he
could summon. “Hey, everyone,” he greeted.
His Uncle Charles nced at him briefly before her attention returned to Andy. “Oh, haven’t seen
him in ages,” he said.
Andy, ever the opportunist, seized the moment. “Timothy, we were just discussing my recent deal
with that new tech ce,” he said.
Timothy knew it was futile to try andpete with Andy in conversation, but he couldn’t help
himself. “That’s impressive, Andy, but you know, the yoffs areing up, and we’re working
really hard to make it to the finals this year.”
Charles raised an eyebrow. “You’re still doing hockey, Timothy? Isn’t it time you. considered a more
stable career?”
The words were like a dagger to Timothy’s ego. He had dedicated his life to his sport, which his
mother understood. But in the rest of his family’s eyes, it was nothing more than a frivolous
pastime.
Ste patted him on the shoulder, her smile widening. “It’s just entertaining him for the time being.”
As the evening progressed, Timothy’s irritation grew. Andy continued to bask in the spotlight,
regaling the family with stories of histest achievements and adventures. It was as if he were the
center of the universe, and Timothy felt like a mere spectator in his own life.
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His frustration reached its peak when his Aunt Margot turned to him with a forced smile. “Timothy,
dear,” she said, her voice dripping with false cheerfulness, “why don’t you tell us what you’ve been
up totely?”
Timothy clenched his jaw, his anger simmering beneath the surface. It was a question he had
grown ustomed to, a reminder of his perceived shorings in the eyes of his family.
“I’ve been busy with work,” he replied tersely, his gaze fixed on his te.
Andy, sensing an opportunity to further assert his dominance, chimed in. “Ah, Timothy’s work is truly
remarkable. He’s made quite a name for himself in the hockey world.”
Timothy’s patience wore thin, and he shot a scathing look in Andy’s direction. “I’d appreciate it if you
didn’t speak for me, Andy. Like you’ve been doing the whole night.”
The tension in the room was palpable, and a heavy silence settled over the dining table. Timothy’s
outburst had disrupted the carefully orchestrated harmony of the evening, and he could feel the
disapproving gazes of his family members.
Ste, suddenly so diplomatic, tried to diffuse the situation. “Let’s not ruin this lovely evening with
arguments,” she said, her voice calm andposed. “We’re here to celebrate family, after all.”
But Timothy couldn’t let it go. The anger and frustration that had been building within him for so long
finally spilled over. “Family?” he scoffed. “Don’t kid yourselves. This isn’t about family, especially
when their forcing this charade on
me.”
“Charade?” Andy barked out augh. “Little brother, you tickle me!”
Timothy could feel his anger simmering just beneath the surface as he locked eyes with Andy.
“Everything is a joke to you,” Timothy said, his voice hoarse with raw emotion. “Everyone in this
family adores you. Why do you insist on kicking me down?”
Andy’s expression hardened as he responded, “Maybe they adore me because I actually contribute
something to this family, unlike you.”
The words hung in the air like a challenge, and Timothy felt a surge of anger. It
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was true that he had often felt like an outsider in the Hayes family, a mere afterthoughtpared to
the attentionvished on Andy.
“Years ago, none of us had anything to contribute,” Timothy retorted, his voice a low growl. “They
love you now, but what would happen if your bank ount was just a few zeroes short?”
Andy’sughter was mirthless. “I would still be better than you. Maybe you should just ept the
little bit of attention that Kamran is offering you, because it’s more than you deserve.”
Before Timothy could respond, Andy’s words took a darker turn. “And speaking of Kamran, I can’t
wait for the day he finally drops that sick mother of yours for good.”
The words hit Timothy like a punch to the gut. His mother’s illness had been a constant source of
pain and worry for him, and the idea that his own brother would wish her, the very women who
treated him like a son, harm was too much to bear.
He clenched his fists, his anger reaching its breaking point. “I should beat you down right here.”
Just as Timothy was prepared to lunge at his brother, Kamran’s voice rang out, cutting through the
tension in the room like a knife.
“Enough!” Kamran’smanding tone silenced the room, and all eyes turned to him.
Timothy and Andy locked gazes onest time, their anger simmering beneath the surface, before
they both stepped back, unwilling to defy their father any further.
Kamran, the patriarch of the Hayes family, had a way of demanding attention and respect. He was a
commanding presence, with a sharp intellect and an imposing demeanor. His mere presence was
enough to quell any conflict.
Kamran surveyed the room, his eyes taking in the tense atmosphere. He had always been a man of
few words, preferring to let his actions speak for him. Tonight, however, he seemed to have
something important to say.
He raised his ss, the crystal goblet catching the light as he spoke. “Ladies and gentlemen, if I
may have your attention.”
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The room fell silent as everyone turned their focus to Kamran. Timothy’s heart pounded in his chest,
uncertain of what his father was about to announce.
“Tonight,” Kamran began, his voice carrying a weight of authority, “I have an important
announcement to make.”
Timothy’s mind raced with possibilities. What could be so important that his father had gathered the
family together for an announcement?
As Kamran continued to speak, Timothy’s jaw dropped in disbelief at the words that left his father’s
lips. “I have decided to host an engagement ceremony for my son, Timothy, and Ste.”
The room erupted into murmurs and surprised gasps. Timothy’s head spun as he tried to process
the announcement. An engagement ceremony? He hadn’t even considered proposing to Ste, and
the idea of being engaged to her left him. feeling trapped.
But what shocked Timothy even more was the sight that greeted him as the room buzzed with
conversation. Standing on the periphery of the gathering, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief,
was Evie. She stood beside Scarlett, Ste’s estranged sister.
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Timothy’s heart sank as he locked eyes with Evie. She looked as though she had been caught
completely off guard by the announcement, and he couldn’t help but wonder what she was doing
there in the first ce..
Before he could react, his father’s booming voice interrupted his thoughts. “Let us raise our sses
to Timothy and Ste, and to a future filled with happiness and prosperity.”
The room erupted into cheers as everyone raised their sses in a toast, but Timothy’s mind was
elsewhere. He couldn’t shake the feeling that his world had just been turned upside down, and the
presence of Evie only added to the
confusion that swirled within him.
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