Chapter 165
As I sat at home, I found myself engrossed in a book, trying to lose myself in its pages and forget
about the world around me.
My phone chimed, breaking the silence. I nced at the screen to see a message from Scarlett
saying that she wanted me toe over lunch as a thank you for my help on her case. It was an
unexpected invitation, and part of me wanted to decline.
I was tired, emotionally drained, and the idea of socializing felt like a daunting. task. But another
part of me, a sense of obligation and curiosity, urged me to go.
After a brief internal debate, I replied with a simple “Sure, I’ll be there,” and received an enthusiastic
response from Scarlett. She provided her address and a time, and I reluctantly put my book aside to
get ready.
As I parked my car in front of Scarlett’s quaint, cozy home, I took a deep breath to steady myself.
The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the neighborhood. I reached for the
doorbell and rang it, my heart pounding in anticipation.
Momentster, Scarlett swung the door open with a bright smile. “Evie, so d you could make it,
she greeted, weing me inside with a warm hug.
I returned the embrace, surprised by the gesture. “Thank you for having me over.”
Scarlett’s home had afortable, lived–in feel to it, filled with an assortment of artwork and
eclectic furnishings. It was more modest than therge estate she was fighting for, but it certainly
screamed wealth. The aroma of something delicious wafted from the kitchen, making my mouth
water.
As Scarlett busied herself in the kitchen, I sat in one of the seats at the dinner table. I watched as
she expertly chopped vegetables and prepared the meal, the rhythmic clinking of knives against
cutting boards the only sound in the room.
“So, Evie,” Scarlett began, her voice light and conversational, “tell me more about yourself. Why did
you decide to be awyer?”
I shifted ufortably in my seat, wondering how much of my past I wanted to
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reveal. “Well, it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I began cautiously. “I believe in
fighting for justice and giving people hope.”
Scarlett paused, her gaze turning to me with curiosity. “Hope? What do you mean?”
I hesitated, but something in Scarlett’s eyes urged me to share more. “When I was young, I began
slowly, “I went through some difficult times. I felt like there was no one there to help me, to give me
hope that things could get better. Bing awyer was my way of making sure others don’t have
to go through what I did.”
Scarlett’s expression softened as she absorbed my words. “That’s noble of you, Evie,” she said
sincerely
Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.
I smiled gratefully. “Thank you.”
As Scarlett continued to prepare our meal, we fell into a more rxed conversation. She shared
stories from her childhood and talked about her own motivations for bing a digital marketer. It
was a moment of vulnerability and connection that I hadn’t expected, and it eased the tension that
had been present since my arrival.
“You know,” I began, a mischievous smile tugging at my lips, “thest time I was invited to dinner
with someone, they turned out to be Timothy’s stalker.”
Scarlett burst intoughter as she plopped a lid on the pot, letting the food simmer. “Oh, wow!
That’s quite something.”
I joined in herughter. “Believe me, it was quite the experience.”
As herughter died down, Scarlett suddenly forward with a grin. “So, were you and Timothy always
close before Ste squeezed her way in between you two?”
I felt my smile falter, and a sense of unease settled in my stomach. The mention of Timothy and
Ste brought back a rush of memories, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment and
anger.
“Not exactly,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light. “We knew each other, and I guess we did
be good friends while we worked together on the case. Ste didn’t cause us to fall
out, but she didn’t help.”
Scarlett’s expression shifted to one of curiosity, and she leaned closer, her eyes searching mine.
“So what happened?”
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11:30 Mon, 25 Mar
My heart raced as I tried to find the right words, desperately wanting to avoid revealing the truth
about the depth of my feelings for Timothy. “It’splicated,” I began, my voice trembling slightly.
“Let’s just say that old wounds were reopened, and we haven’t recovered since.”
Scarlett’s eyes sparkled with curiosity and a hint of mischief. “I see. So, you’re sure that nothing
ever happened between you and Timothy?”
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and I stammered, “N–no, of course not. Timothy and I
were just friends. Nothing more.”
Scarlettughed softly, her amusement evident. “Evie, I can tell from the way you talk about him
and the way you look at each other that there’s more to this story than you’re letting on.”
I felt my defenses crumble under Scarlett’s probing gaze. She had a way of seeing through the
walls I had built. I shifted ufortably in my seat, fumbling for a response. “I see, I murmured,
feeling suddenly out of ce.
Scarlett tilted her head to one side. “You know,” she said, leaning in
conspiratorially, “sometimes, even when two people are close, there’s a lot they don’t say.
Sometimes, it’s what’s unspoken that matters.”
Before I could respond, the sound of little feet pattering on the floor interrupted. our conversation. A
young girl with a cascade of curly brown hair, practically a miniature version of Scarlett, came
running out of her room.
“The food smells good!” she dered with unbridled enthusiasm before her eyes.nded on me.
Scarlett’s face lit up with maternal pride as she introduced the girl. “Evie, meet Olive. My little
tornado of joy. Olive, this is Evie, the kindwyer who’s going to help us get grandpa’s property
back.”
Olive’s eyes widened in wonder, and her round face broke into a wide, gap–toothed. smile. She
rushed to my side and extended a hand, as if sealing a pact. “Thank you, Evie,” she said earnestly,
her voice carrying an unexpected depth. “If we get grandpa’s house, it’ll be like being around him
again.”
The sincerity in Olive’s words hit me like a ton of bricks. I nced at Scarlett, whose gaze bore a
mixture of hope and desperation. Suddenly, the weight of this case, of the dreams and memories
attached to that piece ofnd, became all too
Mon, 25 Mal
apparent. It was no longer just a legal matter; it was a lifeline to a past they desperately clung to.
I cleared my throat, my words feeling like heavy stones in my mouth. “I’ll do my best, Olive. I
promise.”
Scarlett’s gratitude shone through her eyes, and she smiled at me in silent appreciation.
Lunch was served, and we settled around the table, savoring Scarlett’s delicious pasta. My mind
was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The anger and frustration that had defined my
rtionship with Timothy and Ste had been pushed aside by a deeper sense of purpose and
responsibility.
My gaze lingered on Olive for a while, and I pictured the child slowly growing in Ste’s belly. There
were two innocent lives that were tangled up in all of this. Unfortunately, things would only get
messier from here.
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