Chapter 216


    The city lights glowed dimly in the distance as I stepped out of the office building.


    “Timothy?” I called out, uncertain if my eyes were ying tricks on me.


    He straightened up, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. “Hey, Evie. Fancy seeing you here.”


    I shook off the confusion, my tired brain slowly processing the unexpected encounter. “What are


    you doing here?” I asked, a hint of suspicion coloring my words.


    Timothy hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether to share his intentions. “I thought maybe we


    could grab dinner together,” he finally said, a hopeful glint in his eyes.


    Dinner? The idea sparked a twinge of excitement in me, the prospect of spending time with Timothy


    outside the confines of our workce strangely appealing. “That sounds nice,” I replied, my


    weariness momentarily forgotten. “Where were you thinking?”


    A subtle grin crossed Timothy’s face as he gestured toward the street. “There’s a cozy little ce a


    few blocks from here. What do you say?”


    I nodded in agreement, a sense of anticipation building within me. As we walked together, the city’s


    night sounds enveloped us in aforting hum. However, Timothy’s next words shattered the


    tranquility.


    “Oh, by the way,” he began, his tone taking on a cautious edge, “my father and his girlfriend will be


    joining us for dinner.”


    My excitement deted like a punctured balloon, reced by an uneasy feeling in the pit of my


    stomach. “Your father and his girlfriend?” | echoed, my mind racing to process this unexpected turn


    of events.


    Timothy nodded, seemingly oblivious to the internal turmoil he had just unleashed. “Yeah, Kamran


    thought it would be nice for us all to get together. Maybe he’s trying to make amends, you know?”


    Make amends? The words hung in the air, a heavy cloud of uncertainty settling over me. I had


    never been close to Timothy’s father, Kamran, and the mere thought of spending an evening with


    him and his girlfriend sent shivers down my spine. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a


    genuine attempt at connection.


    An internal struggle ensued, the rational part of my mind warring with the uneasy feeling in my gut.


    Timothy’s


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    hopeful expression added to the pressure, as if he genuinely believed this dinner could be a step


    towards reconciliation.


    Against my better judgment, I mustered a forced smile. “Sure, why not? It might be a good


    opportunity for, uh, bonding.”


    Timothy’s face lit up. “Great!”


    Aria lounged on the living room couch, scrolling through her phone. She looked up as I entered, a


    mischievous smile ying on her lips. “So, meeting the parents already? My, my, Evie, things are


    moving fast.”


    I shot her a half–hearted re. “This is not a joke, Aria. It’splicated.”


    Aria raised an eyebrow, her yful demeanor shifting to one of genuine concern. “Complicated?”


    I took a deep breath, the gravity of the situation sinking in. “I already met Kamran, remember? At


    the holiday party when I threw a ss of champagne on him.”


    Aria’s eyes widened. “Oh, yeah…”


    I nodded solemnly. “Yeah.”


    Aria let out a low whistle, her usual light–hearted banter reced by a somber tone. “Are you sure


    you want to go to dinner with them? I’m sure Timothy would understand if you backed out.”


    The hesitation lingered, but a sense of obligation pushed me forward. “Kamran asked Timothy to


    invite me. I don’t know what his game is, but I want to find out. Maybe there’s some exnation,


    some reason behind all this.”


    Aria sighed. “Just be careful, Evie. If things get too ufortable, don’t hesitate to walk away.”


    Her words resonated with a truth I couldn’t ignore. The prospect of facing Kamran felt like a bizarre


    social experiment and left me on edge.


    As I retreated to my bedroom to find an outfit, Aria followed. My hands fumbled through the


    hangers, my mind wrestling with the dilemma of what to wear.


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    Aria leaned against the doorframe, her eyes scanning the chaos of my indecision. “Need any


    fashion advice for tonight’s dramatic episode?”


    I rolled my eyes, a flicker of a smile escaping my lips. “How about one that says “I’m not a mistress,


    I swear“?”


    She snorted, walking over and reaching out to grab a simple yet elegant ck dress. The fabric felt


    cool against my skin as I slipped into the dress. She turned me around and helped me with the


    zipper as I slipped into my high–heeled shoes.


    Aria’s voice broke the silence, her attempt at humor returning. “So, you and Timothy, huh? Did you


    ever think it would be like this?”


    I shook my head, a bitterugh escaping me. “Not in a million years. It still doesn’t feel real.”


    Aria grinned, a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. “He’s a good kisser, isn’t he?”


    I shot her a wry smile. “I don’t like to kiss and tell.”


    The doorbell rang, stunning us both. I rushed out of my room to open it and found Timothy on the


    other side, his expression a blend of anticipation and nervousness.


    “Hi,” he said sweetly, leaning in to kiss me. “You look beautiful. Are you ready?”


    I took a deep breath, and cast a nce at Aria, who gave me a thumbs up.


    “Yes,” I said, taking his hand. “Let’s go.”


    The hum of the city surrounded us as Timothy’s car glided to a stop in front of the restaurant. The


    warm glow spilled from the windows, casting a weing aura that belled the storm brewing within


    me. As I unbuckled seatbelt, Timothy turned to me with a sigh.


    “Okay,” he began, his voice soft but earnest, “I need to prepare you for my father. He’s a bit…


    particr.”


    my


    I raised an eyebrow. I suppose I should have expected certain expectations. “Particr? What does


    that mean?”


    Timothy sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Look, my father, Kamran, he has his own set of


    rules, expectations, you name it. Just follow along, be polite, and everything should be fine.”


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    * 047% 10:53 Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    I frowned, a knot forming in my stomach. “Rules? This sounds like a military operation, not a family


    dinner


    Timothy offered a small, rueful smile. “It’s the only way to navigate the Kamranndscape, trust me.


    I’ve been. doing it for years.”


    A sense of foreboding settled over me, and I let his words sink in. “What kind of rules are we talking


    about here?”


    He took a deep breath, as if bracing himself for the revtion. “No direct eye contact unless he


    speaks to you, don’t bring up certain topics that verge on pop–culture, and don’t challenge his


    opinions. That’s the short list, but it should get you through the night.”


    I blinked in disbelief, the absurdity of it all hanging in the air. “No direct eye contact? What is he, a


    monarch?”


    Timothy chuckled nervously. “More like a king of his own castle. Just y along, Evie. We’re almost


    there.”


    As we stepped out of the car, a sense of trepidation clung to me like a second skin. Timothy walked


    beside me, his strides purposeful, and he ced aforting hand on my lower back.


    As we approached the restaurant, the sounds ofughter and clinking sses emanating from


    within. I took al deep breath, fighting the urge to run the other way.


    All at once, my fa?ade of normalcy crumbled. Kamran stood outside, his tall figuremanding


    attention, and beside him was a woman. The dim streetlights cast a soft glow, but it was enough to


    catch a glimpse of her face.


    “I take it that’s the other woman,” I whispered.


    “Yep,” said Timothy,


    She had a head of long, dark hair and a curvy body. As Kamran told a joke, the woman threw her


    head back inughter, and the jewelry on her wrists and neck jingled. She had a familiar bohemian


    look, like she was the type


    to loath restraint.


    As she turned, revealing her face, a wave of recognition washed over me. My heart pounded in my


    chest. It couldn’t be.


    But as we drew closer, there was no denying the truth.


    The shock froze me in my tracks, my mind struggling toprehend the surreal scene unfolding


    before me. Timothy, caught up in his own stress, continued walking with an easy stride until he


    jerked backward and


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    noticed me standing still


    “Evie, what’s wrong?” he asked, concern etching lines on his forehead.


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    I tore my gaze away from Kamran and my mother, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.


    “That woman with Kamran,” I stammered, “she’s my


    mother.”


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