Chapter 36
Chapter 36
As soon as that gavel hit the table, it was like waking up from a nightmare.
“Evie, you did it,” Timothy eximed, rushing toward me. | gasped as he wrapped me in a tender hug, twirling me around. |
returned the hug, feeling the swell of pride and relief.
He set me down and | couldn’t help butugh at the sudden look of embarrassment on his face, like he just realized what he had
done.
“UH, sorry. Got a little excited...” He rubbed the back of his neck and | nudged him in the arm.
“It''s fine.” | kept my hands on his arms, steadying myself with his weight or I’d tip over otherwise. | was still winded by the
exhration of it all. “We''re okay.”
As we pulled apart, the atmosphere shifted. Linda approached with a tight-lipped smile. Her tone wasced with sarcasm as she
said, “Well, well, Evic. | have to admit, I’m surprised. | didn’t think you had it in you.”
I shot back with a smile of my own, “Well, Linda, let this be a lesson in not underestimating others. Especially if they were given
the opportunity over you.”
The retort hung in the air, leaving Linda stunned. Timothy snorted beside me and | couldn''t help but smile myself.
Linda scowled. “You two clowns deserve each other,” she grumbled.
With that curtment, Linda stomped away. It certainly didn’t dampen our spirits.
As we began to make our way down the courthouse steps, the paparazzi descended upon us like a swarm of hungry vultures.
shbulbs popped, and a barrage of questions assaulted our ears. The sudden attention left me feeling sheepish, as | had
never been one to seek the spotlight.
“Evie, how does it feel to have won such a high-profile case?”
“Mr. Timothy, what are your ns now that you''ve been cleared of the charges?”
The questions were relentless, and | did my best to answer withposure. “I’m just d justice was served. Timothy’s future is
bright, and I''ll continue to support
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him in any way | can.”
Timothy shed a confident smile at the cameras. “Agreed. I’m looking forward to moving on and getting back to the game | love,
and | presume Ms. Sinir''s career will prosper all the same.”
As we attempted to make our way through the paparazzi gauntlet, it was clear that the victory had thrust us into the public eye. It
seemed like the whole city was standing in the entryway.
Once we managed to break free from the paparazzi, Timothy turned to me with a smile. “So, about dinner tonight, what do you
say?”
The question stunned me, and | found myself stuttering. Timothy peered down at
his expression hopeful, as he awaited my response.
me,
The silence would havested a lifetime if Aria and Lucas hadn''t cut-off the silence as they stormed in squealing. | hadn’t even
realized they hade.
“| knew you could do it!” Aria cheered, wrapping me in a hug.
Lucas held me after, his hug even more suffocating. “You''re a rockstar! What are you going to do now that you''re an elite
lawyer?”
“Well, Evie and | were nning on doing something,” Timothy chimed in.
“Really?” Aria asked.
| felt the tension rise once again and | shifted my gaze from Timothy to my friends. A dinner with Timothy felt far too intimate.
Timothy smiled abruptly, his eyes painfully tender. “Of course. The bestwyer in the world deserves a fancy treat. Dinner?”
“You know what? That sounds nice!” | said finally. “Would | be able to invite Aria and Lucas?” | asked him after a moment of
silence. He eyebrows shot up at that and | added quickly, “It’s just that they helped so much, moral support and all. They should
celebrate with us too, if that''s okay?”
Something dark flickered behind his eyes and he kissed his teeth. | noticed hist attention linger on Lucas for a few seconds, and |
saw the gears turning in his head. Suppose it would’ve been rude to exclude my “boyfriend” from the celebration.
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Only when some members of the press spotted us down the hall did Timothy nod exasperatedly, his focus broken.
“That’s fine! Let’s just get out of here,” he said, then grabbed my hand as we followed him out of the room.
It was the fanciest restaurant I’d ever seen. The ceilings were lined with crystal chandeliers that gave the room an ethereal glow.
The walls were an intimate velvet color that had flecks of twinkling gold.
As soon as Lucas and Aria arrived, the server took us to a round table draped in a white cloth. | took my napkin andid it in my
lap.
“Champagne, miss?” asked the server, who held a sparkling bottle above my ss. | nodded awkwardly and watched as he
poured the amber liquid into my champagne flute.
“| haven’t been to one of these in a while,” Lucas said, already sipping from his drink. “Those burger joints can get pretty
comfortable.”
“I''ve never been to one of these ever!” Aria spat, flipping through the menu. It had numerous delicacies, half of which | could
hardly pronounce. It was all so elegant.
| couldn''t imagine if Timothy and | hade alone, especially with the table. being so secluded. Even sitting across from
Timothy, who would give me the asional nce, was pushing it.
“I''ll give you a moment to look over the menu,” said the waiter, and he pulled out a notepad and pencil. “In the meantime, any
appetizers?”
Aria smiled wide. “I wouldn’t mind some buffalo caprese.”
“Aria!” | narrowed my eyes at her. “You won''t even have room for dinner. You know how you are.”
“Hey, it’s a free meal,” she said, then mped her mouth shut and looked shyly at Timothy. “At least | assumed it was... can
totally pay!”
Timothy simplyughed and waved her off. “It’s my treat. I’ll pay for everything.”
Lucas gave him a mischievous grin upon hearing those words. He picked up the
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menu and started looking through it with sudden interest. “Everything, ch?”
“Within reason,” Timothy growled at him, and Lucas snickered.
| lifted my menu
evening felt like “P, trying to mask the smile on my face. After everything, this
evening felt like a breath of fresh air. Timothy and | were both free to an extent, although that made me wonder about where we''ll
be once this dinner is over.
We were all startled when Timothy stood suddenly, clearing his throat. He took his champagne ss and lifted it in the air.
“| figured now was as good a time as ever to propose a toast,” he said, stealing a nce at me. Lucas and Aria giggled and
exchanged knowing looks.
“Thank you all for being here tonight,” Timothy continued as a light blush dusted his cheeks. “Today is a day | will cherish forever,
and | couldn''t let it pass without. expressing my gratitude.”
| groaned, burying my face in the menu once more. There were some curious. patrons also looking in our direction.
“It was a privilege to work closely with Evie on this case. From the moment |id eyes on her, | knew she was exceptional, not
just as awyer, but as a person. She spent many sleepless night to get us to this moment, never one to back down from a
challenge.”
“Timothy...” My eyes started burning and | wiped them furiously, fearing the tears. ready toe.
“But it’s not just her brilliance that | admire. It’s her kindness, herpassion, and the way she stands up for those who can’t
stand up for themselves. And | want. everyone to know that this sess isn’t just a win for our clients; it’s a triumph for
everything she represents.”
“Aw!” Aria pressed a hand to her chest, her eyes glistening. The whole room fell silent, everyone captivated by Timothy''s words. |
let out a shaky breath, my bottom lip trembling as my resolve crumbled.
“So | want to say thank you again, Evie,” he continued. “Thank you for being an inspiration and a brilliantwyer. To me, you will
always represent true justice.”
He lifted his ss and announced hisst words even louder. “To Evie.”
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Chapter 36
“To Evie!” echoed the rest of the room, who had lifted their sses as well. A soft apuse filled the room, and | was too stunned
toprehend it all.
As the others continued to cheer, Timothy returned to his seat and sipped form him ss. He then looked over at me and smiled
warmly.
“T-Timothy,” | stuttered, sniffling. “Thank you. |... | don’t know what to say.”
He shook his head and reached over, his and cupping mine for the briefest of moments. “You don’t have to say anything. Just
keep being incredible.”
As soon as Lucas and Aria settled down, he removed his hand and settled it back in hisp. Our gazes didn’t leave one another.
As always, it was as if the whole world. was fading away, leaving us secluded in our own little bubble.
As the night came to a close, we were handed a hefty bill that Timothy paid for without even flinching. Lucas was dragging Aria to
the entrance, since she’d drunken a little less responsibly. By the time we got to the parking lot, she wasughing hysterically.
While Lucas attempted to haul her into the car, Timothy pulled me aside. Before | could open my mouth, he leaned toward me,
his voice low.
“What are we going to be after tonight?” he asked. While | had thought of that question as well, | was far from prepared to hear
him ask it. He had be serious in just those couple of seconds.
“| don’t know,” | said truthfully, and even | wasn’t satisfied by that response. “I mean... we had a good run, working as a team.”
“Don’t be vague with me, Evie. Please,” he said, his tone pleading. “Don’t tell me we’re just going to stop here.”
“Timothy...” | searched hard for the next words to say. | didn’t have time to fill the silence before Lucas called out to me from the
car.
“| could use a little help here!” he shouted, attempting to shove Aria in the car.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.
“| want more croutons!” Aria screamed, gripping the car door.
| forced augh, even as my heart felt like it was being wrung dry. | gave Timothy
one more look, and it hurt to see him so pained.
“| have to go....handle this.” | gave his shoulder a squeeze before stepping away. “I will keep in touch, okay?”
He nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets as he turned away. He didn’t budge. after a while, and | figured that the
conversation hade to a harsh conclusion.
| was indecisive the whole ride home. While | had always wanted to end things with Timothy, it suddenly felt irrational now.
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