Chapter 153


    | made my way back into my apartment and sank into my chair in front of theputer, hoping to find some sce in the digital


    realm.


    As | powered up myputer, my inbox pinged with a new email notification. It was from Penny, and my heart raced with a


    mixture of anticipation and dread. She had mentioned sending me digital copies of the photos she had taken of Ste and Andy.


    Part of me felt conflicted about using them as evidence, but the other part knew it was the perfect leverage against Ste.


    | opened the email and saw the attached files. There they were-the damning images that captured Ste and Andy ina


    compromising position. | couldn’t deny the sense of satisfaction | felt at having tangible proof of their betrayal.


    With the digital evidence at my fingertips, | contemted my next move. | had considered sharing the photos on the online chat


    rooms where Timothy’s hardcore fans congregated, exposing the truth for all to see. It was tempting, but | knew that it could also


    lead to more chaos and destruction...


    | wanted Timothy to know the truth, but | didn’t want to destroy his life in the process.


    As | hesitated, my fingers hovering over the keyboard, the door to my room swung open. Aria barged in, her face a mask of


    distress. She didn’t even bother to knock.


    “Evie, | need to talk to you,” she said urgently, her eyes wide with anxiety.


    | sighed, feeling exasperated but also willing to hear her out. “What is it, Aria?”


    She hesitated for a moment, clearly struggling to find the right words. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry about the whole making out


    on the couch thing.”


    “Apology epted,” | replied cautiously, unsure of where this was going.


    Aria seemed relieved by my


    a whisper. “I never meant to sponse and took a step closer, her voice lowering to? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    hurt you, Evie. | just got caught up in the excitement


    of my new rtionship, and | didn’t realize how much it was affecting you.


    | nodded, feeling a glimmer of understanding. “It''s okay, Aria. You''re in love, so it’s only natural.”


    But just as our conversation seemed to be taking a more positive turn, Aria’s eyes.


    darted to myputer screen, and her expression shifted from contrition to shock.


    “What''s going on here?” she demanded, her voice rising in panic.


    | turned to look at myputer screen and saw what had caught Aria’s attention. Ste was on the screen, but not alone. She


    was with Andy, their bodies close and their foreheads pressed together.


    | quickly closed the image, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over me. “Aria, it’s not what you think. | was just...”


    “Who was that random dude with Ste?” Aria interrupted, pointing at the now empty screen.


    The tension in the room hung heavy in the air as | struggled to find the right words to exin the disturbing image Aria had


    stumbled upon. Ste, inapromising position with a man who wasn’t Timothy, had been a shocking revtion.


    “It''s not a random man,” | finally confessed, my voice trembling with a mix of guilt and anger. “It’s Andy, Timothy’s brother.”


    Aria’s eyes


    eyes widened in disbelief, and she took a step back as if the revtion had physically pushed her away. Her mouth opened and


    closed, words failing to form.


    “His brother?!?” she finally managed to sputter. “And Ste kissed him?”


    | nodded, my heart heavy with the weight of the truth. “Yes.”


    Aria’s shock gave way to a flurry of questions and concerns. “Have you already told Timothy about this? Does he know? What''s


    going on?”


    My hesitation in answering her questions seemed to amplify her growing frustration. “Evie, you have to tell him. Timothy


    deserves to know.”


    | felt a surge of anger rise within me, the frustration of being caught in the middle of a tangled web of emotions and secrets finally


    boiling over. “You know what, Aria? It’s not my business anymore. Timothy made his choices. He chose to marry Ste, to


    impregnate her. Why should | be the one to bring all this drama into his life?”


    Aria’s disappointment was palpable, and she stared at me with a mix of anger and


    Chapter 153


    hurt. “Evie, | can’t believe you''re being so selfish. This isn’t about personal drama; it’s about doing what''s right.”


    | felt my temper re, a surge of anger rushing through me like a torrent. “I don’t care about Timothy anymore!” | shot back, my


    voice sharp with bitterness. “He made his choice when he married Ste and got her pregnant. Why should | be the one to break


    his world apart?”


    Aria’s frustration reached its breaking point. “Is that what this is about? Your ego? Your pride? You can’t just ignore the truth


    because it doesn’t align with your fantasies, Evie!”


    My own anger bubbled to the surface, fueled by a sense of betrayal. “And what about you, Aria? Whose side are you on? Are


    you even on my side, or are you just defending precious Timothy?”


    Aria’s eyes narrowed, hurt shing in her gaze. “I can’t believe question me about that. We''re supposed to be friends.”


    you


    would even


    The usation hit me like a p in the face, and for a moment, | wavered. But my anger, fueled by a sense of helplessness and


    betrayal, pushed me forward. “Friends don’t push their agenda onto others. Friends respect each other’s choices.”


    Aria shook her head. “I can’t do this right now, Evie,” she said, her voice strained.


    “Fine! Go!” | shouted, my voice echoing through the room. “Maybe you should go and be with Timothy. Clearly, that’s where your


    loyalties lie.”


    With that, Aria turned on her heel and stormed out, leaving me to feel hollow and discarded. The weight of our argument settled


    on my shoulders like a heavy burden, and | felt a pang of regret as my blood cooled.


    over my


    The morning sun streamed through my window, casting a warm glow on my bedroom. | blinked slowly, adjusting to the light


    streaming face. Our friendship had been strained severely by all of this, and | couldn’t help but wonder if | had crossed a line


    permanently.


    As | made my way to the kitchen, the silence in my apartment was deafening. She had purposefully left earlier for work, no doubt


    not wanting to even see me and sour her day. | suppose it was for the best.


    A


    Chapter 153


    | set the coffee machine to brew, the sound of percting coffee a soothing backdrop to my thoughts. My phone rang, and |


    nced at the screen to see Scarlett’s name shing urgently. The timing couldn’t have been more peculiar.


    “Evie, | need you toe to the Hayes‘ mansion immediately,” Scarlett’s voice crackled through the phone with urgency.


    | blinked in surprise, a rush of questions flooding my mind. Why did Scarlett need me at the mansion so urgently? The unease in


    her voice only deepened my sense of foreboding.


    “Scarlett, what’s going on?” | asked tensely.


    “| can’t exin over the phone, Evie,” she replied. “Just please,e as soon as you can. It’s about Timothy.”


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