Chapter 165
Chapter 165
As | sat at home, | 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. | nced at the screen to see a message from Scarlett saying that she wanted me to
come over lunch as a thank you for my help on her case. It was an unexpected invitation, and part of me wanted to decline.
| 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.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.
After a brief internal debate, | replied with a simple “Sure, |’ll be there,” and received an enthusiastic response from Scarlett. She
provided her address and a time, and | reluctantly put my book aside to get ready.
As | parked my car in front of Scarlett’s quaint, cozy home, | took a deep breath to steady myself. The sun hung high in the sky,
casting a warm glow over the neighborhood. | 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.
| 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, | sat in one of the seats at the dinner table. | 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 a
lawyer?”
| shifted ufortably in my seat, wondering how much of my past | wanted to
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Chapter 165
reveal. “Well, it''s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. | 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?”
| hesitated, but something in Scarlett’s eyes urged me to share more. “When | was young, | began slowly, “I went through some
difficult times. | 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 | did.”
Scarlett’s expression softened as she absorbed my words. “That’s noble of you, Evie,” she said sincerely
| 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 | hadn’t
expected, and it eased the tension that had been present since my arrival.
“You know,” | began, a mischievous smile tugging at my lips, “thest time | 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.”
| 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?”
| 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 | couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment and anger.
“Not exactly,” | replied, trying to keep my tone light. “We knew each other, and | 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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My heart raced as | tried to find the right words, desperately wanting to avoid revealing the truth about the depth of my feelings
for Timothy. “It''splicated,” | 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 | stammered, “N—no, of course not. Timothy and | were just friends. Nothing more.”
Scarlettughed softly, her amusement evident. “Evie, | 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.”
| felt my defenses crumble under Scarlett’s probing gaze. She had a way of seeing through the walls | had built. | shifted
ufortably in my seat, fumbling for a response. “I see, | 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 | 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. | 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.
| cleared my throat, my words feeling like heavy stones in my mouth. “I''ll do my best, Olive. | 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 | 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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