Chapter 259

Timothy's eyes blazed with fury as he struggled to pin Andy down. "What the hell are you doing here, Andy?!"

The blood vessels in Andy’s face and neck bulged, his struggles growing more fervent as Timothy fought to keep him restrained. "Let me go, damn it!"

My gaze flickered to Timothy’s car, and a gasp escaped my lips. The air was still seeping out from his slashed tires. "Andy, you're insane! Why would you do this?"

Andy's gaze turned to me, his eyes ablaze with accusation. "It's your fault, Evie! You're the reason they're taking Stella away!"

My heart plummeted and I staggered back, unable to comprehend how I somehow caused such chaos. "What are you talking about? Taking Stella where?"

Andy's voice trembled with desperation. "To prison! Because of you!"

My mind raced, trying to make sense of Andy's cryptic accusations. Stella, prison... it couldn’t be true. A sudden realization struck me like a lightning bolt, piecing together Scarlett's cryptic inquiries in my office earlier. She had been probing about Stella's situation, searching for answers about her guilt.

A cold shiver ran down my spine as the pieces fell into place. Scarlett had been seeking the truth about Stella's guilt or innocence, and somehow, my actions or lack thereof had inadvertently played a role in her getting arrested.

Timothy's grip on Andy faltered for a moment, his gaze darting between me and Andy, searching for answers amidst the chaos. "Evie, what's he talking about?"

"I-I don't know," I stammered, my mind a maelstrom of guilt and confusion. "I told you, Scarlett was just asking questions about Stella, and I didn't realize..."

But before I could finish, Andy’s voice rose over me, spit flying from his mouth. "You shouldn’t have said anything! Now Stella's going down because of your shitty home life."

I was at a loss for words, but Timothy was quick to step in, his voice urgent. "What does Evie have to do with that, Andy? Last time I checked, it was Stella that committed the crime."

Andy’s struggles ceased momentarily, a haunted look crossing his face as he spoke. "They found evidence, evidence that ties Stella to... to what happened that night. They're arresting her."

My voice quivered as I recounted Scarlett's inquiries about Stella and Bruce, my realization sinking in with a dreadful weight. "Her sister came to me. She just wanted to figure it out."

"Stella deserves it after what she'd done to you, Evie!" Timothy's voice was steely, his protective stance unwavering as he shielded me from Andy’s glare. “Don’t listen to him.:

"But she only did it out of desperation because you and Evie ruined her!" Andy retorted, his voice quivering as he directed his next accusation at Timothy.

Timothy sneered, finally getting off of him, though he kept a firm grip on his arm. “It’s always conveniently someone else’s fault. Never either of yours,” he snapped back.

“Keep talking shit, Timmy.” Andy’s was low and gruff, and his hands were balled into fists.

"Evie, stay behind me," Timothy's voice held a stern edge as he waved for me to get behind him. I stood firm, however, fearful of where it would lead.

"Andy, you need to get over her," I told him, my teeth gritted. “She didn’t want you. That’s not our problem.”

Timothy’s gaze hardened, his jaw clenching. "Exactly. Stella made her own choices."

"And it's not up to us what they do to her," I added. “I’m sure she has connections, so they won’t be too harsh, though I wish they would be..”

Andy's anguish morphed into raw fury, his emotions bubbling over. He lunged at me, fists clenched in a fit of rage. "You think you can decide her fate? You think you're better than her?!"

Timothy shoved him backward, and Andy landed on his back. He laid there for a moment, and seemed to debate whether he should get back up.

"Stay away from her!" Timothy shouted. "Whatever your hang up is, you can take it out on me, alright? But leave Evie out of this!"

“She is in this,” Andy hissed as he lifted his head. "For gods sakes, she was stabbed because of you!”

I shook my head. “No. That was my-”

“Your stepbrother?” He cut me off and a cruel grin emerged on his lips. “Yeah, everyone knows. But I don’t care, considering you brought that monster around her.”

“She contacted him!” I shouted back, but Timothy pulled me away before I could get too close. Andy stood up then, seeming prepared to challenge me.

“And she almost lost our baby because of it,” Anndy’s voice broke, and another realization seemed to dawn on him. “My baby is in Stella! She can't possibly go to prison!"

Timothy managed to restrain Andy, his voice commanding. "Get a hold of yourself, Andy! It's out of our hands, Andy. The law—"

Before Timothy could finish, Andy’s emotions erupted. He lunged at Timothy, pushing him to the ground.

I gasped, my voice choked with alarm, "Stop! Please, stop!"

My cries for help echoed through the night as the two wrestled on the concrete. Passersby, drawn by the commotion, hurried to intervene.

"Break it up! Enough!" voices shouted.

A group of men swarmed in, attempting to separate the two entangled brothers. Hands pulled and tugged, straining against their resistance, slowly managing to create a distance between Timothy and Andy.

"Enough, Andy!" Timothy shouted.

Gasping for breath, chests heaving with the exertion of the brutal confrontation, Timothy and Andy stood panting, their faces a canvas of raw emotions. Suddenly, Andy spat at him, blood leaking from his lips.

"I can't let her go to prison! I won't!" Andy's final, anguished cry lingered in the air before he turned on his heel and fled into the darkness.

Timothy, his face scratched and bruised, watched Andy's hasty departure, a myriad of emotions flickering in his eyes. The silence that followed was heavy, pregnant with the weight of unspoken truths and shattered relationships.

I stood there, my limbs shaking violently.

Timothy's gaze softened as he turned to me, cupping my cheeks. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, eventually finding my voice when a sense of urgency gripped me. "We need to go, Timothy."

He glanced at me, then at the car. "We can't go anywhere, Evie. My tires are slashed. We're stuck here."

My mind raced for a solution, grasping for any lifeline. We’d be waiting a while for any 24-hour service to come by.

"Lucas!” I blurted out. “He's working nearby. I'll call him; maybe he can help. You got a spare tire?"

“Yeah,” Timothy muttered.

Fumbling for my phone, I dialed Lucas's number, my heart pounding in anticipation. The ringing echoed through the night, each passing second intensifying the unease settling within me.

"Hey, Evie, what's up?" Lucas's voice came through the line, cheery as usual.

"Lucas, it's urgent. Are you still at work?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm just wrapping up. What's going on?"

"Timothy’s tires were blown, and we need help," I explained, deciding to omit the extra details. “ould you bring some tools?”

There was a momentary pause on the line before Lucas responded, "Of course! I'll be right there, Evie. Just hold tight."

Relief flooded through me as Lucas assured me of his imminent arrival. But as the call ended, an unsettling feeling settled in the pit of my stomach.

Stella's situation had spiraled into chaos, and the repercussions extended beyond just the possibility of a prison sentence. My thoughts drifted to her family, particularly her father, whose demeanor had always exuded a stoic, unyielding presence. I’d dealt with him before, and once was enough.

Timothy's frustrated sigh broke through my thoughts, his gaze distant as he surveyed the vandalized car. "Lucas is coming, right?"

"Yes, he'll be here soon," I replied, though my mind was still haunted by the specter of Stella's family and the impending storm they would bring.