Chapter 261

TIMOTHY POV

The aroma of sizzling bacon and brewing coffee wafted through the kitchen, enveloping Timothy as he deftly moved around the countertops. He glanced at the clock, noting that Evie would be waking up soon. Despite the breakfast preparations, his mind was consumed by concerns far weightier than the bacon crisping in the pan.

The issue with Stella and Andy wouldn’t go away, no matter how much money or lawyers he or his own father threw at the issue.

As the eggs began to sizzle in the pan, Timothy's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps padding into the kitchen. Evie appeared in the doorway, her tousled hair framing her face, wearing an expression that betrayed the remnants of sleep clinging to her.

"Good morning," Timothy greeted her with a warm smile.

Evie offered a sleepy smile in return, her eyes flickering with a mix of gratitude and exhaustion. "Morning. What's all this?" she asked, gesturing to the spread on the counter.

"I thought I'd make us breakfast," Timothy replied. “It’s all ready for you. I was just finishing this last batch of bacon.”

"That's sweet of you," Evie said, her smile widening as she walked over to the table and took a seat.

Timothy plated the eggs, bacon, and toast, setting it down in front of her. "Here you go," he said, trying to infuse his tone with cheerfulness.

"Thank you, Timothy," Evie said, picking up her fork and taking a bite of the eggs. "Delicious as always."

As Evie savored her breakfast, Timothy tried to focus on the present moment, engaging in light conversation. It was clear that Evie was distracting herself given how strained her expression had become.

He studied her for a moment, taking in her soft lips, which were pursed as she sat in thought, and the way her bright, soulful eyes darted around the kitchen. Bathed in the warm sunlight that streamed from the windows, he could barely tear his eyes away.

Evie’s lip quirked up in one corner, and her laugh broke him out of his trance. “What?”

“N-Nothing. I was just…” He looked away and rubbed the back of his neck. Fortunately, his phone buzzed, and he excused himself far too eagerly. When he shut himself in the bedroom, he caught a glimpse of the screen.

His father’s name was displayed in bold on the screen, and Timothy couldn’t suppress a grimace. A tight knot formed in his stomach as he answered the call, anticipating the conversation that awaited.

"Timothy, what's the deal with Andy last night?" Kamran's voice crackled with frustration.

“Hello to you too, father. My morning’s going well. How about yours?”

“Cut the bullshit, Tim. I’m not in the mood for it.”

"I didn't start anything with Andy. He was the one causing trouble," Timothy replied, trying to defend himself.

Kamran's tone remained firm. "I swear, the two of you are unbearable at times…Come to my office. We have some things to sort out."

Timothy hesitated. "I'm not sure that's necessary. I don’t have anything to say to Andy, and I’m sure he’d fee the same.

“I don’t recall asking how either of you felt. Besides, Andy is already here, and I can't make him leave until you come.”

“You usually don’t ask or care, so that’s no surprise,” Timothy said, rolling his eyes. “And Andy can wait there all day, because he’s not entitled to my time.

Kamran's tone shifted slightly. "Look…Stella's also been asking about you. If you calm Andy down, you might get her off your back as well."

The mention of Stella made Timothy wary. "I doubt it would work.”

Kamran huffed. "Let's talk about it in person. Come to my office, and we'll figure this out."

Timothy didn’t want to cave in and give neither his father nor brother the satisfaction, but it seemed like Kamran had others concerns besides what trouble Andy was bringing.

“Fine,” was his short reply, and he didn’t bother with further pleasantries before hanging up. He returned to the kitchen where Evie was still eating. Duke lay at her feet, his tail wagging happily as he begged for food.

"Hey," Timothy greeted her, trying to mask the lingering unease in his voice. He grabbed his coffee mug from the table and took a sip. “Don’t let him hassle you out of your food.”

“He’s alright!” Evie glanced up, her eyes meeting his. "Hey. Everything okay?"

"Yeah, sort of," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "I need to meet with my father for some business-related stuff."

Her brows furrowed slightly. "Your father? What does he need you for?"

Timothy hesitated, not wanting to cause Evie unnecessary worry. "Just some family matters.”

“Those are always fun,” said Evie. “You have to go now?”

Timothy glanced up from his half-empty coffee mug, meeting her gaze with a small smile. “Nah. I’d rather finish enjoying this nice breakfast with you first. And I’m not in any hurry to see my brother.”

A faint furrow appeared between Evie's brows. "You didn't mention Andy earlier," she remarked.

Timothy hesitated for a moment, mentally weighing his words. "Well, it's my father’s idea. He wants us to make amends, all in the name of a ‘happy family’," he explained, offering a half-truth.

Understanding flickered in Evie's eyes, but she didn't press further. Instead, she nodded. "I guess if you really need to, but don’t let them guilt you into anything," she advised.

“I won’t," Timothy replied sincerely, and he stretched his hand across the table to take hers.

The subtle tension in the air dissipated as they continued their breakfast conversation, discussing mundane yet comforting topics. Timothy savored these moments of respite, finding solace in Evie's presence amid the turmoil that awaited him.

As the minutes ticked by, the weight of the impending meeting with his father loomed closer. He couldn’t keep them waiting too long, or he’d never hear the end of it.

"I should probably get going," Timothy said reluctantly, pushing his chair back and rising to his feet. He gathered their plates and walked to the sink.

Evie nodded. "Alright," she said, offering him a reassuring smile.

His expression softened as he leaned down to pat Duke on the head. “You're welcome to stay here and hang out with Duke. He’d enjoy the company," Timothy replied before heading towards the door.

Evie grinned down at Duke, who rested his head on her knee. It didn’t take long for her to realize he was begging for scraps. “Sounds like we have a fun day ahead of us, boy.”

“Ha!” Timothy grabbed his keys and opened the door, feeling far less willing with each step. “Never a dull day with Duke.”

Evie waved at him. "Take care, okay? And I hope things go well with your dad."

Timothy forced a smile, knowing well that things wouldn't end on a positive note. "Thanks, babe. I'll be back soon."

As Timothy left the apartment, a sense of foreboding weighed heavily on him. He couldn't bring himself to tell Evie the truth. She would worry herself to death over it.

He shut the door behind him and let out a loud sigh. Andy has already proven himself as a loose cannon, willing to sink himself in order to take others with him, just as he had with the affair leaks. He wasn’t going to let this go, even if he destroyed his own livelihood for it.