Chapter 262

I sat in Timothy's apartment, the quiet ambiance only broken by Duke's playful barks as I tossed a toy for him. His enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself laughing as he pranced in a circle, proud that he’d caught the ball.

It was a nice distraction from the thought of Timothy having to meet his father. That man was trouble, even being involved with my mother. I couldn’t do much with her, but I’d do all I could keep Kamran’s claws out of Timothy.

A sudden knock on the door disrupted our playtime, prompting Duke to pause mid-chase. Curiosity piqued, I approached the door, glancing through the peephole to see who it was. My surprise turned to bewilderment when I saw Penny standing outside.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering why Penny was here. I unlocked the door and swung it open, greeted by Penny's immediate embrace.

"Evie! Aria said you'd be here. I had to come check on you," Penny exclaimed, squeezing me tightly.

Surprised by her sudden visit, I hugged her back, feeling a rush of warmth. It had been a while since we’d actually seen eachother.

"Penny, I didn't expect to see you. Come in."

As Penny stepped inside, her eyes scanned the apartment, taking in the familiar surroundings. She might have been wondering why I was in Timothy’s home, but it wouldn’t take much for her to guess. After taking her coat, I led her to the couch.

"I'm sorry I couldn't check on you sooner after what happened with Bruce," Penny expressed, taking a seat. “I can’t imagine the things you went through.”

I shook my head. "It's okay, Penny. Things have been chaotic, but I'm fine, really."

Her gaze met mine, a hint of skepticism in her eyes. "Evie, you don't have to pretend. I can tell that it’s bothering you."

I sighed. Of course, Penny would see through my attempt at putting on a brave front. "It's been a lot, Penny."

Penny's expression softened, and she placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'm here for you, Evie. You can talk to me about anything."

"Thank you, Penny,” I said. “It's been tough, but I'm getting through it."

She nodded, the light in her eyes dulled a little. "It was hard to imagine. I mean, I’d just seen you a day or two before it all happened. To think I was so oblivious… "

“Penny, it’s okay,” I reassured her, grabbing the tissues off the table to hand to her. “You couldn’t have known.”

“I know, but…” She shook her head as she wiped away her tears. “I shouldn’t even be the one crying right now.”

I patted her on the knee and stood up, making my way to the kitchen. “Let me fix you some water.”

As she cried on the couch, I made her a cold glass of water and brought it back to her. She thanked me before taking a sip.

As Duke curled up at our feet, I opened up to Penny about the recent events, particularly with Bruce and the clashes with Timothy and Stella’s families.

Penny listened attentively, offering words of comfort and understanding. "That’s so awful. And how can they blame you for what she chose to do?"

“I don’t know,” I said. "I thought things would get easier after Timothy and I reconciled, but things have just gotten harder. I feel like I'm walking on eggshells."

"Man," Penny said, setting her cup down on the table. “If it couldn’t ruin my credibility, I would totally write an exposure piece on these people.”

I snorted. “They seem pretty good at exposing themselves.”

Penny glanced up at the ceiling in thought, and she tapped her chin. "Oh, speaking of exposure, I’ve been meaning to tell you…”

I pulled my knees to my chest and quirked an eyebrow at her. “Should I be worried?”

“Oh, no! Of course not!” she said, waving her hands. “We actually discussed it before, but never really got around to doing anything.”

“I’m all ears,” I told her.

Penny relaxed again, though the tension was still etched onto her face. “Bette Frieman reached out about that exclusive interview on Best Bette. She's still interested in featuring your case against Mr. Erickson."

The mention of the interview caught me off guard. I had almost forgotten about it as well, especially with all that had happened. "Oh, right, I completely forgot. I didn't think it was still on the table."

Penny nodded, "It is, but we can take our time. You don't have to rush into anything."

A surge of determination washed over me as I considered the opportunity. "No, Penny, I think I'm ready for this. It's important to put the story out there."

Penny looked supportive but cautious. "The story is important, Evie, but Bette wants to explore another angle. She's interested in delving deeper into your backstory."

My heart skipped a beat at the thought of sharing personal details on a public platform. "Oh…that might be a bit too personal. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that, all things considered."

Penny nodded rapidly. "You don't have to do anything you're uncomfortable with. But Bette is insistent; she thinks it will add depth to the story."

I wrestled with conflicting emotions. The prospect of sharing intimate details from my past made me anxious, yet the desire to shed light on the injustices was strong. "I want to make a difference, Penny, but this feels like opening up old wounds."

Penny offered a reassuring smile, "You don't have to decide now, Evie. Take your time. It's your story, and you're in control."

“Thank you.” I smiled gratefully at her. "I think I'll take a look into Bette Frieman first, so I know what I'd getting into if I agreed.”

Penny nodded in understanding. "Of course, Evie. Bette’s been in the journalism field for years, known for her investigative reporting and her knack for getting the whole story. But she's much more laid back compared to Carl Plunk."

Her mention of Carl Plunk, who’d interviewed Timothy and I before, sent a shiver down my spine. It was successful enough, but the stress of it never left.

"Laid back sounds promising," I replied. “I’ll think on it.”

As the topic shifted, Penny's curiosity peaked. "So, what are you doing in Timothy's place anyway?" she asked, her tone playful.

Caught off guard, I stumbled over my words, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I, um... Timothy and I... I was just here to... uh..."

Penny's eyes widened in excitement, realizing the implications of my stuttering. "Oh, my goodness, Evie! Are you and Timothy... you know... together?"

I couldn't help but laugh nervously, feeling like I'd been caught in the spotlight. "It's... um, yeah. We are."

Penny leaned forward eagerly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Spill all the details! How did it happen? When did it start?"

I shook my head, trying to evade her prying questions. "Well, I guess things got easier between us. We needed to figure things out at first, which helped."

She wasn't one to let go easily, her enthusiasm evident. "Aw, and here I thought the media was getting carried away again, but it turns out they had a better idea than I did."

I sighed. That was one way to put it. "Yeah, I guess everyone in the world would know at this point. But we're taking things one step at a time."

Penny's face lit up with excitement, her grin widening. "That's so exciting, Evie! I'm happy for you! He's a great guy, and you two seem to have a good connection."

Her enthusiasm was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile at her unwavering support. "Thanks, Penny. It's all a bit overwhelming, but Timothy has been amazing."

Penny leaned back, a satisfied grin on her face. "I knew there was something between you two! Even when you tried to deny it."

I chuckled. "I guess it was easier to deny it. We've had our fair share of ups and downs, but I’d say it’s been worth it."

As we continued chatting, Penny's playful curiosity and infectious energy lightened the atmosphere. The prospect of an interview with Bette Frieman still loomed. I could do a lot with that exposure, especially with so many people going against me.

If someone was offering me a platform to confess these struggles, perhaps it would only be foolish of me to deny it…