Chapter 276

I could feel the weight of Andy's suspicious gaze as he eyed me across the room. Despite his attempt at a cordial greeting, there was an underlying tension, a silent accusation lingering in the air.

"Sorry for being late, folks. Work held me up," Andy apologized, though his eyes darted between Timothy and me, searching for something that remained elusive.

"It's alright, Andy. Glad you could make it," Timothy replied, his tone tinged with an edge of unease.

“I’m surprised you two decided to come around. Figured you’d shut yourself off from the family,” Andy continued.

Kamran's mask of composure faltered briefly before he regained control. "Indeed, it seems like a surprise to everyone, but your brother said he would try."

Andy smirked. “How wonderful.”

I exchanged a glance with Timothy, silently acknowledging the unexpected turn of events. We didn’t expect Andy to be calm, but the blush on his cheeks and the way he was swaying on his feet let us know he’d already sampled a few drinks before arriving. That just might throw a curveball into our carefully orchestrated scenario.

Kamran gestured for Andy to join us on the couches, the polished facade never faltering. The maid came by with a hastily prepared martini and Andy gulped it down without blinking. All too quickly, he then inserted himself into the conversation with a forced nonchalance, attempting to gloss over the palpable tension. "So, what are we talking about here?"

Timothy took a deep breath, preparing himself for what he was about to say. "Andy, I want to apologize for what happened with Stella. I wish things could have been different."

The bitterness in Andy's voice was unmistakable. "Different? How, Timothy? You think an apology erases everything? You made it harder than it needed to be."

Timothy's brow furrowed in confusion. "I just want things to be easier between us."

Andy's demeanor shifted quickly, the bitterness morphing into an inebriated intensity. The maid refilled his glass, and he barely acknowledged her before bringing it back to his lips. He downed his drink, the alcohol seeming to fuel his mounting resentment.

"Easy? You talk about things being easier, but you're just like him, aren't you?" Andy slurred, gesturing vaguely.

Confusion etched Timothy's features. "Like who?"

"Daddy-dearest, Timmy-boy. Fork-tongued, bringing people around only to get something from them," Andy accused, his words laced with spite.

Timothy's jaw clenched. "That's not true, Andy. I'm trying to make things right."

Andy scoffed, spilling his drink as he jutted his glass in Timothy’s direction. "Making things right? You’ve got to be kidding? It’s all about what benefits you."

The accusation hung in the air, thick and suffocating. I looped my arm around Timothy’s and narrowed my eyes at Andy.

“You talk as if you’re so innocent, Andy,” I said slowly, eyeing him up and down. “It was Stella’s decision to leave you, but you’re blaming everyone else.”

“Shut up, bitch!” Andy growled.

“Watch it!” Timothy leaned toward him, any civility in his presence giving way to an intense rage. “Don’t talk to her like that.”

Hardly regarding Timothy’s warning, Andy turned his attention to Kamran, his words sharp and cutting. "And you, Dad, why haven't you dropped that broad of yours yet? She's nothing, a glorified prostitute at best. What do you keep her around for?"

Kamran's mask slipped for a split second, a flicker of displeasure crossing his features before he regained his composure. "Andy, Mia is none of your concern. She's a part of my life, and I owe no explanations."

The room fell into an uneasy silence, the weight of Andy's words lingering like an unwelcome guest.

Mia, who had remained composed throughout, finally spoke, her voice calm yet tinged with hurt. "Andy, please. Let's not say things we'll regret."

But Andy's drunken bravado only intensified. "Regret? I regret nothing. I speak the truth. Unlike Timothy here, pretending to be something he's not."

Timothy's frustration boiled over. "I'm not pretending! I'm trying to make amends, to set things right, but as always, you make it fucking impossible!"

But Andy's tirade continued, his words fueled by alcohol and unresolved bitterness. "You think apologies fix everything? You're just a shadow of our dear, old father, Timothy. You bring people around, just like him, so you can play some sick little game.”

Timothy's voice rose, edged with frustration. "There's no game, Andy. Just let it go."

“Let it go?” Andy snorted. “This whole family’s a mess. Both of you, prancing around all happy with those whores as your hips, like someone’s supposed to be jealous of you…”

“Maybe you are jealous, Andrew,” Kamran responded coolly, his eyes sharp as steel. “Perhaps it’s my fault. You always struggled to find a decent woman. Both of you.”

“Leave Evie out of this,” said Timothy.

“Yes.” Mia's voice wavered slightly as she spoke up, her composure shaken. "And me as well. Kamran, your son is very out of line. Don’t allow him to insult my daughter.

Andy paid no heed. "Out of line? What line? How long until you take his money, hm?"

The room crackled with tension, the unease palpable as accusations flew like arrows, piercing through the facade of civility. I reached for my purse, desperate for a distraction. I decided to leave it, then stood up to smooth down my skirt.

Timothy grabbed my hand, handing me a worried expression. I leaned in a whispered, “I’m just going to the restroom.”

He nodded, releasing me, though he looked ready to escape himself. I seized the opportunity, excusing myself to the restroom, hoping for a moment of respite amidst the escalating chaos.

As I headed towards the restroom, my eyes caught a maid slipping through a door that seemed discreetly concealed. Intrigued, I followed her path, curiosity getting the better of me.

The door led to Kamran's private quarters. My heart raced as I stepped inside, the atmosphere heavy with the weight of secrets waiting to be uncovered. This house was large enough that Kamran could have hidden that evidence anywhere.

I scanned the room for any sign of evidence, my eyes darting from one corner to another. My eyes fell upon a purse carelessly tossed on a nearby table. Without thinking twice, I approached it, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

I cautiously unzipped the purse, wondering if it could’ve been Stella’s. Hopefully Stella and him weren’t that close…

Inside the purse, I found Mia's wallet. My fingers trembling slightly, I opened it and rifled through its contents, searching for any semblance of truth. Amidst the credit cards and cash, I stumbled upon a photo tucked away in a hidden compartment—a photograph of Mia with a man I didn't recognize. A surge of intrigue flooded through me, but there was more to uncover.

A pang of guilt struck me for invading her privacy, but something urged me to dig deeper. I continued to search, my hands delving deeper into the purse until they brushed against something hard and cold. My heart skipped a beat as I pulled out a small, concealed compartment at the bottom. And there, nestled within the confines, was a gun.

Questions swirled in my mind, suspicions rising like a tempest. Why would Mia have a gun? What secrets was she hiding?

A throat cleared behind me, sending shivers down my spine. My heart raced as I turned around, coming face to face with the visitor.