Chapter 277

My heart raced as I turned abruptly, finding Mia standing behind me, her presence unexpected and unsettling in the dimly lit room.

"Mia," I stammered, trying to compose myself. "I was just..."

She interrupted with a knowing look, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. "You're a long way from the restroom, Evie."

I swallowed hard, caught off guard by her directness. Gathering my composure, I decided to steer the conversation away from the unsettling discovery I'd made moments ago.

"I was curious about this part of the house," I offered tentatively, hoping to deflect her attention. "Are you... staying here?"

Mia's gaze lingered for a moment, her eyes holding a depth I couldn't quite decipher. "I sleep over from time to time. It's convenient for Kamran."

My curiosity brimmed, but I resisted the urge to ask further about the gun I'd stumbled upon in her purse. Instead, I changed the subject, the unease still lingering in the air.

"What Andy said earlier was uncalled for," I ventured, attempting to gauge Mia's reaction.

Mia waved it off with a dismissive gesture. "Andy has his issues. He'll have to cope."

Her nonchalant response caught me off guard, but before I could dwell on it further, Mia shifted the conversation, her tone taking on an air of nonchalance.

"Evie, I'm sure you're wondering about Kamran and me," she said casually.

Caught by surprise, I fumbled for words, uncertain of where this conversation was headed. "I... I don't mean to pry."

Mia chuckled softly. "It's alright, dear. Kamran and I are in love."

Hearing it out loud struck me with unexpected force. "That’s nice," I managed to say, my mind reeling with the implications of Mia's confession.

Mia smiled, her demeanor serene. "It's complicated, but we care deeply for each other."

Conflicting emotions churned within me. Confusion, surprise, and a tinge of disbelief clouded my thoughts. It was getting harder to reconcile the image of Kamran and Mia's apparent love affair with the events I'd witnessed earlier.

Before I could gather my thoughts, Mia's voice interrupted my reverie. "Evie, I must ask. What were you doing in my purse?"

The directness of her question caught me off guard, and for a moment, I faltered, searching for a plausible explanation. But the mention of the purse reminded me of the concealed gun, a looming secret I wasn't prepared to unravel.

"I... I found it lying there," I hedged, my voice tinged with unease. "I was about to return it to you."

Mia's gaze bore into mine, a knowing glint flickering in her eyes. "You're curious, aren't you? About a lot of things."

I nodded, deciding not to pursue the topic further. "Yes, but I didn't mean to intrude."

Mia smiled understandingly. "Curiosity can lead us down unexpected paths, Evie. But some secrets are best left untouched."

“How many secrets do you have up your sleeve?” I asked, intending or that to sound far less accusatory than it did.

Her demeanor shifted quickly, the ditzy facade crumbling to reveal something darker lurking beneath as the smile completely vanished.

"How many do you think?" Mia's tone was sharp, cutting through the air with an edge of bitterness. “Last I checked, you were a lawyer and not a detective. Keep that in mind the next time you decide to go through someone else’s things.”

Her sudden change unsettled me, the shift from lightheartedness to something darker leaving me off balance. "I... I didn't mean to upset you, Mom. I just didn't expect..."

Mia's laughter rang hollow, devoid of its usual warmth. "Expectations, Evie. Don't place them on me. I did the best I could with what I had."

Her words pierced through me, a sudden surge of resentment rising within. "But you left, Mom. You left me with Dad and then... with my stepmother and step-brother."

Mia remained dismissive, her gaze distant. "You had your struggles, Evie. We all did."

I shook my head in disbelief. "You can't just dismiss it like that! You left me."

But Mia's demeanor remained cold, unyielding. "I'm not here to justify my choices. You'll have to cope with them."

Her indifference cut deeper than any wound I'd felt before. The motherly warmth I'd longed for in her eyes seemed replaced by a distant coldness I couldn't comprehend.

Before I could respond, Kamran's voice cut through the tense silence, his presence a sudden interruption. We both spotted him in the doorway, scrutinizing us.

"Is everything alright here?" Kamran's calm voice held a hint of concern.

Mia's facade snapped back into place as she plastered on a smile. "Oh, everything's just fine. Just giving Evie a tour of the home."

The dismissal in her tone infuriated me. The facade she wore grated against the raw emotions swirling within me. With a clenched jaw, I followed them back to the dining room.

As we returned to the gathering, the veil of discomfort remained. Of course, the charade of civility resumed, with Andy having settled into giving out short jabs and insults here and there.

As I sat beside him at the dinner table, Timothy's concerned gaze met mine. "Evie, are you alright?"

I hesitated, contemplating whether to confide in Timothy about Mia's gun. Before I could gather the words, I noticed Mia's piercing gaze fixed on me. Her watchful eyes held a silent warning, urging me to keep the secret buried.

"I'm fine," I replied tersely, plastering on a forced smile.

Timothy's concern lingered, but before he could press further, he redirected his attention to Kamran, who had a plate of steak set before him, which he eyed greedily.

"Dad," Timothy began, his voice steady but firm. "I need to know about Stella's case. Why did you pay to manipulate key evidence?"

Kamran's facade of calmness shattered, his expression turning cold. "I told you to drop that matter, Timothy. It's none of your concern."

Andy seemed intrigued, however. He set down his drink and turned to Kamran. “What’s he talking about, Dad?”

Timothy's resolve remained unyielding. "I took a trip to the police station, Dad. They confirmed that you had paid to alter evidence crucial to the case."

Kamran's jaw tightened, a flicker of anger igniting in his eyes. "You're meddling in affairs that don't concern you, Timothy."

But Timothy stood his ground, his voice unwavering. "I won't let you manipulate us any longer. We'll get to the truth, no matter what."

Before the confrontation could escalate further, the phone rang throughout the home. With a huff, Kamran stood up and walked to the phone in the corner of the room. He picked up the receiver, his voice curt.

"Yes?" Kamran's tone was clipped, but his features contorted with barely contained fury as he listened to the voice on the other end.

The tension in the room was palpable as Kamran's grip on the phone tightened.

"Evie, darling, whatever you and Timothy are getting riled up about, can’t it wait until after dinner?" Mia's voice oozed with artificial sweetness.

I glanced at Timothy, uncertainty clouding my mind. “I don’t think so.”

Kamran slammed the phone down, his face ghostly white. When he returned, his usually composed demeanor was replaced by an unsettling grimness etched upon his features.

Mia's voice trembled with concern. "Kamran, what happened?"

His expression darkened as he spoke in a grave tone. "Stella... Stella is dead."