Chapter 278

A heavy silence descended upon the room, the words hanging like a heavy shroud, suffocating the air.

“S-Stella…dead?” the words escaped my lips, and I clamped my mouth shut.

Mia's hand flew to her mouth in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. "No, it can't be..."

Timothy stammered, "What... what happened to her?"

Kamran's expression was grave as he relayed the harrowing details. "The police found her by the hotel she was staying in. It appears she fell from the top story of the building."

The words hung in the air, each syllable a heavy weight upon our souls. Stella's untimely death, the suddenness of it, felt unreal and surreal.

"What? How could this happen?" I stammered, struggling to comprehend it all.

Mia's cry pierced the heavy silence, giving way to unrestrained sobs. Kamran rushed to her side, enveloping her in a comforting embrace.

Timothy and I sat in silence, not sure what to contribute. We’d just been prepared to take Stella down a minute ago, and have her brought to justice. Now, there was no chance of that, and a life was gone.

“Timothy.” I turned to him, gripping his arm. “You don’t think she-“

Before I could finish my thought, Andy's reaction caught us all off guard.

"No! This can't be true!" Andy's voice thundered across the room, his face contorted with disbelief and anger. "You're lying!"

His denial sliced through the solemn atmosphere like a blade. Timothy looked at him, his expression genuinely remorseful. "Andy, please, let's try to—"

But Andy's grief morphed into aggression, his eyes blazing with fury. "You did this!" He pointed an accusing finger at us. "You're behind this!"

I recoiled in shock at his accusation, my heart hammering against my chest. "Andy, no, you have it all wrong—"

Andy lunged forward, his emotions spiraling out of control. Timothy moved to intervene, but Andy's aggressive outburst escalated, and chaos erupted in the room as he climbed across the table, sweeping the various plates and bowls aside. He sent them crashing onto the floor without care.

Kamran tried to intervene, reaching out to grab him, but Andy's rage was unrelenting. Mia's tears flowed uncontrollably as she pleaded with Kamran to hold her.

The room felt claustrophobic, suffocating under the weight of conflicting emotions. Timothy and I stood from our seats, and I could feel the tension in his body as he took in his brother’s awful display.

"You're responsible for this!" Andy's voice cracked with raw emotion, pointing an accusing finger at Timothy. "I told you to speak for her, that she couldn’t handle it, but you didn’t listen!"

Timothy shook his head and turned to me, his voice eerily calm. "Evie, we need to go. Now."

I nodded, feeling the urgency in his words. Without another glance at the turmoil unfolding before us, we hurriedly made our way outside.

Once away from the suffocating ambiance, Timothy finally spoke, his voice heavy with disbelief. "I just saw her. It's impossible to imagine her dead. It doesn’t seem right."

His words mirrored my own thoughts. Stella, with her calculated and spiteful spirit, seemed inconceivable as a victim of such a tragic fate. We didn’t even know if it was accidental.

Even with my hatred toward her blossoming day by day, the weight of Stella's death an unwelcome reality. Questions and uncertainties swirled in my mind, urging me to make sense of the inexplicable.

As we walked away from the mansion, the chilling revelation of Stella's demise echoed in the silence between us. The world around us felt disjointed, like we’d entered some other reality.

"Stella seemed... unstable, maybe she hurt herself," I murmured, attempting to make sense of the inexplicable tragedy. “She was desperate enough to fight you, after all.”

Timothy's expression was grave, his doubt evident in his voice. "I'm not so sure, Evie. Something feels off about the whole thing."

His skepticism echoed my own lingering uncertainties. She didn’t seem like the type to take her own life just to escape conviction. As much as it hurts to admit it, the case could’ve gone in her favor.

We remained silent on the way home. Occasionally, I’d glance over at Timothy, and he looked visibly upset. I couldn't bear to leave him alone in this state.

"I'll stay with you tonight, Tim," I offered, feeling a sense of duty. I wasn’t so sure I wanted to be alone either.

A glimmer of gratitude flashed in his eyes as he nodded silently, and he wrapped an arm around me as we walked inside his apartment. We shed our clothes and laid down in his bed, where I then rested my head on his chest. He carded a hand through my hair, his movements slow and gentle.

Trying to lift his spirits, I decided to share some positive news. "You know, I was invited to do an interview with Bette Frieman the other day."

Timothy's eyes widened in excitement, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Really? That's incredible, Evie!"

I smiled, encouraged by his enthusiasm. "I was going to surprise you with it, but I couldn’t hold it in. She seemed impressed with my ideas. We’re supposed to go live tomorrow."

His excitement was contagious, a welcome distraction from the weight of the evening's tragic events. He cupped my face and peppered me with kisses, causing me to erupt with much needed laughter.

“Wow! I'll be watching it as soon as it comes on. I'm so proud of you, babe,” he cheered, snuggling into me.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and nuzzled into him, inhaling his woodsy musk. His genuine excitement warmed my heart, and it made me all the more determined.

The brisk walk to the studio did little to ease the knot in my stomach. Aria decided to go with me, mistaking my unease about Stella for nerves about the interview. Her presence was welcome, regardless.

Arriving, Aria and I were greeted by Bette Frieman herself, who wore a lavish pantsuit and had her hair curled to perfection. Her presence exuded confidence and experience, a stark contrast to my bare-faced, wild-haired look.

"Evie, darling, I'm thrilled you could make it," Bette said warmly, her voice carrying a tone of reassurance.

"Thank you, Bette. I appreciate the opportunity," I replied, trying to conceal my inner turmoil.

As we settled in to get my make-up and hair ready, Bette guided me through the intricate process of the interview, offering tips and advice that helped alleviate some of my nerves. Despite her professionalism, my thoughts kept drifting back to Stella.

Before it was time to step onto the stage, a surge of anxiety gripped me. I excused myself, reaching for my phone to call Timothy, seeking solace in his familiar voice. However, my heart sank as the call went straight to voicemail. It was unlike Timothy to miss my calls, and the feeling of unease intensified.

"Aria, something's not right. I can't reach Timothy," I confessed, my voice betraying my concern.

"Maybe he's busy or caught up with work?" Aria suggested, trying to offer a plausible explanation.

With a heavy heart, I left Timothy a voicemail, asking him to call me back. I hoped the urgency in my tone would get him to call me back sooner.

As the minutes ticked by, the bustling studio atmosphere heightened my apprehension. Bette hurriedly informed me it was time to go on stage—the show was about to commence. Despite my worries, I plastered a smile on my face, summoning every ounce of composure.

Walking towards the stage, I felt a shiver run down my spine, an inexplicable premonition gnawing at my senses. My hands trembled as I adjusted the small microphone clipped to my dress, trying to steady myself.

"Evie, you're up in three... two... one," the stage manager announced, signaling my cue.