Chapter 281

I stumbled out of the building, my head spinning from the whirlwind of emotions and the unsettling encounter. As we emerged, a cacophony of voices erupted from the crowd that had gathered outside. The words hurled at me were like daggers, each accusation piercing deeper into my already fractured heart.

"Did you help kill her? Are you Timothy's accomplice?" The shouts reverberated in the air, fueling the mounting chaos around us.

Aria shielded me from the barrage of questions as she guided me through the throng of people, but the crowd's hostility only escalated. Angry voices merged into a deafening roar, and objects were hurled in our direction as we attempted to make our way to the car.

The air crackled with hostility, and I felt the sting of something hitting the car as we hurriedly climbed inside. The cacophony outside was deafening, fueled by venomous words and accusations.

"Baby killer!" someone shouted,

Aria navigated the car through the chaos, but the searing words and hostility followed us out of the parking lot, making the drive hazardous. Tears blurred my vision as I tried to block out the vile accusations.

Aria rolled down her window, daring enough to do so, and started shouting back at the crowd. “Can you people get out of the way! No one knows anything yet. What will this solve?”

“You’re just as bad for protecting her!” someone else cried out, and something else was thrown at the window, leaving a smear of brown. Through the stain, I spotted hastily posters with Stella’s face on them being lifted amongst the crowd.

As we finally arrived at the courthouse where Timothy was being held, my heart raced with a desperate urgency. I needed to see him, to find out the truth, to assure him that I was by his side.

I practically leaped out of the car, my feet carrying me to the entrance of the courthouse, hope and desperation intertwined within me. The officer at the entrance stood firm, blocking my path.

"Please, I need to see Timothy," I pleaded, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and determination.

"I'm sorry, miss. There's no visitation allowed at the moment," the officer responded, his tone firm yet sympathetic.

Panic surged within me. I couldn't bear the thought of being unable to see Timothy, to provide any semblance of comfort in his time of need. "He's innocent! You have to believe me!" I shouted, my voice cracking with emotion.

“Get her out of here,” the officer said to his colleagues, barely moving from his post.

My plea fell on deaf ears as the officers remained resolute. The frustration and helplessness welled up inside me. "Please!"

But my protests were in vain. More officers arrived, escorting me away from the courthouse entrance. Aria's voice was barely audible amidst the chaos as she tried to calm me down, but I couldn't contain the overwhelming sense of injustice and despair.

As I was led away, the accusatory chants and insults echoed in my ears, the piercing words clawing at my resolve. They practically tossed Aria and I outside the courthouse. Her attempts to console me felt futile against the storm of emotions raging within.

"Aria, I have a feeling Mr. Fitzgerald is behind this," I seethed, my voice trembling with fury. "He's orchestrating this to protect his own interests. I have to speak to him, tell him to call off this little smear-campaign of his."

Aria placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Evie, I understand, but rushing to their estate might not be the best idea. Especially when people are already suspecting you. It could make matters worse."

Her words were laced with reason, but my desperation clouded my judgment. Mr. Fitzgerald had to be accountable for the havoc wreaked upon Timothy's life. Speaking ill of him on live TV might have ensured that.

"It’s my fault. I can't just sit idly by, Aria," I insisted, my voice determined. "I need to do something. Timothy shouldn’t suffer because of me.”

Aria sighed, her worry evident as she weighed my words. "Let's go home, Evie. We'll figure this out together. Lucas is waiting for us, and we'll find a way to help Timothy."

Reluctantly, I agreed, understanding the logic in her words. The car ride back home was suffocating, every passing moment tinged with a sense of helplessness and frustration.

As we arrived at the apartment, Lucas greeted us at the door, his eyebrows furrowed. "Evie, I heard what happened. Are you okay?"

I nodded, trying to mask the turmoil within. "It’s so awful. They didn’t even give him a chance to explain."

Lucas placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We'll find a way, Evie. We'll uncover the truth and prove Timothy's innocence. But rushing into things right now might not be the best approach."

His words mirrored Aria's caution, but my resolve remained unwavering. "I need answers, Lucas. I won't rest until I find them. I can't just let them destroy Timothy's life."

I walked into the living room, my heart racing with a mix of dread and uncertainty as I looked at the blank television screen. Aria and Lucas came up behind me.

“Evie, don’t. You don’t need to torture yourself anymore,” said Aria. She grabbed my arm and attempted to pull me away.

Despite her warning, a nagging voice inside me urged to turn on the news, to confront the grim reality I may have caused.

With trembling hands, I reached for the remote and switched on the television, the screen flickering to life with the blaring headlines. My breath hitched as one after another, headlines flashed across the screen, painting a horrifying narrative that I couldn't bring myself to comprehend.

"Timothy Hayes Accused of Murdering Ex-Fiancée and Unborn Child."

The words hit me like a tidal wave, sending shockwaves of disbelief and despair through my core. A lump formed in my throat, and a sickening feeling twisted my stomach into knots.

"No, no, this can't be happening," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

The news anchors dissected every gruesome detail, painting a chilling portrait of Timothy as a murderer. The image of him, the man I loved, accused of such heinous crimes, felt like a cruel nightmare I couldn't wake up from.

Aria and Lucas hovered nearby, their expressions wrought with concern. "Evie, you shouldn't be watching this," Aria murmured. “Turn it off.”

"Evie, please," Lucas said softly.

But their words fell on deaf ears as I stood frozen, rooted to the spot, witnessing the mess I may have caused. The weight of my actions on that live television interview bore down on me like a crushing weight, suffocating me with guilt and remorse.

I sank onto the couch, feeling an overwhelming surge of nausea and despair. How could I have been so reckless? My words had unleashed a storm that I couldn't contain—a storm that had now cast a shadow of suspicion over Timothy's innocence.

"I've ruined everything," I whispered, my voice breaking as I cradled my head in my hands.

Aria rushed to my side, offering comfort, but I couldn't shake off the crushing guilt gnawing at me from within. "I shouldn't have said those things," I choked out, my words filled with anguish. "I never meant for any of this to happen."

Lucas knelt beside me, his voice filled with empathy. "Evie, you couldn't have known this would happen. It's not your fault."

"I have to do something," I declared, my voice wavering but determined. "I can't let this destroy him."

Aria and Lucas exchanged worried glances, but I was resolute. I couldn't sit back and watch Timothy's life crumble under the weight of false accusations. For his sake, I had to clear his name

I wouldn't rest until I did.