Chapter 288

TIMOTHY POV

Timothy stood with a sinking feeling in his chest. Within the courtroom, a myriad of eyes fixated on him—the curious, the judgmental, and those seeking a spectacle. He shifted uncomfortably, wondering how he must’ve been looking to the cameras.

Fans and foes alike lined the room, creating an unsettling backdrop to his impending fate. The air hummed with anticipation, the tension palpable as he scanned the room, seeking at least one familiar face.

Amidst the throng, his eyes landed on her—Evie. His muscles almost relaxed at the sight of her, perched at the end of her chair and watching him just as intensely. She offered him a tentative smile, and he smiled back, clinging to the momentary connection.

His eyes scanned the room some more, and to his utter shock, he locked gazes with his father, who sat with a look of sheer disbelief etched on his face. But what truly sent a shiver down Timothy's spine was the man standing beside Kamran—a figure he hadn't expected to see in this capacity.

John Waters. The son of his father’s business rival. The air crackled with tension as Waters approached, his demeanor exuding a sense of superiority.

"Well, well, if it isn't the esteemed Mr. Hayes," Waters sneered, eyeing Timothy with disdain. "What a delightful turn of events, wouldn't you say, senior?"

Kamran seemed just as taken aback. "John, I didn't realize that..."

"That I'd be the one going after your dear son?" Waters interrupted, his tone dripping with mockery. "I assure you, this is purely professional."

Timothy clenched his jaw, suppressing the anger that threatened to surge forward. He had anticipated a tough legal battle, but Waters' smugness only fueled his resolve.

"Let's begin, shall we?" the judge's voice boomed through the room, cutting through the tension.

As the proceedings commenced, Waters wasted no time in presenting his arguments, painting Timothy as a menace to society, citing fabricated evidence and twisting truths.

"Your Honor, my client pleads not guilty to the charges against him. We request bail in light of the circumstances," Mr. Wilkes stated firmly, his voice cutting through the escalating tension.

He went on, explaining Timothy’s case. The judge listened intently before announcing her decision. "Bail is granted, but under strict conditions. Mr. Hayes, you will surrender your passport, adhere to a curfew, and report weekly to law enforcement until further notice."

A wave of conflicting emotions surged through Timothy as he acknowledged the ruling. That went smoother than expected. Of course, the public wouldn’t let it rest.

As the court cleared out, Kamran came over to Timothy and patted him on the back. “You did good, son.”

"Yeah, really well done," Waters sauntered over, giving them a slow clap. “Nice theatrics from you and your lawyer. Hey, if hockey doesn’t work out, you always have a place in theatre.”

"What are you even doing here?" Kamran voiced his dismay, stepping forward. "John, this isn't appropriate given your family's history with ours. Your bias is evident."

John's lip curled into a sneer as he met Kamran's gaze. "I'm merely doing my job, Mr. Hayes. And trust me, this isn't about bias. It's about justice."

"Justice?" Kamran scoffed. "There's a clear vendetta here, and you know it."

John's eyes flickered with an unsettling intensity. "I would be doing the world a favor by putting an end to Timothy. And dragging you down with him," he added..

Timothy's jaw tensed, his fists clenching involuntarily. The hostility in John's words cut deep, a reminder of the stakes at play. The disdain in John's eyes was unmistakable.

"John," Timothy interjected, his voice strained with frustration, "this isn't just about business rivalry. You're letting personal animosity cloud your judgment. This case will ruin me."

John's cold laughter echoed through the courtroom. "Personal animosity? Oh, Timothy, you have no idea. This is about accountability. Your recklessness has consequences, consequences that I intend to ensure you face."

With a final contemptuous glance, John turned on his heel and strode away, leaving Timothy seething. Kamran placed a steadying hand on Timothy's shoulder and huffed.

"We'll handle this," Kamran reassured him. "We’ll handle him especially."

The heavy metal door clanked shut behind Timothy, the echoes reverberating through the sterile corridor. He stood in the dimly lit hallway, his mind still reeling from the whirlwind of emotions that had unfolded in the courtroom. He could only be grateful that he wouldn’t have to spend another night in jail.

His lawyer approached the bars, a grave expression etched on his face. "Timothy," he began, his voice low and measured, "I managed to secure your release for now. But I won't sugarcoat it—the evidence against you is damning."

Timothy's heart sank at the lawyer's words. He nodded grimly, knowing he shouldn’t have expected too much leniency. He was going to be heavily monitored now.

As he changed out of the drab jail attire into his own clothes, his mind thoughts drifted to Evie. The uncertainty of his future loomed over both of them, and he could see the strain it had been putting on her. If he could convince her not to push herself too hard with this, he would.

Timothy lifted his head when he heard a door creak open, followed by the clicking of heels on the paved floors. Her silhouette appeared in the hallway and his heart lifted at the sight of her coming around the corner with an officer.

"Timothy!" Evie exclaimed, rushing toward him. After the officer unlocked the cell and slid open the door, Evie enveloped Timothy in a tight embrace.

The warmth of her touch was all he needed in that moment. He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled into her neck.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't get here sooner,” she said, almost breathless.

Timothy held her close, the scent of her perfume a familiar comfort. "You're here now. That's all that matters," he murmured.

"I've been so worried," Evie confessed. "I couldn't stand the thought of you in here."

"I couldn’t stand it either," said Timothy. "You came just in time."

They remained locked in the embrace for a moment longer, seeking solace in each other's arms until Evie pulled away slightly, her gaze searching his face for reassurance.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked, her eyes pleading for a way to alleviate his distress.

"Just being here is enough," Timothy replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "But if you could give me a ride, that would be great. I didn’t have time to arrange one."

"Of course," Evie said without hesitation, determination glinting in her eyes. "Let's get you out of here."

With a renewed sense of purpose, they made their way out of the courthouse, navigating through the bustling crowds and a sea of faces that seemed to blend into an indistinguishable mass.

Evie guided Timothy towards an old-looking car parked a few blocks away from the courthouse. As they approached the vehicle, a tall man stepped out, his familiar smile a welcome sight.

"Timothy, my boy!" Quinton exclaimed as he rushed over, pulling Timothy into a heartfelt embrace. "I'm relieved to see you out, albeit temporarily."

"It's good to see you too, Uncle," Timothy replied, feeling a rush of nostalgia at the sight of his uncle's familiar face.

As they settled into the car, the atmosphere was slightly less tense. Quinton started the engine, and the car rumbled to life, pulling away from the curb. Timothy and Quinton fell into a conversation, catching up on lost time.

Timothy almost missed the commotion outside until Evie gasped and pointed before shouting, "Look!"

A cluster of police vehicles was parked outside the apartment. Evie turned to Timothy, concern etched on her face.

Timothy's heart sank as he spotted the officers congregating outside his building. "It looks like they're here for me," he murmured, his voice heavy with resignation. "I'm going to be heavily monitored."

Quinton's expression hardened as he processed the situation. "This is excessive, even for them," he muttered under his breath, his hands tightening on the steering wheel.

As they neared the apartment building, the officers spotted them and began to move in their direction. The tension in the car escalated palpably, a heavy silence settling among them.

"Stay calm," Timothy urged Evie, his voice strained.

The officers stepped out of their vehicles, their demeanor stern and purposeful. They approached the car, then signaled for Quinton to roll down the window.

"Mr. Timothy Hayes?" the officer inquired as he peered in. “We would like to have a word with you.”