Chapter 308

The sudden outburst drew the attention of everyone around us, creating a chaotic scene.

"What's going on?" Timothy demanded, his voice edged with concern and confusion as he took my hand.

Monica, seemingly in distress, pointed accusingly at Timothy. "You! You're the one! You did this to Stella!"

The accusation hung in the air, and a shocked silence settled over the crowd. I felt a knot tighten in my stomach as the realization dawned on me – Monica held Timothy responsible for Stella's demise.

Timothy's face contorted with disbelief and anger. "What are you talking about? I had nothing to do with Stella's death!"

Monica's eyes bore into him with unrelenting intensity. "I know what you did. You ruined her life, and now she's gone!"

The chaos around us escalated as people whispered and exchanged speculative glances. Timothy, caught off guard by the sudden accusation, struggled to defend himself against the fervent allegations.

I stepped forward, determined to diffuse the situation. "Monica, you must be mistaken. Timothy had nothing to do with Stella's death."

But Monica seemed inconsolable, her anger directed solely at Timothy. "I won't let you get away with this! Stella deserves justice!"

The party, once filled with the promise of celebration, devolved into chaos as Monica's screams pierced through the air. Pointing accusatory fingers at Timothy, she drew the attention of other partygoers, creating a tumultuous scene that echoed with tension and confusion.

"Who let a killer in the house?" Monica's shrill voice cut through the chatter, her eyes locked onto Timothy with unbridled fury.

Timothy, caught off guard, attempted to calm her down. "Monica, you're mistaken. I had nothing to do with Stella's death. We need to talk calmly and sort this out."

But Monica's accusations reverberated, and the eyes of the partygoers turned toward Timothy with suspicion. The air was charged with anger, and the situation threatened to spiral out of control.

Amidst the commotion, I turned to Mia with a mix of confusion and frustration. "Why was Mrs. Fitzgerald invited?" I demanded, my judgement clouded as her glare bore into me as well.

Mia shrugged me off dismissively. "Monica is a family friend, Evie. It would have been rude not to invite her."

A sense of foreboding settled within me, and I tried to pull Timothy away from the escalating scene. "Let's leave, Timothy. This isn't right. We shouldn't be here."

But before we could make our exit, Mr. Fitzgerald appeared to console his distressed wife. His gaze met Timothy's, and a scowl crept across his face. "You just don't know when to quit, do you?" he muttered, his words dripping with disdain.

Timothy's face tightened, hurt and frustration etched in his expression. The realization that even his own father had given up on him hung heavily in the air. The strained relationship between father and son became more apparent with each passing moment.

As the chaotic scene continued to unfold, Kamran emerged from the crowd, seemingly oblivious to the brewing storm. "What's all the fuss about?" he asked, a nonchalant expression on his face.

Mia, caught off guard, struggled to explain. "Kamran, we didn't invite Timothy. I don't know how he got here."

Kamran's gaze fell on Timothy, and I could see the hurt in Timothy's eyes as he faced the man he once considered a father figure. The tension in the room reached its peak, and the weight of the unfolding drama became almost palpable.

"Timothy, what are you doing here?" Kamran asked, his tone a mix of surprise and accusation.

Timothy, grappling with the intensity of the situation, responded, "I WAS invited. By Evie at least. I didn't know Monica would be here."

Mia, attempting to diffuse the tension, interjected, "Kamran, let's not make a scene. We can discuss this later."

But Kamran's curiosity got the better of him. "Discuss what, Mia? Why would Timothy be invited when we're trying to move on from all this mess?"

Timothy's jaw tightened, and his voice wavered with a mix of hurt and frustration. "I thought I could be here, considering this was my home once. Sorry to cause any trouble."

Kamran's gaze remained stern, and the disappointment in his eyes cut deep. "You just never learn, do you, Timothy? Always causing trouble. It’s not a good look, having you here just wandering the halls."

The words hung in the air like a heavy cloud, and I could see the impact on Timothy's spirit. The man who had once sought approval and acceptance from Kamran now faced rejection and disdain.

As Kamran and Mr. Fitzgerald continued to exchange heated words, Monica's accusations persisted. The party had died down, music and all, and everyone was bearing witness to the conflict in the middle of the room.

Amidst the chaos of accusations and tense confrontations, Kamran stepped forward, attempting to salvage the situation. He offered apologies to the Fitzgeralds and turned his attention to Timothy, his tone laced with frustration.

"Timothy, you shouldn't have come here. It reflects negatively on the family," Kamran asserted, his words cutting through the charged atmosphere.

I braced myself, ready to defend Timothy against Kamran's accusations. "He was invited, Kamran. This isn't fair," I retorted, my voice edged with defiance.

But before I could escalate the confrontation, Andy, somehow the voice of reason, stepped between us. "Dad, lay off. We don't need a scene," he insisted, his stern gaze aimed at Kamran.

He then turned to Timothy and motioned for him to follow. "Tim, come with me for a moment." He gestured for Timothy to follow. Timothy glanced at me and I gave him an assuring nod, promising to wait for their return.

“I’ll be right back, okay? Stay put,” said Timothy.

As Timothy and Andy retreated, I remained in the midst of the party. The eyes of curious onlookers seemed to follow me, whispers circulating in the crowd like a subtle hum. It was as if the air itself held the collective breath of the attendees, awaiting the resolution of something grand.

Amidst the lingering stares, another woman approached me, her curiosity unabashedly painted on her face. "Excuse me," she began, her voice a low murmur, "is it true that your great aunt was a duchess?"

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, I hesitated for a moment before responding. "Yeah, but it's a long story," I replied with a forced smile. Another tall tale of my mother’s. My great aunt was a gambler.

As I attempted to disengage from the conversation, the woman persisted, seemingly fueled by a desire for gossip. "Really? I heard she had quite the scandalous past."

Suppressing a sigh, I nodded. "Scandalous might be an understatement."

With that, I excused myself, leaving the inquisitive glances behind. The echoing sounds of the party gradually faded as I navigated through the opulent halls of the mansion.

It worried me to see Andy pulling Timothy away, separating us in the midst of the tumultuous gathering. I’d hoped he’d be back soon, but it wasn’t soon enough.

Left standing alone in the open, feeling vulnerable and exposed, I decided to seek solace in the nearest restroom. In my haste to escape the awkwardness, I forgot to knock before entering, and the door swung open to reveal Scarlett in the midst of applying lipstick.

Our eyes met in a moment of mutual surprise. "S-Scarlett?" I stammered.