Chapter 319

The opulent mansion loomed before me as I approached Kamran's residence, a place I never thought I'd willingly enter. The air was thick with tension and the echoes of my mother's cryptic revelations. I couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was about to unfold.

As I neared the entrance, my eyes caught the sight of men unloading furniture from a truck, a hive of activity that seemed out of place in Kamran's usually serene estate. A fleeting thought crossed my mind – perhaps Mia was there, orchestrating these changes. The idea of confronting her, and setting things straight, fueled my determination.

I seized the opportunity as the door stood ajar, slipping inside unnoticed amidst the flurry of movement. The mansion's grandeur unfolded before me, but I paid little attention to its lavish interior. Instead, my focus honed in on the distant sound of my mother's voice, barking orders like a maestro orchestrating a symphony of change.

I navigated through the corridors, drawn by the familiar cadence of Mia's authoritative tones. The source of the commotion revealed itself as I entered a spacious room. Mia stood at the center, surrounded by men arranging the new furniture. The air was thick with an air of authority that only Mia could exude.

"Mom!" I called out, my voice cutting through the organized chaos.

She turned, a genuine smile lighting up her face as she noticed me. "Evie, darling! What a pleasant surprise. I'm just making some arrangements for the home."

I raised an eyebrow, skepticism tainting my expression. "Arrangements, or renovations? What's going on here?"

Mia waved a dismissive hand. "Just a few changes. Kamran decided it was time for a fresh look. But enough about that. How have you been, sweetheart?"

I narrowed my eyes, refusing to be swayed by her attempts at casual conversation. "Why did you confront my therapist, Mom? What were you hoping to achieve?"

She sighed, a hint of frustration flashing in her eyes. "Evie, I only did it because I care about you. There are people putting thoughts in your head, and I don't like it. I'm just trying to do what's best for you."

I crossed my arms, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "What's best for me, or what's best for you? You can't control every aspect of my life, Mom."

Her gaze hardened, and a tense silence hung in the air before she finally spoke. "I'm just trying to protect you, Evie. You're my daughter."

"Protect me from what?" I retorted, my frustration boiling over. "I needed therapy, Mom. It's been helping me, pushing me to confront things I've avoided for too long. I decided to talk to you because of it, not in spite of it."

Her eyes flashed with a mixture of offense and annoyance. "You don't need therapy to talk to your mother, Evie. You shouldn't feel obligated to do so."

I scoffed, incredulous at the irony of her words. "Obligated? You've always made it clear that you're only interested in my life on your terms, Mia. Now, all of a sudden, you're concerned about my well-being?"

Mia's gaze hardened, and a tense silence settled between us. The weight of our strained relationship, the years of misunderstandings and unspoken resentments, hung in the air.

"I just want what's best for you," she repeated, her voice a measured attempt to conceal the anger beneath.

"What's best for me, or what's best for you?" I countered, my frustration morphing into defiance. "I won't let you control my life. I won't let you dictate who I am or who I should be."

A storm of emotions churned within me as I stood my ground. The mansion, with its opulence and grandeur, felt like a gilded cage, and I refused to be confined by its intricacies. Mia's attempts at control, even under the guise of concern, only fueled my determination to break free from the shackles of the past.

Kamran's entry into the room shifted the atmosphere almost immediately. His expression was relaxed until he spotted me standing there, and his stance became guarded.

"Evie," Kamran greeted with a hint of suspicion coloring his voice. “What a surprise.”

I forced a strained smile. "Kamran. Hi.”

“Kamran, darling.” Mia placed a hand on my shoulder and leaned into me with a smile. “I invited Evie over for lunch with us. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.” Kamran waved it off, his gaze still trained on me. “The more the merrier.”

Mia chimed in, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Lovely! I thought it would be nice for the three of us to spend some time together."

Feeling cornered, I begrudgingly agreed, the prospect of a meal with Mia and Kamran feeling more like a negotiation than a casual gathering. As we sat around the elaborately set table, the atmosphere buzzed with unspoken tension.

The conversation, or lack thereof, circled around house renovations and interior design—a stark contrast to the tumultuous reality that awaited Timothy beyond the confines of this lavish mansion. I couldn't shake the feeling that Mia's sudden interest in domestic aesthetics was a distraction, a facade concealing deeper motives.

"Why the sudden focus on house renovations, Kamran?" I finally blurted out, my frustration seeping into my words.

He looked at me with an air of suspicion, as if my question had pierced through the façade. "Well, Mia and I have been discussing some changes, and we thought it was time for a fresh look."

I couldn't hold back my incredulity. "A fresh look while Timothy is still fighting for his freedom? Shouldn't we be more concerned about that?"

Mia interjected, her tone dismissive. "Evie, sweetie, the house is our sanctuary. We need to make it comfortable for everyone. Besides, I have plans to move in."

The revelation hit me like a ton of bricks, and I struggled to process the implications of Mia's statement. "Move in? Is this temporary or—"

Mia lifted her left hand, revealing an engagement ring that glimmered in the ambient light. "Kamran and I have decided to speed things up in our relationship. We're engaged, Evie."

I nearly choked on my salad. "You're engaged?" I finally managed to say.

Mia's smile was triumphant, her eyes holding a glint of satisfaction. "Yes, Evie. Kamran and I have decided to take the next step. It's what's best for us."

"Why now? Why the rush?" I questioned, my anger seeping into my words.

Mia's gaze hardened, a defensive shield rising within her. "Evie, we've made our decision. This is what we want, and we don't need your approval."

Kamran, caught in the crossfire, remained silent, his allegiance to Mia evident in the stoic expression he wore.

As I rose from the table, I could barely contain the feeling of the whole world crashing down on me. Did Timothy know about this? What was my mother planning on accomplishing with this marriage, especially knowing how close Timothy and I were?

Just as I tried to compose myself, Mia's voice cut through the silence. "Oh! The maid is about to bring in the next course!"

I leered at Mia and found her eyes fixed on me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. There was a calculating glint in her gaze, as if she could read the storm of emotions raging within me.

“What’s wrong, darling?” she asked, tilting her head to the side. “Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”