Chapter 326

The tension in the room was palpable, thick with unspoken accusations and simmering anger. I stood frozen, caught in the crossfire of a confrontation I never saw coming.

"Evie, get out of here," Kamran's voice cut through the air like a knife, his tone sharp with frustration and disbelief.

I blinked, stunned by the sudden outburst. Kamran's usually composed demeanor was replaced by a mask of fury, his eyes blazing with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

"Kamran, what's going on?" I stammered, my voice trembling with uncertainty.

But Kamran ignored me, his attention fixed on Mia, who stood before him with a defiant tilt to her chin.

"Why did you call the police on Timothy?" Kamran demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Mia's lips curled into a sneer, her eyes flashing with contempt. "Because he's dangerous," she replied, her tone dripping with malice. "I couldn't risk him hurting anyone else."

Kamran's jaw tightened, his fists clenched at his sides. "I don't want my son to end up in prison for murder," he growled, his voice thick with emotion.

Before I could voice my protest, I noticed something strange happening between Mia and Kamran. Mia's demeanor shifted, her expression softening as she leaned in closer to him, a flirtatious smile playing at her lips.

"Kamran, darling," she purred, her voice honeyed with false sweetness, "we don't have to worry about Timothy anymore. We have each other."

I felt a surge of revulsion rising within me at the sight, bile burning in the back of my throat. How could Mia be so callous, so heartless?

"Timothy never had the family's best interests at heart," she continued. "He's nothing but a leech, a drain on your wallet in the years to come."

“That’s not true!” I shouted.

Mia’s gaze snapped to me, her eyes flashing with anger. "Evie, this is none of your concern," she snapped.

But I refused to back down, my resolve as unyielding as steel. "It is my concern," I insisted, my voice trembling with emotion. "Timothy is my boyfriend, and he deserves better than this."

Mia's eyes narrowed with suspicion, her gaze boring into me like a dagger. "You're just defending him because you fell so hopelessly in love," she accused, her voice sharp with accusation. "But you can't save him, Evie. He's beyond saving."

I felt a surge of anger rising within me, hot and potent like molten lava. "You don't know anything about him," I shot back, my voice trembling with indignation. "You don't know what he's been through, what he's had to endure."

But Mia merely laughed, a cold, bitter sound that echoed off the walls. "I know enough," she retorted, her voice dripping with disdain. "And so does Kamran."

Kamran's expression softened, a look of conflict crossing his features. "The evidence seems to be pointing against Timothy's favor," he admitted, his voice heavy with regret. "And Andy may have been involved, too."

I felt a surge of panic rising within me at his words, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place with sickening clarity. Both of Kamran’s kids going down for murder? It was all too convenient.

"But Andy wasn't alone that night," I blurted out, desperation lacing my words. "He may have been at the hotel, but he wasn't alone."

Kamran's brow furrowed in confusion, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "What do you mean?" he demanded, his voice sharp with impatience.

But before I could respond, Mia stepped in, her voice honeyed with false sweetness. "Darling, we have so much to do for the wedding," she purred, her gaze fixed on Kamran with an intensity that made my skin crawl. "Let's not waste any more time on this nonsense."

And with that, she led Kamran away, leaving me alone in the echoing silence of the library, my heart heavy with despair. I heard their conversation on the other side, and Kamran sounded weak in comparison.

I watched them go, a knot of frustration twisting in my stomach as I struggled to make sense of what had just happened. I couldn’t help but feel responsible for Timothy being there that night. Would he have still been arrested if he wasn’t trying to save Aria with me?

As I listened to their conversation through the closed door, a surge of curiosity welled up inside me, driving me to eavesdrop on their private exchange. I pressed my ear against the wood, straining to catch snippets of their conversation as they spoke in hushed tones on the other side.

"I want to do what I can for my son," Kamran's voice drifted through the door, low but stern.

Mia's response was sharp and dismissive, her distaste evident even from where I stood. "And you have, but there’s only so much you can do to help that boy," she said coldly, her tone dripping with disdain.

I winced at her words, the bitterness of their exchange leaving a sour taste in my mouth. It was clear that their relationship was becoming strained, which may have been why she was rushing things. Maybe Kamran was starting to see her for who she truly was?

Suddenly, Mia's voice broke through the silence, her tone softened by a sudden gentleness. "Come on, Kamran," she said gently, her hand reaching out to touch his arm. "Let's go."

I quickly backed away from the door, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to compose myself. As Mia reentered the library, her eyes met mine, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features.

"Evie," she said softly, her voice tinged with hesitation. "I... I have a surprise for you."

I felt a surge of bitterness welling up inside me, the memory of our earlier confrontation still fresh in my mind. "I highly doubt it," I muttered under my breath, my tone sharp with sarcasm.

But as I watched Mia's expression soften, a pang of guilt washed over me, the weight of my own bitterness suddenly feeling heavy and unwelcome. With a sigh, I forced a small smile, trying to push aside my doubts and fears. I told myself I’d play along.

"Alright," I said quietly, my voice tinged with resignation. "I'll bite. What's the surprise?"

Mia's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You'll see," she said cryptically, her tone teasing as she reached out to take my hand. "Come on, let's go."

Reluctantly, I followed her out of the library, the weight of our earlier conversation still hanging heavy in the air between us. But as we walked, I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, there was still hope for us yet.

With a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I followed Mia up the grand staircase, the soft carpet muffling the sound of our footsteps as we ascended to the upper floors of the mansion.

As we reached the top of the stairs, Mia led me down a long corridor lined with ornate doors, each one more imposing than the last. Finally, she stopped before a set of double doors at the end of the hall, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"Here we are," she announced, her voice filled with excitement. "Your surprise awaits."

With a sense of foreboding gnawing at my insides, I followed Mia into the room, my heart pounding in my chest as I braced myself for whatever may come.

But what I found inside took my breath away.

The room was bathed in soft candlelight, the flickering flames casting dancing shadows across the walls. In the center of the room stood a dressmaker's mannequin, draped in a stunning gown of shimmering silk and lace.

I gasped in awe, my eyes wide with wonder as I took in the beauty of the dress before me. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, a masterpiece of craftsmanship and elegance.

"It's beautiful," I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Mia smiled, a satisfied gleam in her eye as she approached the mannequin. "I wanted to wait until a better time," she explained, her voice soft with reverence. "But I couldn't resist showing it to you now."

I ran my hand over the soft material, shivering as the expensive silk slid between my fingers. "I guess your designer knows what they’re doing."

But Mia wasn't finished yet.

"That’s not my dress, Evie," she continued, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she turned to face me. "I want you to be my maid of honor."