Chapter 341

The steamy haze of the spa enveloped us as my mother and I stared eachother down. Soft music played in the background, the contrast almost comical as Mia’s face twisted with clear displeasure. I felt a knot of tension tightening in my stomach.

This was my chance to confront her, to finally put an end to her crimes. But as I stood there, uncertainty gnawed at me. Should I approach her head-on, with anger and accusations, or should I try to be gentle, to appeal to whatever shred of reason might still exist within her?

Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I stepped forward, my footsteps echoing softly in the tranquil space. "Aren’t you glad to see me?"

Mia's eyes narrowed. "Should I be?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to explain my sudden presence. "I, uh, I just needed some time to relax," I said lamely, inwardly cursing myself for the lack of conviction in my words.

Mia studied me intently, her expression unreadable. "Relaxing, huh?" she said, a hint of skepticism creeping into her voice. "Seems like an odd choice for someone who's been avoiding me like the plague."

I squared my shoulders, trying to appear confident despite the knot of anxiety twisting in my stomach. "Ok, we need to talk," I said, my voice steady despite the rapid thud of my heart.

She regarded me warily, a furrow forming between her brows. "Talk about what?"

I took a deep breath, summoning all the courage I could muster. "About what happened with Aria's phone," I began, my tone firm. "I've had some time to think, and I realize I may have overreacted."

Mia's lips curled into a skeptical smirk. "Overreacted? That's putting it lightly."

I resisted the urge to snap back, reminding myself to stay calm. "Look, I was just trying to protect her. I thought you were a bad influence on her, but I see now that I was wrong."

Mia's eyes narrowed, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Oh, how generous of you to admit that."

I clenched my fists, fighting to keep my temper in check. "I'm serious, Mia. I want to make things right."

She shook her head, her expression unyielding. "And what exactly do you expect me to do about it?"

I swallowed hard, searching for the right words. "I just want us to move past this. Maybe we can start over, try to be civil for Aria's sake."

Mia's laughter cut through the air like a whip. "Civil? After everything you've said and done? I don't think so."

I felt a surge of frustration bubbling up inside me, but I forced myself to stay calm. "Fine, be that way. But at least hear me out."

She regarded me with a mixture of defiance and curiosity. "Go on, then."

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "I heard about you and Kamran eloping," I began tentatively. "And I realized that maybe I've been too hard on you. Maybe you have Aria's best interests at heart after all."

Mia's expression softened slightly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. "You heard about that?"

I nodded, pressing on. "Yeah, and I figured you would at least want your daughter to be there if no one else."

For a moment, Mia seemed lost in thought, her gaze distant as she processed my words. Then, with a sigh, she pushed herself out of the mud bath and wrapped a towel around her body, her movements slow and deliberate.

"I never wanted things to be like this, Evie," she said quietly, her voice tinged with regret. "But you have to understand, I can't just forgive and forget."

I felt a pang of guilt at the sadness in her eyes, the weight of our shared history pressing down on me like a leaden cloak. "I know," I said softly. "But maybe we can try to put the past behind us, start fresh."

Mia's gaze met mine, a flicker of hope shining through the depths of her sorrow. "Maybe," she murmured. "But it won't be easy."

I reached out, tentatively placing a hand on her arm. "I know," I said, offering her a small smile. "But I think it's worth a shot, don't you?"

For a moment, we stood there in silence, the weight of our words hanging heavy in the air between us. Then, with a nod, Mia returned my smile, her eyes shining with newfound resolve.

"Yeah," she said, her voice soft but determined. "I think it is."

My heart hammered in my chest as I fought to maintain my composure, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions raging within me. "So, were you and Kamran planning on getting married here in the hotel?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Mia nodded, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "No, we were thinking of having the ceremony at the church house nearby," she admitted, her tone hesitant. "I wouldn't mind having you in the crowd, if you're interested."

I forced a smile, my stomach churning with apprehension. "That's... that's really sweet of you, Mia," I said, my voice betraying none of the turmoil swirling within me. "I'll think about it."

The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy with unspoken tension. Then, with a sigh, Mia spoke up again, her voice hesitant.

"Speaking of Kamran, I should probably let you know that he went to go make arrangements with the priest," she said, her tone tinged with uncertainty. "He should be back soon."

I felt a surge of panic welling up inside me, but I forced myself to stay calm. "Thanks for letting me know," I said, forcing a smile. "I'll keep an eye out for him."

As Mia turned to leave, I discreetly pulled out my phone, my fingers trembling as I composed a message to Timothy.

"Kamran went to see the priest at the local church. Need to find him ASAP. Keep me posted."

Sending the message with a quick swipe of my thumb, I felt a flicker of relief wash over me. Hopefully, Timothy would be able to track down Kamran before it was too late.

Turning back to Mia, I plastered on a smile, my mind already racing with plans to keep her distracted.

"Hey, why don't we go grab a drink or something?" I suggested, my voice bright with false enthusiasm. "I know a few places nearby that might be fun."

Mia's eyes lit up at the suggestion, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "That sounds great," she said eagerly. "Lead the way."

As we made our way out of the spa, I shot Timothy a quick text, letting him know that I was going to keep Mia occupied for as long as I could. With any luck, he would be able to track down Kamran before Mia had a chance to realize what was going on.

The streets were bustling with activity as we made our way through the crowded sidewalks, the sounds of laughter and music filling the air. Mia chattered away excitedly beside me, her enthusiasm infectious as she pointed out various landmarks and attractions.

I forced myself to smile and nod along, my mind still reeling from the bombshell Mia had dropped earlier. Kamran's sudden agreement to marry Mia had caught me completely off guard, and I couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out faster than we’d anticipated.