Chapter 344

As we hurried back to the hotel, panic clawed at my insides like a wild animal. Mia's arm was a reassuring anchor around my shoulders, but it did little to calm the storm raging within me. My thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind, tossing around possibilities and fears like leaves in a tempest.

"Are you okay, Evie?" Mia's voice cut through the turmoil in my mind, but her concern only served to intensify my anxiety. I nodded weakly, not trusting myself to speak without giving away the sheer terror I felt.

As we made our way through the parking lot, my mind raced with thoughts of Timothy and Andy. Had they managed to find Kamran? Had they convinced him to call off the wedding? The uncertainty gnawed at me, twisting my stomach into knots.

The hotel lobby was a blur as we made our way to my room. As I dug into my purse for the room key, I checked my peripheral. Still no sign of Timothy or Andy anywhere, and I hadn't received a single text from either of them.

"Where are they?" I demanded, the words slipping dangerously from my lips. "Why haven't they come back yet?"

Mia's brow furrowed in concern, but her expression was unreadable. "I'm not sure who you’re talking about, dear," she said, her voice soothing but hollow. "Unless you’re referring to Kamran. He probably just got caught up with the priest, although it has been pretty long."

Thankfully, she had no idea who I was referring to. I couldn't help but worry. The longer they were gone, the more my anxiety grew.

I fumbled with the key card, my hands shaking so violently that it took me several attempts to slide it into the lock. Mia's hand on mine steadied me, and the door finally clicked open.

Once inside, I tried to brush past Mia, eager to be alone with my thoughts. But she held me back, her grip firm but gentle.

"I'll help you lay down," she said softly, guiding me to the bed. "You need to rest."

I wanted to protest, knowing that I couldn't rest until I knew what was happening with Timothy and Andy, until I knew whether Kamran was alive and well. But the words caught in my throat, suffocated by the overwhelming fear that threatened to consume me.

"Evie, let me help you," Mia's voice cut through the haze of my thoughts, her hand resting on my shoulder.

I tried to brush her off again, to insist that I could handle it on my own, but Mia was persistent. With a sigh, I relented, allowing her to guide me into the room. I felt like a child being led by the hand, helpless and vulnerable.

As I lay down on the bed, Mia bustled around me, fluffing pillows and adjusting blankets. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the world and the chaos that seemed to follow me wherever I went. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't escape the memories that haunted me.

And then the dam broke. Tears spilled from my eyes, hot and bitter, as the weight of everything I had been holding back crashed down on me. I sobbed uncontrollably, the sound echoing in the empty room.

I wished things could've been different between us, but her past crimes removed any chance of redemption.

Mia's hands stilled, her movements coming to an abrupt halt. For a moment, there was silence, broken only by the sound of my ragged breathing.

"Evie, what’s going on?" Mia's voice was soft, but there was an edge to it that I couldn't ignore.

I wiped at my tears, trying to compose myself. "It’s nothing," I said, my voice trembling with anger. "I guess I feel like I ruined your special night.”

Mia shook her head. “Nonsense. I’m not much of a partier anyway. And clearly you’re not much of a drinker.”

A laugh escaped my lips as I rested my head on her shoulder. Suddenly, I wanted her to leave more than ever. I was deceiving myself again, thinking she could ever change.

She laid beside me on the bed, her presence a comforting weight against my side. Her fingers traced gentle patterns through my hair, a soothing rhythm that seemed intent on lulling my to sleep.

"Everything will be alright, Evie," Mia whispered, her voice a tender murmur in the stillness of the room. "Once I marry Kamran, all of this will be behind us. You'll see."

For a moment I watched her as her eyes darted around the room. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that there was more to her sticking around than she was letting on.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my voice sharp with suspicion. “Is everything okay?"

Mia hesitated, her gaze flickering over to the corner of the room where two suitcases lay abandoned. My stomach churned with dread as I realized what she was looking at.

"Did you bring someone else with you?" she demanded, her body suddenly stiff. "Is that why you're here?"

My cheeks flushed crimson, but I quickly composed herself, schooling my expression into a mask of indifference. "I... I just thought I might need some extra clothes," I stammered, my voice unconvincing.

"Liar," she spat, her hold on my arm tightening. "You brought someone else with you, didn't you? Who is it, Evie? Who are you hiding?"

My eyes widened as I watched her facade slip for a brief moment before she regained her composure. "Alright. I brought Lucas," I blurted out, the words tumbling from my lips before I could stop them. "He's... he's on the beach at the moment."

Mia's eyebrows shot up in surprise, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "Lucas, huh?" she said, her voice teasing. "I knew there was something going on between you two."

I felt a blush creeping up my neck at her teasing tone, but I quickly brushed it off with a laugh. "Mom, don't be ridiculous. Lucas and I are just friends."

She gave me a knowing look before shrugging it off. "Well, as long as you're having fun, that's all that matters."

I let out a sigh of relief, grateful that she didn't press the matter further. But as Mia stood up from the bed, a sense of unease settled over me once again. I watched her gather her things, her movements deliberate and controlled.

"It's time for me to head out, sweetheart," she said softly, avoiding my gaze. “It’s getting really late.”

I nodded, trying to hide the relief in my voice. "Okay, Mom. Safe travels."

As she made her way to the door, I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. A nagging voice in the back of my mind urged me to confront her about her next location. But I pushed it aside, telling myself I’d only make her more paranoid.

I waited until Mia had closed the door behind her before reaching for my phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I typed out a message to Timothy.

"Did you and Andy reach Kamran?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

It didn't take long for a reply to come through, and I felt a surge of relief wash over me as I read Timothy's response.

"No, we couldn't change his mind. We may need to act before your Mom does," he wrote.

I bit my lip, feeling a sense of urgency creeping in. If Kamran was unwilling to listen to reason, then we had no choice but to take matters into our own hands.