Chapter 356
TIMOTHY POV
Timothy’s footsteps echoed against the pavement as he made his way to Ethan’s house. The chill of the evening air nipped at his skin, but determination warmed his veins. He had to confront Ethan, to reclaim Duke, and to settle the unease that had plagued their friendship.
Reaching the familiar doorstep, Timothy hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts before he pressed the doorbell. Moments later, Ethan swung the door open, his expression guarded but not hostile.
"Hey," Timothy greeted, his voice tinged with tension.
Ethan's eyes flickered with surprise before he offered a tight-lipped smile. "Hey, Timothy. Come on in."
Timothy stepped inside, the air thick with unresolved emotions. Duke bounded toward him, tail wagging furiously. Timothy stooped to ruffle the dog's fur.
"Thanks for looking after Duke," Timothy said, his voice softer now.
Ethan nodded, his gaze avoiding Timothy's. "No problem."
Their exchange was strained, awkward pauses punctuating the air between them. Ethan cleared his throat, gesturing toward the living room. "We should talk."
Timothy followed him, settling onto the couch opposite Ethan. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating, until Ethan finally spoke.
"I owe you an apology," Ethan began, his voice low. "I should've trusted you, Timothy. I never even bothered to hear your side of the story."
Timothy's brow furrowed, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "Yeah, you should've," he replied tersely. "You let everyone believe I was guilty without even giving me a chance."
Ethan winced, guilt etched across his features. "I know, and I'm sorry. The evidence seemed damning, but I realize now that I should've stood by you."
Timothy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not just about the evidence, Ethan. It's about trust. You didn't trust me."
Ethan swallowed, his jaw tightening. "I know, and I regret it. The backlash you faced…it wasn't fair. The club shouldn't have turned against you like that."
Timothy's gaze softened slightly, acknowledging Ethan's remorse. "I appreciate you saying that. It means a lot."
Ethan met his gaze, determination flashing in his eyes. "And I want you to know that I didn't stand idly by. Me and the teammates, we fought for you. We made a case, signed a petition…we wanted you back on the team."
Surprise flickered across Timothy's face, his heart swelling with a mixture of gratitude and disbelief. "You did?"
Ethan nodded, his expression earnest. "Yeah. We knew you weren't guilty, and we wanted to make things right."
Timothy's chest tightened, emotions swirling within him. Despite his anger toward Ethan, a part of him had longed for this reconciliation, for the chance to mend what had been broken.
"Thank you," Timothy said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "I…I don't know what to say."
Ethan offered a tentative smile. "You don't have to say anything. Just know that we've got your back, Tim."
Silence descended upon them once more, but this time it felt different. Timothy took a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over him.
Suddenly, he remembered something. "Well, what made you change your mind?"
Ethan hesitated, his gaze drifting to the floor. "It wasn't just one thing, Timothy. It was a combination of factors. After knowing you all these years, how noble you are, it made me realize that you couldn't have killed that woman."
Timothy nodded, understanding dawning on him. "I'm glad you finally saw that."
Ethan looked up, his eyes filled with sincerity. "I'm glad too. And I'm sorry it took me so long."
Timothy smiled faintly. "Apology accepted."
Eventually, Timothy glanced at Duke, who was growing antsier by the second. "I should probably head home," he said, rising from the couch. “I’m sure Duke here would like to start sleeping in his favorite spot again.”
Ethan stood as well, a genuine smile gracing his lips. "Yeah, I’m sure. Thanks for coming over, Timothy. And…thanks for giving me another chance."
Timothy clasped Ethan's hand in a firm handshake. "Of course."
With one last exchange of smiles, Timothy bid Ethan farewell and made his way out into the crisp winter air. As he walked to his car, Duke trotting faithfully by his side, overly pleased to see him. Timothy was eager to get back to normal as well, and he had one more stop to make as he did so.
Timothy stood outside the sports center, his breath forming misty clouds in the chill morning air. His heart pounded with a mixture of anticipation and dread as he prepared to confront Mr. Porter, the club leader, about his reinstatement to the hockey team.
With a determined stride, Timothy pushed open the doors of the sports center and made his way down the familiar corridors. His footsteps echoed in the empty halls, the sound amplifying his apprehension.
As he rounded a corner, Timothy froze in his tracks, his blood boiling as he caught sight of Mr. Porter through the slightly ajar door of a meeting room. But it wasn't just Mr. Porter who occupied the room; sitting across from him was Alex Richards, a member of the opposing hockey team.
Anger surged within Timothy, his fists clenching at his sides as he watched the two men converse. What business could Mr. Porter possibly have with Alex Richards?
With a sense of righteous indignation, Timothy pushed open the door, striding into the room with purpose. "Mr. Porter," he said, his voice sharp with accusation.
Both men turned to look at him, surprise flickering across their faces before being quickly replaced by guarded expressions.
"Timothy," Mr. Porter said, his tone strained. "What are you doing here?"
Timothy squared his shoulders, meeting Mr. Porter's gaze head-on. "I'm here to discuss my reinstatement to the hockey team."
Alex scoffed, a sneer curling his lip. "Why should he be reinstated? He still has to go to court. The judge has the final say, not you."
Timothy's jaw clenched, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "The recent news has proven my innocence," he shot back. "There's no reason for me to be kept off the team any longer."
Mr. Porter hesitated, his brow furrowing in contemplation. "I understand your position, Timothy. But we have to consider all factors here."
Timothy's patience wore thin, frustration bubbling up inside him. "What more do you need to consider? I've been cleared of any wrongdoing. I deserve to be back on the team."
Alex leaned forward, a predatory glint in his eyes. "You think you're so entitled, don't you? Just because the news cleared you doesn't mean you're innocent. You still have to face the consequences of your actions."
Timothy bristled, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "I've already faced enough consequences, thanks to baseless accusations and false assumptions. I won't let you or anyone else keep me from what I love."
Mr. Porter sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, Timothy. I'll tell you what. If the hearing turns out in your favor, I'll consider reinstating you to the team."
A surge of hope coursed through Timothy's veins, his determination renewed. "Thank you, Mr. Porter. You won't regret this."
As Timothy turned to leave the room, Alex's voice cut through the air like a knife. "You think you've won, Timothy? You're delusional. You're going down, and mark my words, you won't get away with this."
Timothy's jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. He shot a glare at Alex, his resolve hardening. "We'll see about that."
With that, Timothy stormed out of the meeting room, his heart racing with a mixture of anger and determination. He wouldn't let anyone stand in his way, not Alex, not Mr. Porter, not anyone. He would fight tooth and nail to reclaim his rightful place on the hockey team, no matter what obstacles lay in his path.
Exiting the sports center, Timothy's mind buzzed with a whirlwind of emotions. The encounter with Mr. Porter and Alex had left him seething with anger, but beneath it all, a flicker of hope burned bright. If he could win his case in court, he would finally be able to prove his innocence and return to the team.
As he walked through the parking lot, his thoughts consumed by the upcoming hearing, Timothy's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen to see a text from his lawyer, reminding him of their meeting later that day to discuss the case.
With renewed purpose, Timothy pocketed his phone and continued on his way, his mind already racing with plans for the hearing. He may have faced setbacks and opposition, but he refused to be defeated. The battle for his innocence was far from over.
