Chapter 374

As Timothy and I stepped into the grand foyer of the mansion, the air thick with anticipation, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach. Kamran's unexpected invitation had left me feeling apprehensive, my mind swirling with a million questions and doubts.

As we reached Kamran's room, my heart quickened with nervous anticipation. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lay ahead, before stepping inside with Timothy by my side.

To my surprise, Kamran greeted us with a warm smile, his eyes shining with genuine affection. He was propped up on a plethora of pillows, his tired eyes taking us in. "Timothy, Evie, it's so good to see you both," he exclaimed, his voice filled with joy.

I couldn't help but feel a pang of surprise at his genuine warmth, even after everything that had transpired between us. It could’ve been the medicine talking.

"Kamran, it's good to see you too," Timothy replied, his tone cautious. "What did you want to talk to us about?"

Kamran's smile widened as he motioned for us to take a seat. "Please, sit down. There's something important I want to discuss with you both."

As we settled into the plush chairs by his bedside, Kamran's expression grew serious. "Timothy, Evie," he began, his voice soft but determined. "I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, and I realize that I may not have been as supportive of your relationship as I should have been."

I felt a surge of emotion welling up inside me – a mix of relief, gratitude, and disbelief. Had Kamran truly had a change of heart, or was this just another one of his manipulative tactics? He’d seemed genuine the last time, but one couldn’t be too sure.

"But I want you to know that I am truly sorry for any pain or hurt I may have caused," Kamran continued, his gaze sincere. "And I want to make it up to you – both of you."

Timothy's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean, Dad?"

Kamran's smile turned knowing as he turned to face us. "I want to help you with the wedding," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "Financially."

I felt my heart skip a beat at his words, my mind reeling with disbelief. “Y-You want to pay for our wedding?”

"But Dad, we can't accept that," Timothy protested, his voice filled with uncertainty. "We've already made plans to pay for the wedding ourselves."

Kamran shook his head, his expression determined. "I won't take no for an answer, Timothy. Consider it my wedding gift to you both – and a thank you, for showing me the error of my ways."

I could see the conflict raging within Timothy, his eyes flickering with uncertainty as he struggled to process Kamran's offer. "But Dad, we can't just accept your money like that," he protested, his voice tinged with frustration.

Kamran's gaze softened as he reached out to place a comforting hand on Timothy's shoulder. "Son, I know I haven't always been the best father," he admitted, his voice filled with regret. "But I want to do right by you – to support you and Evie in any way I can."

I could see the turmoil in Timothy's eyes as he wrestled with his emotions, torn between pride and stubbornness. But deep down, I knew that he wanted nothing more than to accept his father's offer – to mend the rift between them and move forward, together as a family.

With a heavy sigh, Timothy finally relented, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Okay, Dad," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "We'll accept your offer – but only on one condition."

Kamran raised an eyebrow in surprise. "And what's that, Timothy?"

Timothy's gaze softened as he met his father's eyes. "That you'll be there for us – not just financially, but emotionally," he replied, his voice filled with emotion. "That you'll support us in our marriage without interfering."

Kamran's expression softened as he reached out to envelop Timothy in a tight embrace. "Of course, Tim," he murmured. "I can handle that."

The tension that had filled the air dissipated slowly as Timothy and Kamran shared a few moments of heartfelt conversation, leaving me to marvel at the unexpected turn of events. I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope as I watched father and son begin to mend their fractured relationship, their bond stronger than ever.

As Timothy and Kamran continued to talk, I took a moment to look around the opulent room. I couldn't deny the sense of gratitude that welled up inside me. Perhaps Kamran truly had had a change of heart – perhaps he was sincere in his desire to make amends.

Kamran started to have a coughing fit, and Timothy jolted out of his seat on instinct. Kamran waved him off as the coughs wracked his body.

“The medicine makes my throat dry. Awful side effect,” Kamran said as he snatched a tissue off the side table. “Could you go fetch me a glass of water?”

“Of course,” said Timothy as he propelled toward the door. He kissed my cheek as he left, leaving me in Kamran’s presence, which was startling calm.

Kamran turned to me with a warm smile, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Evie, can I have a word with you for a moment?" he asked, motioning for me to follow him.

“Yes,” I murmured. I felt a surge of apprehension wash over me as I approached the bed. He took my hand in his and gave it a squeeze.

His expression softened, his eyes filled with genuine affection. "Evie, I wanted to talk to you about something," he began, his voice gentle.

I braced myself for the worst, steeling myself for disappointment. "What is it, Kamran?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

To my surprise, Kamran's next words took me completely off guard. "Evie, I know that we haven't always seen eye to eye," he began, his tone sincere. "But I want you to know that I truly appreciate everything you've done for Timothy – and for our family."

I blinked in surprise, caught off guard by his unexpected words of praise. "Thank you, Kamran," I murmured, my voice filled with gratitude. "That means a lot to me."

Kamran smiled, his eyes warm with affection. "I wanted to offer you something," he continued, his voice filled with sincerity. "I know that your father isn't here to walk you down the aisle on your wedding day – but if you would appreciate it, I would be honored to step into that role for you."

I felt my heart skip a beat at his words, a rush of emotion flooding through me. Kamran's offer was unexpected, yet incredibly touching – a gesture of kindness and acceptance that I never thought I would receive from him.

"Thank you, Kamran," I said, my voice choked with emotion. "I would be honored to have you walk me down the aisle."

Kamran's smile widened, his eyes shining with pride. "It would be my pleasure, Evie," he replied, his voice filled with warmth. "I promise to do everything in my power to make your wedding day special."

I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over me. Perhaps Kamran wasn't the villain I had always believed him to be – perhaps there was more to him than met the eye.

But as the moment passed, a sudden thought crossed my mind – an idea that had been brewing in the depths of my subconscious. "Kamran, there's something else I wanted to ask you," I began, my voice hesitant.

Kamran raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What is it, Evie? Anything you need, just name it."

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to broach the subject. "I was wondering if you could do me a favor," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "But it's something I need to keep between us – at least for now."

Kamran nodded, his expression serious. "Of course, Evie. You can count on me."