Chapter 134

intrusion into my life had left a bitter taste in my mouth. Her revelations. about Timothy’s impending fatherhood had shaken me to

the core, but I refused to let her manipulative games control my actions. As I sat in my apartment, grappling with the tumultuous

emotions that her visit had stirred, a sense of determination began to take root within me.

I had spent too long allowing others to dictate the course of my life, to push me into corners and force me to confront my past. It

was time for me to make my own choices, to reclaim my sense of agency and purpose. And there was one decision that I knew

could serve as a defiant act against Stella’s attempts to control

1.me.

With a sense of resolve, I retrieved my laptop and began to compose an email. The recipient's name brought forth a mixture of

anticipation and trepidation—Scarlett Fitzgerald. Her case had been an intense matter, but I was willing to take the risk, to spite

Stella and assert my independence.

Subject: Regarding Your Case

Dear Ms. Fitzgerald,

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to reach out and express my willingness to take on your case.

I understand the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the matter, and I believe that my legal expertise could be of great

assistance to you. While some tensions and conflicts may arise, I am prepared to put those aside and focus on providing you

with the best legal counsel possible.

Please let me know if you are interested in moving forward, and we can arrange a meeting to discuss the details further.

Sincerely, Evie

As I hit the send button, a mixture of emotions washed over me. I knew that my decision carried risks and uncertainties, but it

was a deliberate choice to assert my autonomy and defy Stella’s attempts to control my life. It was a small act of rebellion, a step

toward reclaiming my sense of self.

Minutes felt like hours, and I waited anxiously for Scarlett’s response. Each passing

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second brought a mounting sense of anticipation and unease. I couldn't predict how she would react to my offer, although she

had seemed pretty willing, despite my list of controversies.

Finally, an email notification appeared in my inbox, and my heart skipped a beat as I opened it.

Subject: Re: Regarding Your Case

Dear Evie,

I must admit that I am ecstatic about receiving your email. You had seemed rather hesitant, and I was concerned that your

uncertainty would end in rejection.

That being said, I am in desperate need of legal counsel, and your reputation as a skilled attorney is undeniable. I do not waste

my time entertaining petty news outlets and their conspiracies, so any speculation over your talents would not appeal to me. I

know what king of lawyer I saw during Timothy’s case.

I want that lawyer on my side.

Please let me know when we can meet to discuss the details further.

Sincerely, Scarlett.

Relief washed over me as I read Scarlett’s response. Her willingness to accept my offer was a step in the right direction, a

chance to put our past conflicts behind us. and focus on the legal matter at hand. It was a small victory, but it felt like a significant

one.

I quickly composed a reply, proposing a meeting to discuss the details of her case. The prospect of representing Scarlett, with all

the complexities and challenges it entailed, was both daunting and exhilarating. Here was the universe handing me another

chance.

An hour later, my phone buzzed with an incoming call, and I saw Scarlett’s name flashing on the screen. I answered quickly.

“Hello, Scarlett.”

“Hi, Evie. It’s time,” Scarlett said urgently. “I've scheduled the meeting with Stella for this evening. Do what you can to get

prepared.”

I took a deep breath, my resolve firm. “Alright,” I replied, though my heart was racing. The impending confrontation with Stella,

with all the tensions and conflicts.

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it carried, was a daunting prospect.

The tension in the room was palpable as I sat across from Scarlett, waiting for Stella to arrive. Scarlett had grown increasingly

agitated as the minutes ticked by, her frustration mounting with each passing moment of Stella’s delay. I could see the worry

etched on her face, and I couldn’t help but share in her unease.

“She’s an hour late, Evie,” Scarlett bemoaned, checking her watch. “I don’t know what’s taking her so long!”

I could only offer a sympathetic nod in response. Stella’s blatant disregard for punctuality was nothing surprising, but it was a

blatant display of her arrogance that I intended to crush over time.

Finally, the door swung open, and Stella entered the room with an air of casual indifference.

“Apologies for my tardiness,” Stella remarked, her tone unapologetic as she took a seat at the table. “I’m here now, so let’s settle

this.”

Scarlett scrunched her nose. “Stella, we’ve been waiting for an hour!” she snapped.

Stella waved off Scarlett’s concerns. “I had more important matters to attend to,” she replied casually, as if her time were

inherently more valuable than anyone else’s.

Scarlett took a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions in check. “Let's just get this over with,” she said, her voice weary.

As the discussion began, Scarlett appealed to my sympathies, sharing the struggles she had faced over the years. She

described how Stella had been squandering their late grandfather’s money, leaving Scarlett and her daughter, Olive, with nothing

but uncertainty and instability.

“All I wanted was a home for Olive and me,” Scarlett pleaded. “A place where we could have some space.

I couldn't help but feel a surge of empathy for Scarlett. She had a whole child that she wanted to build a life for, but Stella

remained resolute in her determination to claim the estate.

3/5

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“I need it more,” Stella insisted, her voice unwavering. “We have plans for it, Timothy and 1, and I won't let it slip through my

fingers.”

The meeting grew increasingly tense as the two women clashed, their emotions running high. Scarlett’s appeals for fairness and

stability were met with Stella’s. baseless claims for needing a bigger space for her own kid. Part of me wanted it to be a lie, for

the kid to be some fabrication that could easily have her side dismissed.

As the discussion reached its climax, Stella delivered a chilling ultimatum. “Think about your decision, Scarlett,” she warned, her

voice carrying a veiled threat. “You wouldn’t want to risk losing more than just the estate.”

That statement made us both pause. This made Stella grin and she adjusted herself so that she was standing above us.

“Like that precious little girl of yours,” she finished, her eyes darkening.

Scarlett couldn’t hide her anger any longer, her frustration and fear bubbling to the surface. She stood abruptly, her chair

scraping against the floor.

“You will not lay a finger on my daughter. Your niece!” Scarlett declared, her voice. trembling with indignation.

With that, Scarlett stormed out of the room, leaving me slightly unnerved by Stella’s stoic countenance after the fact,

Suddenly, she turned her attention to me, her expression unyielding. “You should know, Evie,” she began, her voice laced with

menace, “that I have a lawyer. You'll be hearing from them.”

The warning hung in the air like a dark cloud. She was planning on pushing this further. Stella’s ruthlessness knew no bounds,

and I couldn’t help but feel, growing sense of unease as I contemplated the challenges that lay ahead.

As I left the meeting, I couldn’t shake the feeling that a storm was brewing.

I knew that Stella would stop at nothing to claim what she believed was rightfully hers, and I couldn't ignore the weight of the

impending legal battle. What made her promise worse was that it also brought on the inevitable.

Timothy would be involved.

AIS