Chapter 136

The faint hum of the laptop filled the room as I sat hunched over the kitchen table, my eyes fixed on the screen. Papers and

documents were spread out before me, a labyrinth of legal jargon and property disputes that had become my daily companions.

The case with Scarlett and Stella was a nerve-racking, but I was determined to see it through, to find a resolution that would

bring some semblance of justice.

Rain splattered against the windowpane, creating a soothing rhythm that danced with the tapping of my fingers on the keyboard.

It was a gloomy day outside, the sky painted in various shades of gray, as if nature itself were mourning.

Aria lounged on the couch nearby, her face buried in a book. Her disgruntled sigh filled the room like a, and she tossed the book

aside in frustration.

“This rain just won't quit,” she muttered. “I feel like I've been cooped up in here for days.”

I glanced up from my work, offering her a reassuring smile. “I don’t mind the rain,” I said softly. “It makes me feel like the world is

searching for a release, like most of

1. us.

Aria shot me a quizzical look, her brow furrowed in thought. “You're so cryptic sometimes, Evie,” she replied.

Returning to my research, I couldn’t help but reflect on the symbolism of the rain. It was as if the heavens themselves were

shedding tears for the injustices that continued in the world.

Scarlett was depending on me to untangle the mess that had ensnared their grandfather’s property, and I couldn’t afford to let

her down. The weight of her trust rested heavily on my shoulders.

Hours passed in a blur, and the rain outside continued its relentless assault on the windowpanes. I finally closed my laptop,

feeling the strain in my eyes and the tension in my shoulders.

Aria and I both heard it at the same time—a loud, angry voice that cut through the walls and sent a chill down our spines. Startled,

we exchanged glances before rushing to the front door, not knowing what to expect.

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As we flung the door open and stepped out into the narrow hallway, the scene that greeted us was unsettling. Timothy and Stella

were locked in a heated argument, their voices raising by the second.

“Timothy, why are you acting like a child?” Stella snapped, her frustration evident in her voice.

Timothy's nostrils flared as he retorted, “We didn’t agree on moving in together, Stella. I said I would take care of the child and be

with you in PUBLIC.”

Stella’s eyes blazed as she shot back, “Oh, is that what you said? It’s not like you have a choice, Timothy. You got me pregnant,

and you're going to be a father. We're doing this together, whether you like it or not.”

“I know it’s us, Stella,” he stated firmly. “But there is no ‘we’, like you seem to believe. This isn’t a marriage agreement.”

Stella’s gaze returned to Timothy, as if we were simply air drifting through the hallway, “It’s not just about you and me, Timothy.

There's a child involved- that deserves a father.”

-a child

Their words hung in the air, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness for the unborn child caught in the crossfire of their

mess.

As the argument continued, Aria and I stood there, uncertain of what to do or say. Just as I was about to suggest that we retreat

back into our apartment, Timothy and Stella noticed us standing there, their voices falling into an uneasy silence.

Timothy's eyes flickered between Aria and me, his anger momentarily overshadowed by surprise. Stella, on the other hand,

seemed unperturbed by our

presence.

Timothy pressed his lips into a thin line. “Sorry,” he said gently, cutting his gaze back to Stella. “We shouldn’t have been so loud.”

I wanted to speak up, but seeing Stella standing beside Timothy made me feel rotten inside. After she’d stormed into my

apartment and asserted her dominance. when it hadn’t even be necessary, I’d hoped to never see it again.

Something about Timothy bringing her back here, parading around the halls like she owned them, made my skin itch.

“How much did you hear?” Timothy asked suddenly, his eyes locking with mine.

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I exchanged a wary look with Aria, who seemed equally uncomfortable with the situation. “Enough,” I said.

Aria nodded in agreement, folding her arms securely in front of her.

Still bitter about the fact that Timothy had gotten Stella pregnant, I couldn't help but add, “It’s not just about the two of you

anymore. There’s a child involved, and that child deserves to have a father who's actively involved.”

Timothy's face tightened. “Evie, that’s not the problem here. You don’t. understand-”

“I understand enough,” I cut him off. “I understand that you think you can just jump around without a care in the world, like your

actions don’t affect those around you.”

He scoffed. “It’s not like that!”

Aria stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm. “Regardless of what it’s like, Timothy, the reality is that there’s a child on the way.

And that child deserves love and support from both parents.”

Stella, who had been mostly silent throughout our exchange, finally spoke, her voice filled with determination. “If you won't do

what's right, Timothy, then I'll speak to your father.”

Timothy's turned to her, eyes wide with disbelief. “What, are we in pre-school now? Are you going to go snitch to my father every

time I do something you don't like?” he spat.

“If it means getting you to follow through with your promises, then yes,” she said. matter—of-factly. “I can’t afford to have you

doing whatever you think suits your lifestyle. The baby and I come first.”

“That's not what I-'

“So that means you can either step up, or I'll not only tell your father, but the world about your inadequacy as a parent.”

Aria and I exchanged glances, realizing the gravity of the situation. Their relationship wasn’t the steamy romance that they had

shown on TV. These two were butting heads consistently, and an icy aura hovered around them.

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Chapter 136

Before Timothy could respond to Stella’s jab, Aria gently touched my arm, her eyes pleading with me to let the situation be. I

nodded in understanding, and we turned to head back into our apartment. Timothy called out to me, but I was already retreating

into the apartment.

As the door swung shut behind us, I sighed heavily and plopped myself on the couch. They had returned to arguing and it

continued to reverberate throughout the corridor.

I couldn't help but wonder if Timothy had ever truly been excited about the prospect of becoming a father. His anger read more

as resentment toward Stella, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he viewed the impending arrival of their child as a burden

rather than a blessing.

can't

Aria, her brow furrowed with concern, joined me on the couch. “Evie, you concern yourself with their mess,” she said gently, her

voice a soothing balm to my troubled thoughts. “Stella and Timothy have their own issues to work through.”

I sighed, my heart heavy with conflicting emotions. “I know, Aria,” I replied, my voice tinged with frustration. “But it's hard not to

wonder what’s going on with them.”

Aria placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Let it go.”

Taking a deep breath, I turned to Aria, my voice hesitant. “There’s something I need to tell you,” I began. “I’ve been working with

Scarlett, Stella’s sister, on a legal case against Stella.”

Aria’s eyes widened in surprise, her voice a mixture of shock and disbelief. “What?” she exclaimed, her anger simmering just

beneath the surface. “Stella has a sister?!?”

I winced at the shrillness in her voice. “Scarlett is sung Stella for their late grandfather's estate. Evidently, they both seem to

need the property.”

Aria’s expression hardened. “So you would be going against Stella?”

I hung my head. “Yep.”

“And Timothy?”

“Uh huh.”

“Damn.” She settled back into the seat, her gaze rolling up the ceiling. She

4/5

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drummed her fingers on her knees for a solid minute, then looked back at me with a pitiful expression.

“Wishing you luck,” she said with a smile, though it barely reached her eyes.

I snorted. “I’m going to need it.”

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