Chapter 137

The holiday season had descended upon the city like a blanket of snow, and with it. came a flurry of festive celebrations and

gatherings. Rain turned to a harsh slect, then into plush, dreamy snow.

The air was crisp and tinged with the scent of pine, and the city was adorned with twinkling lights and glittering decorations. For

Aria and me, however, the joys of the season were overshadowed by the lingering turmoil in our lives.

The tumultuous events involving Timothy and Stella had left us reeling. Of course, leave it to Lucas to introduce some fun back

into our lives. He extended an invitation to a company holiday party of his that night while he was over for dinner.

“We could all use a break from the chaos,” he had said with a warm smile.

When the night of the company party arrived, and Aria and I found ourselves standing in front of the grand entrance to the venue.

The building was bathed in a warm, golden light, and the strains of festive music wafted through the crisp winter air. We had

dressed in our holiday best, our attire a reflection of our desire to immerse ourselves in the festivities.

Lucas greeted us with a cheerful smile as we entered the venue, the ambiance of the party immediately washing over us. The

room was adorned with twinkling fairy lights and garlands of evergreen.

“Welcome!” Lucas exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious. He leaned in a hugged us both. “Glad you both made it.”

As the evening unfolded, Aria and I found ourselves swept up in the joyful atmosphere of the party. We laughed and danced with

Lucas‘ colleagues, letting go of the weight of our troubles for a little while. The music was infectious, and the camaraderie of our

coworkers created a sense of unity and belonging that we had. been craving.

Lucas was the life of the party, his energy and enthusiasm contagious. He led us in a spirited rendition of a holiday classic, and

soon, we were all singing and dancing together in joyful abandon.

As the night wore on, however, the strains of the music and the laughter of our coworkers began to fade into the background. My

thoughts inevitably turned to

115

Timothy. I found myself retreating into a corner for a moment, having to count my breaths as they grew more ragged.

Aria found me there, her concern evident in her eyes. “Evie, are you okay?” she asked, her voice filled with worry.

I turned to her, my emotions threatening to spill over. “I just can’t stop thinking. about him,” I admitted, my voice quivering with

anger and sadness. “I know he messed up, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s more to the story.”

Aria placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, her gaze filled with empathy. “I understand, Evie,” she said softly. “But you can’t

let his actions consume you. You’re better off now.

I nodded. She was right, of course, but letting go of the anger and resentment was easier said than done.

As we returned to the party, the night continued to unfold in a whirlwind of Excelebration and revelry. Aria and I joined in the

festivities once more, determined

to make the most of the moment and find solace in the joy of the season.

The pulsating music, the swirling lights, and the energetic chatter of the partygoers around me seemed to blur into a whirlwind of

colors and sounds. Lucas and Aria’s attempts to lift my spirits had worked to some extent, but the ache in my heart still throbbed

beneath the surface. I felt like I was floating through the night, detached from the revelry around me.

As we continued having fun on the dance floor, the rhythm of the music began to work its magic, pulling me back into the

present. For a brief moment, I let myself forget the pain that had consumed me for weeks. The beat of the song pounded in my

chest, and I twirled, feeling the weight of my worries momentarily dissipate. But then, as if the universe conspired to shatter my

fragile respite, my gaze landed on a pair of cold, disapproving eyes. An older man was looming in the midst of the fun, taking

sips of his champagne as he watched me from across the room. His coldness and disapproval were palpable, but even more

strange was the familiarity in his features.

My heart pounded in my chest, and my steps faltered as I returned his harsh stare.

Lucas noticed the change in my demeanor and leaned in to speak over the music. “Evie, what's wrong? You look like you’ve

seen a ghost.”

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My voice trembled as I struggled to form the words. “Lucas, who’s that guy?”

Lucas frowned, a troubled expression darkening his features. “Ugh, that’s Kamran Hayes. I didn’t know he’d be here, Evie.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Kamran H-Hayes?” I stuttered.

“Yeah!” Lucas rolled his eyes. “Timothy’s dad.”

“Timothy’s dad,” the words escaped my lips and I began to feel dizzy. I grabbed Lucas‘ sleeve for support. “What is he doing

here?”

Lucas shrugged. “He doesn’t seem like much of a party person, but he does work for another branch of our company, Fitzgerald

and Co.”

Aria, who had also caught sight of Kamran, chimed in, “Did you say Timothy's father?”

I shook my head, my anger flaring up like a sudden wildfire. “This is just perfect!” “Evie-” Aria reached out to me, but I forced a

laugh.

“I'm just getting a drink,” I told them, stepping away.

I excused myself from Lucas and Aria and headed toward the bar. Maybe a strong drink would help me get through the night.

However, as I approached the bar, I didn’t notice Kamran until it was too late. Our collision was accidental, but the tension in the

air was anything but unintentional. His piercing gray eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of recognition in his

gaze.

“Evie,” he said coldly, his voice as sharp as ice.

My anger flared up, and I clenched my fists. “Kamran,” I spat his name like a curse. “What are you doing here?”

He studied me with a calculating gaze. “This is a free country, isn’t it? I can go wherever I please.”

I took a deep breath, trying to quell the storm of emotions threatening to engulf me. “I-I suppose...”

“Well, it's nice to see you in person finally,” he continued. “I thought I got a good

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enough look, what, with your face plastered all over the news, but seeing you in 3D dimension offers a different perspective.”

“I don’t want anything to do with you or your family, Kamran,” I said quickly. “All that media outrage is just... Timothy and I aren’t-”

His lips curled into a disdainful sneer. “Ah, yes. My prodigal son, who tried to choose some gold—digging whore over his own

flesh and blood.”

My

clenched even tighter, and I could feel my face flush with anger. “Don't

you dare call me that! You don’t know anything about me!”

Kamran’s eyes narrowed, and his tone grew venomous. “Oh, I know enough. You took advantage of my son’s kindness and

attempted to drain him of everything he had. You're just like the rest of them.”

I couldn’t contain my rage any longer. Without a second thought, I grabbed a glass. of champagne from the bar and threw it in

Kamran’s face. The liquid splashed across his expensive suit, and the crowd around us fell silent, their attention drawn to the

explosive confrontation.

I glared at him, my voice laced with fury. “Screw you AND your son!”

Kamran wiped the champagne from his face, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and humiliation. “You'll regret this, Evie.”

I turned on my heel and stormed away from the bar, not caring about the stares. and whispers that followed me. I found Lucas

and Aria on the edge of the dance floor, their faces a mix of concern and confusion..

“Evie, what happened?” Lucas asked, his voice filled with worry.

I didn’t hold back my frustration. “That asshole happened!”

Lucas put a comforting arm around me. “Evie, let’s get out of here. This party’s dying down anyway.”

I nodded in agreement, my anger still simmering beneath the surface. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

We made our way to the exit, leaving behind the glittering lights and the pulsating music. As the cold night air hit my face, I felt a

mixture of relief and regret. Encountering Timothy’s father was like the next big hit to my ego.

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Chapter 137

Lucas squeezed my shoulder as we hailed a cab. “Don’t let him get to you. All those business guy types lack social awareness, it

seems.”

Aria added, “And you showed him who was boss anyway. Screw his perfect little

suit.”

As the cab pulled away from the party, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had made the right choice by confronting Kamran. The

anger and bitterness that had plagued me for weeks still clung to me like a heavy weight.

He told me that I’d regret it. From him, that didn’t sound like an empty threat. He could make this case a lot more complicated.

5/5

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