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Chapter 181

EVIE POV

As the day waned and the evening sun painted the sky in shades of twilight, I found myself in the living room. The atmosphere

was filled with tranquility as the girls laughed and chatted, each wrapped in the comforting embrace of their friendship. It was a

sight that tugged at my heartstrings, a reminder of the connections I had longed for during my own youth but never truly

experienced.

I watched the girls in silence, a pang of regret gnawing at my heart. How different my own childhood had been. I had always felt

like an outsider, struggling to find my place among my peers. The idea of having a close-knit group of friends like Olive did

seemed like a distant dream—one that I had never been able to realize.

My thoughts shifted to Timothy and the role he had played in making Olive’s birthday special. It was hard to deny the genuine

kindness he had shown, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude. Despite the complexities of our history, he had stepped

up to help out when it mattered.

I considered the idea of approaching him, of breaking the silence that had hung between us for so long. A part of me longed to

thank him, to express my appreciation for what he had done. But the fear of reopening old wounds and unraveling the carefully

constructed boundaries kept me hesitating.

In the end, I decided on a simple, non-intrusive way to convey my gratitude. I would offer a small token of thanks, a gesture that

wouldn't demand a response or delve into the past. A slice of birthday cake and a handwritten note seemed fitting.

I cut a delicate slice of the birthday cake that Olive had enjoyed so much. It was a sweet, symbolic gesture, a way of

reciprocating the kindness Timothy had shown. As I settled in the living room, I took a sheet of paper and penned a short

message: “Figured I'd return the favor.”

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With the note and cake slice in hand, I made my way to Timothy's door. The familiar sensation of anxiety crept up, but I pushed it

aside, determined to follow through with my simple act of gratitude. I placed the cake slice and the note outside his door,

ensuring it was visible.

I stepped back, taking a moment to reflect on the choice I had made. It was a step, a small one, but a step nonetheless, I had

acknowledged the kindness Timothy had shown, and I had expressed my gratitude. There was no need for further action or

conversation, just the assurance that my appreciation had been communicated...

The night air was cool, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves as I returned to the living room. I settled into a chair, my gaze once

again drawn to the girls. who were now engaged in a game. Their laughter and camaraderie were a bittersweet reminder of the

connections I had missed in my own youth.

As I watched them, I found a sense of solace in knowing that Olive had the kind of friendship I had yearned for. I may not have

experienced it myself. but seeing her surrounded by friends brought me a profound happiness. The cycle of life continued, and

my hope was that Olive’s journey would be filled with the love and support she deserved.

TIMOTHY POV

The next morning, the sun had barely begun its ascent when Timothy awoke to the persistent whimpering of Duke. Groggily, he

dragged himself out of bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. When nature called for his dog, the need for an alarm clock felt

foolish.

y slipped into a pair of sneakers and hooked Duke’s leash onto his collar. The morning air was crisp, and a calm silence settled

over the

Timothy apartment complex as he made his way to the exit.

As he stepped out. Timothy noticed a small, unexpected surprise waiting for him at his doorstep. It was a slice of birthday cake,

carefully placed on a paper plate with a note beside it. His heart swelled with gratitude when he saw Evie’s familiar handwriting-

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He couldn't help but smile as he picked up the cake. It was a simple gesture, but it spoke volumes. Evie was still considering

him, still willing to extend an olive branch, even after everything that had transpired between them.

Timothy decided to bring the cake inside, his steps light with a renewed sense of hope. He left it on the kitchen counter before

heading apartment with Duke, who was now more than eager to take care of his business.

Ut of the

As he walked through the complex’s parking lot, his thoughts were occupied by the cake and what it represented. He couldn’t

help but wonder about the unresolved tension between him and Evie. The events of Olive’s birthday had rekindled emotions and

memories he had tried to keep locked away

for Evie's sake.

His own thoughts were interrupted when he spotted Stella sitting in her car in the parking lot. Her face was streaked with tears,

and she seemed to be in distress. Timothy's instinct was to approach her, to offer some form of support, even though their

relationship was far from amicable.

He opened the passenger-side door and leaned in. “Stella, what’s wrong?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern..

Stella looked up, her eyes red and swollen from crying. “Scarlett’s still in the hospital,” she replied in a shaky voice, her words

weighted with despair.

His expression softened. From what he’d seen, the two weren't close, but Stella still found it in her heart to care. Of course, he

quickly remembered that hadn't heard from Stella in days, and the tension soon returned.

“Why haven't you been answering my calls?” Timothy asked, his frustration seeping into his voice. He had tried to reach her

multiple times but had received no response. He suspected Andy played a role in that.

Stella’s shoulders slumped, and she shook her head. “I... I didn’t realize. My phone was on silent, and I wasn’t taking any calls.”

She seemed lost in her

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Timothy's concern deepened as he realized the gravity of the situation. He felt like testing her then, because Andy seemed far

more honest than she was. Even if it was solely so he could gloat, though Timothy couldn't bring himself to care that much.

“Where have you been? I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.”

Stella’s voice wavered as she replied, “It doesn’t matter where I’ve been, Timothy.”

Timothy frowned. He shouldn't have expected an integrity from her.

“Can I come up to your apartment? I just need someone to talk to. You're the only person willing to listen to me.”

Timothy hesitated, torn between his natural instinct to offer support and the complex situation he found himself in. His mind raced

as he thought of Olive and Evie, who were still in their apartment. He knew that having Stella in that environment could lead to a

scene he wished to avoid. Timothy sighed heavily and looked at her. “Stella, it’s not a good idea. Evie and Olive are up there,

and I can’t have you causing a scene.”

Stella’s eyes welled up with tears, and her tone grew more desperate. “I don’t want to cause trouble, Timothy. I’m just scared and

hurt. I thought you. could understand.”

But Timothy held his ground, firm in his decision. “I’m sorry, Stella, but it’s not a good time. You should head back to the hospital

and be with your

sister.”

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Frustration and anger welled up within Stella. She shot him an accusatory look and said, “I dropped the protective order, Timothy.

I thought we could at least be civil in a situation like this.”

Timothy was stunned to hear those words. he hadn’t expected her to actually drop it. Her concern for her secret affair getting

leaked to the public seemed to overpower her hate for Evie.

Stella drove off, leaving Timothy to ponder the situation. He had never seen Stella in that kind of state, and he feared that

something worse would come out of that.