Chapter 170

The discovery of Stella and Andy’s affair had left Timothy seething with anger and a newfound sense of determination. He couldn’t allow their betrayal to go unpunished, not when the truth could help Evie’s case against Stella. As he sped through the rain–soaked streets, his grip on the steering wheel tightened with each passing moment.

The rain fell in a steady, unforgiving downpour, reflecting the tempest within Timothy’s heart. He drove with a singular purpose, the images of Stella and Andy flashing in his mind. They had been free to do as they pleased with one another, meanwhile. Timothy had been “tasked” to stay away from Evie, not like he would have.

Timothy parked his car, the engine rumbling to a halt. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling. The rain battered his car’s windshield, echoing his tumultuous emotions. He reached for the umbrella resting on the passenger seat and stepped out into the unforgiving weather.

The walk to Stella’s apartment felt longer than it ever had before. Each step carried him closer to the confrontation he had been dreading and desiring in equal measure. His knuckles turned white around the handle of the umbrella as he approached her door, ready to knock and face the woman who had shattered his trust.

The rain–slicked path seemed to stretch endlessly, every second drawing him closer to the precipice of his emotions. Finally, he stood before Stella’s door, raindrops dancing on the surface of the umbrella. His heart pounded like a drum, the adrenaline coursing through his veins urging him to take action.

As he reached Stella’s door, he noticed that it was slightly ajar, and his heart sank. He could hear murmured voices from inside, and a knot of unease formed in his stomach.

He let down his umbrella and propped it against the wall by the door, prepared for any confrontation to take place. Clearly, Stella wasn’t alone.

Just as he was about to push the door open, it swung wide, revealing a sight that Timothy had expected. Andy, disheveled and looking as guilty as a child caught stealing cookies, emerged from Stella’s apartment. He glanced up and met Timothy’s gaze, his eyes widening in surprise.

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11 31 Mon, 25 Mar “Timmy.” Andy stammered, his voice trembling. “I didn’t expect to see you here. I, uh, had some business with Stella. Important stuff.”

Timothy’s anger flared, and he clenched his fists, struggling to contain it. “Business, Andy?” he hissed through gritted teeth. “Is that what you call it? You’ve been doing more than just ‘business‘

with Stella, haven’t you?”

Andy’s face paled, and he fumbled for words, but before he could respond, Stella appeared from the shadows of her apartment. She wore an expression of innocence that made Timothy’s blood boil. “Timothy, darling,” she said sweetly. “What brings you here?”

Timothy’s jaw tightened as he stared at her, his eyes filled with a burning rage. “Cut the act, Stella,”

he snapped. “I know exactly what you’ve been doing with Andy behind my back.”

Stella’s eyes widened in shock, her mask slipping for the first time. “What are you talking about?”

she stammered, her voice trembling.

Timothy looked to see Andy already running to his car. His car roared to life and he barely took a minute before peeling out of the lot, the rain splashing beneath his tires.

Timothy looked back at Stella, noticing the hurt on her face, and he took a step closer. His voice icy and laced with venom, and began, “Don’t play dumb with me, Stella. You and Andy have been getting pretty physical behind my back.”

Stella’s shoulders slumped, and she let out a shaky breath. She couldn’t deny it any longer. “You say that like you actually care”

“I don’t,” he said without hesitation, shutting the door behind him. “Not that part, at least. You’ve been nagging me about Evie this whole time, saying she’ll ruin your wedding plans, when all along you’ve been screwing around with my brother.”

“So then we’re even!” Stella snapped, jamming a finger into his chest. “Come on, Tim, don’t ask so high and mighty. You know better than I what you would’ve done. with her had your reputation not been on the line.”

“Because of the baby, right?” Timothy asked, raising an eyebrow.

This made Stella pause, and she looked down at her stomach, as if to check if it was still there.

Timothy/shook his head.

Chepet 170 “I want you to have another paternity test done, Stella,” he said eventually, and Stella’s eyes bugged.

“Excuse me?” she gasped.

“This time, with Andy involved. If the results are different from the one showed me, you can say goodbye to your precious reputation, your career, and your comfortable life. I’ll make sure the world knows what you’ve done.”

Stella’s eyes darted around, and her desperation showed. “And what if the results. are the same, Timothy? What then?”

He leaned in closer, his breath hot against her car, and his voice became a menacing whisper.

“We’ll just have to find out, won’t we?”

Desperation clawed at her, and she rushed to her desk, grabbing a legal packet and shoving it at him. “Fine! Here! These are the authorization papers you wanted. It’s what you wanted, right?”

Her eyes were pleading as he glanced down at the documents, surprised that she’d even remembered, let alone considered it.

“And I’ll drop the protective order against Evic,” she added hastily, practically throwing out random promises at that point. “Just please, don’t do anything drastic,” she added.

Timothy took the papers, his eyes never leaving Stella’s. “You do that,” he said icily, before turning on his heel and leaving her apartment without another word.

As Timothy walked back to his car, a mixture of triumph and bitterness swirled within him. He had forced Stella’s hand, but he couldn’t shake the sense of betrayal that still weighed heavily on his heart. The woman he had loved and trusted had been lying to him, deceiving him with another man, and it was a wound that cut deep.

Once inside his car, he took out his phone and dialed Evie’s number. She answered after a few rings, her voice laced with anticipation. “Timothy? What’s going on?”

Timothy sighed, feeling lighter than ever. “She signed them.”

There was a moment of silence at first, then Evie stuttered, “The authorization papers? She actually signed them?”

III 7 “Yep.” He started up his car and buckled his seatbelt. “I got her to sign them.”

“That’s amazing!” she shouted at first, then grunted before assuming a more professional tone.

Timothy couldn’t help but chuckle.

“That’s good,” Evie corrected herself. “Bring them over. We move from here.”

can discuss our next Timothy sighed heavily. “I just hope it’s all worth it in the end.”

Evie’s tone turned reassuring. “It will be, Timothy. The truth has a way of coming out, and we’re one step closer to it now. I’ll see you soon.”

With that, they hung up, and Timothy slipped his phone back into his pocket. A sense of accomplishment began to mingle with the simmering anger that still lingered within him. He had done what needed to be done, and now things were set in motion.

As he drove away from Stella’s apartment building, he couldn’t shake the feeling of freedom that coursed through him. It was as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and the knowledge that he had forced Stella’s hand gave him a newfound sense of power. The rain continued to pour, but it no longer felt oppressive; instead, it washed away the residue of his anger, leaving behind a cool, cleansing sensation.

Yet, there was also a hint of anxiety that clung to him. Evie’s casual invitation, to her whom no less, had caught him off guard. It wasn’t just the fact that they were meeting outside their usual professional settings, but the way she had said it had left him slightly anxious.

It felt like an invitation into her personal space, an invitation he hadn’t been prepared for.

However, as he glanced in his rearview mirror, he couldn’t help but notice a figure. in the doorway of Stella’s apartment building. It was her, standing there in the rain, her eyes fixed on him with a look of indignation. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still.

The sight of Stella watching him sent a shiver down Timothy’s spine. There was no guilt in her eyes, no remorse for her actions. They didn’t need to exchange apologies; the damage had already been done. He tore his gaze away from her and focused on the road ahead, his grip on the steering wheel tightening.

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