Chapter 80

Timothy's words about his challenging childhood had sparked a curiosity within me, a desire to understand the layers that he

guarded so fiercely.

I couldn't help but wonder if his childhood secrets mirrored my own — dark, sleepless days with only small glimmers of joy in the

mix. It was clear that his past was a realm he kept well- hidden.

As I smoothed on a rich moisturizer, I pondered the significance of his fleeting confession. A strict father, an absence of fun these

were mere fragments of a story that begged to be illuminated. But how could I breach the walls he had erected, a challenge that

seemed as daunting as my own struggles with vulnerability?

The moon’s gentle radiance cast a silvery glow across my room as I slipped into bed. I closed my eyes and allowed the weight of

the day to settle. Timothy's guarded past was a puzzle that tugged at my thoughts, a mystery that I was determined to unravel,

not just for my own curiosity, but for the connection that I sensed between us.

Just as I was about to shut my eyes, my phone lit up on the nightstand. The unexpected ring jerked me out of my state of calm,

prompting me to answer with a quick swipe. “Hello?” “Evie, it's Penny,” came her voice, sharp and focused.

I sat up against the headboard, a brief yawn coming over me. “Penny, it’s late. What’s going on?”

There was a moment of hesitation before Penny spoke, her tone measured. “I’ve been keeping an eye on the apartment area,

and I noticed something... off. There’s a woman who's been lurking around, but she hasn’t actually gone inside any of the

buildings.”

Ashiver danced down my spine as her words sank in. “A woman? Can you describe her?” Penny hummed. “She’s pretty far

away, so I can’t get too specific. She’s thin, with really long hair, and she’s wearing dark clothes.”

My heart quickened. There was a certain woman that had been around out apartments before, her hair long and her body stick—

thin. I bit my lip and looked at the empty velvet box that rested on my nightstand.

With the way she’d attempted to pick Timothy’s lock, it didn’t seem too far-

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fetched that she

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could scale her way into a gated community and pick the lock to my home... And steal my gift.

Penny's voice held a note of concern. “Do you know who it could be?”

I took a deep breath. “I have my suspicions.”

Penny’s next words were laced with determination. “I can keep an eye on her if

want.”

I sighed. “Would you, Penny? Make sure she’s still in sight, because I’m coming down.”

“On it!” she agreed.

As I hung up the phone, I felt a mixture of apprehension and resolve settle over me. With Aria already in bed, I needed to handle

this situation quietly. I slipped out of the apartment, the cool night air sending a shiver down my spine as I headed toward the

outdoor area.

you

Penny stood near the gate area, her posture alert as she scanned the surroundings. “She’s been moving around so quickly, but

she’s still here,” Penny reported as I approached. “Come on, then,” I told her, already pacing forth. “I want to catch her while we

still can.”

The cold night air nipped at my skin as I walked with Penny through the dimly lit pathways of the apartment complex. The gravity

of the situation weighed heavily on my heart, and I wondered how dangerous this idea might have been. Linda didn’t seem like

just any obsessed fan, her actions far surpassing instability.

Penny’s steps were purposeful, her eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. I could tell that she was experienced

in this line of work, her instincts finely tuned to detect even the slightest anomaly. As we approached the dumpster area, a flicker

of movement caught my eye, and my heart raced in anticipation.

“There she is,” Penny whispered, her voice barely audible above the rustling of the night breeze.

Linda was standing a few feet away, her posture tense and defensive. Her disheveled appearance seemed to blend seamlessly

with the darkness. I steadied my breaths as we closed the distance, losing my resolve with each step.

Fri, 22 Mar

As we approached Linda, her gaze shifted from Penny to me, her eyes a mix of defiance and unease. “What do you want?”

I took a deep breath, my voice steady as I responded, “We want to know why you've been lurking around here.”

Linda’s dismissive shrug did little to mask the unease in her expression. “Just unease in her expression. “Just passing by. What’s

it to you?”

I stepped forward, my voice firm. “Cut the act, Linda. I know you were in my apartment the other day.”

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Linda’s eyes narrowed, a hint of vulnerability flickering in her gaze. “So what if I was?” Penny’s voice cut through the tension, her

tone sharp. “Well, that’s illegal, for starters.” Linda’s bravado wavered, a hint of uncertainty dancing across her features. Her

eyes darted around, searching for a proper escape route that could evade Penny and I.

My patience was wearing thin. “Did you take something from my apartment, Linda?”

Asinister smile played at the corners of Linda’s lips, her fingers curling around something in her pocket. With a triumphant

flourish, she pulled out the crystalline balance and dangled it between her fingers. My breath caught in my throat, a surge of

emotions welling up within me.

“It was meant for me,” Linda declared, her voice infused with a strange mixture of desperation

and entitlement.

I scoffed. “Meant for you? That gift was for me.”

Linda’s gaze turned defiant, her eyes ablaze with a fierce determination. “He would have given it to me had you not made him

angry.”

“Linda, for crying out loud,” I began, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Why would he even give you something like that? You don’t

practice law.”

Linda clutched the figure in her hands. I cringed as I heard its delicate pieces clink together. “I could if that’s what he likes ina

girl,”

Penny stepped forward, stuffing her hands in her pockets. “Timothy doesn’t care

about you like that, Linda. You need to let go of this obsession.”

A flicker of doubt crossed Linda’s expression, her veneer of confidence cracking slightly. Her voice held a hint of desperation. “He

does care. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

Frustration and anger churned within me, but I managed to keep my composure. With a determined reach, I extended my hand

toward her. “Give it back, Linda.”

“Give it back?” she spat, her eye twitching. “You want me to give it back?”

Before I could react, Linda’s expression twisted into a manic grin. In one swift motion, she raised the figure above her head and

let it crash against the unforgiving concrete with a sickening crack. Time seemed to slow as the gift shattered, its contents

reduced to a heartbreaking mess of broken glass.

“Why would you do that?” I cried out, the ring of the crash barely out of my ears.

Linda’s laughter was chilling. “He cares about me. Fuck your stupid gift.”

With one last contemptuous look, she turned and fled into the darkness.

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