Chapter 131

“Oh!” I pressed my lips int a flat line, preparing myself for the disgusted reaction. However, she looked more intrigued than anything. “How can I help you, Miss Fitzgerald?”

Scarlett extended a well–manicured hand toward me, and I hesitantly shook it. Her grip was firm, her palm cool against mine.

“Please, call me Scarlett,” she insisted, her tone warm and inviting. “I hope I’m not intruding, but I’ve heard some things about you, and I was hoping we could talk.”

My mind raced with questions, but I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of familiarity with this woman. “Of course, Scarlett,” I replied, my voice more composed.

She smiled brightly. “Excellent! Whenever you’re done.”

“I’m on break now. We can sit in one of those booths over there,” I told her, pointing to the seating area behind her.

She nodded, and together, we navigated through the maze of tables and patrons, heading toward a dimly lit corner of the restaurant. The soft glow of a floral lamp. bathed the area in a warm, golden light. Scarlett took a seat on a plush velvet chair, and I settled into the one opposite her.

As I studied her face in the gentle illumination, I noticed a hint of sadness lurking in her emerald eyes. “I apologize for how sudden this is, but I felt compelled to speak with you. You see, I’ve been following your story.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a rush of anxiety wash over me. “I appreciate your interest, Ms.

Fitzgerald,” I replied, my voice cautious. “But I’m just a waitress trying to make ends meet.”

She nodded sympathetically, her eyes never leaving mine. “I understand that, Evie. But your story touched me deeply. You see, I’ve been where you are, struggling to find my place in the world.”

I studied Scarlett’s face, trying to discern the truth behind her words. Her elegance. and wealth seemed worlds apart from my own circumstances, and I couldn’t help but wonder what common ground we could possibly share.

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She continued, her voice soft and introspective. “I come from a family of privilege and expectation. I was expected to follow a certain path, to conform to society’s standards of success. But I chose a different path, one that led me away from the world I knew.”

I listened intently, feeling a sense of connection with Scarlett’s words. The weight of societal expectations and the pressure to conform had been driving forces in my own life, pushing me to make choices that were not true to myself.

Scarlett leaned in closer, her expression earnest. “Evie, I see a strength in you, a resilience that mirrors my own journey. I believe that your story deserves to be heard, that it could inspire others who are struggling to find their own path.”

I couldn’t help but be moved by Scarlett’s sincerity, although she had yet to expose her intentions for this meeting. It all just felt odd and even suspicious.

You look familiar,” I couldn’t help but blurt out as I gazed at Scarlett.

She gave me a sad smile. “I get that a lot,” she replied. “I have a sister, Stella, who looks very much like me. I’m sure you’ve seen her in the news.”

Stella Fitzgerald. The name sent shivers down my spine. Especially now that it was attached to Timothy’s.

I nodded slowly, piecing things together. “I see,” I said quietly.

Scarlett’s expression darkened, and she leaned in closer. “I’ve been having some trouble with Stella recently. It involves my late grandfather’s estate.”

The suggestive tone in her voice had me on the edge of my seat. I was no stranger to hearing about property disputes, but it wasn’t typically between two wealthy individuals.

“It’s been pretty messy,” she admitted, her voice laced with frustration. “Stella’s determined to keep everything for herself, and I can’t let her get away with it.”

I hesitated, my past with Stella and the fallout from that case flashing before my eyes. “Why do you want my help, Scarlett?” I asked, my tone cautious. “I’m sure you’ve seen and heard the scandal around me.”

Scarlett’s gaze bore into mine, her eyes unwavering. “I know,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “But I also know that you, of all people, would understand why I can’t let her win, Stella could ruin my life, just as she ruined yours.”

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4 I felt a chill run down my spine at Scarlett’s words. A tumultuous legal battle in the making, especially one involving Stella and potentially Timothy. Jasper and Erickson destroyed my career, but Stella could destroy me as a person.

“I can’t just jump into another mess like this,” I told her, my voice low. “It could ruin my career, Scarlett.”

She leaned in closer, her voice a desperate whisper. “I can offer you more than just money, Evie. I can offer you the chance to expose Stella’s secrets, to make her pay for what she’s done.”

The thought of uncovering Stella’s hidden sins was tempting, and it gnawed at the corners of my conscience. But the risks were immense, and I couldn’t help but remember the toll that my previous encounters with Stella had taken on me.

“Money alone won’t be enough to sway me. I insisted, my resolve firm. “And exposing her secrets could lead to a legal battle that could destroy both of us.”

Scarlett’s eyes held a glint of desperation, and she reached into her handbag, producing a thick envelope. She slid it across the table toward me, and my heart skipped a beat when I caught sight of the substantial sum of money within.

Tm willing to pay up front,” Scarlett said, her voice filled with urgency. “Please, Evie, think about it.

You know what’s at stake, and you know that justice needs to be served.”

I glanced at the envelope, the allure of the money warring with my better judgment. The scars from my past battles, especially the one with Stella, were still fresh. But Scarlett’s plea touched a nerve, and the promise of justice lingered like a beacon in the darkness.

“Tll think about it,” I finally conceded, my voice heavy with uncertainty. “But I need time to consider the implications and the risks.”

Scarlet nodded, her relief palpable. “Thank you. Evie.‘ she said her gratitude evident. I know this isn’t an easy decision, but I believe you’re the only one who can help me.”

She took out a slip of paper and a pen and scribbled down a number. She slid it across the table and placed her hand over my own just as I reached for it “Here’s my number if you change your mind,” she said softly. Take care. Evie.

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10:43 As she rose to leave, her words hung in the air, and I watched her retreating figure, torn between the past and the uncertain future. The money offered a tempting escape from my financial woes, but my conscience wrestled with the potential consequences of confronting Stella once more.

Just when i thought I could walk away, her was Stella’s sister to turn me back around. I had mentally prepared myself for the less favorable outcome while burying any past demons. Going back into the fray felt like digging up old wounds that had barely healed.

But Scarlett’s plea for justice and the promise of exposing Stella’s secrets tugged at my sense of right and wrong. The thought of bringing Stella to account for her actions, of unearthing the truth, was a powerful motivator.

I looked down and spotted the envelope that was still rested on the table. I snatched it up and slid out of the seat before calling out to her.

“Scarlett! You left your-”

I looked around, but there was no sign of her. I lowered my arm and pressed the envelope to my chest. I couldn’t tell how much she left me, but it was far from insignificant.

And it was far from unintentional.

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