Chapter 164

TIMOTHY POV Timothy parked his car in the sprawling lot outside the grand building that Stella and her father had chosen as the venue for the wedding. The late afternoon sun bathed the surroundings in a warm, golden light, but Timothy felt far from peaceful.

There was a sense of determination as he made his way inside. Evie’s request had weighed heavily on his mind ever since their dinner together. She had asked him to convince Stella to grant him control over her properties, a task that seemed daunting given Stella’s fiercely controlling nature.

However, it also represented a chance to help Evie’s cause, and Timothy was determined to follow through.

As he walked through the ornate entrance of the venue, he couldn’t help but marvel at the grandeur of the estate. Rows of white chairs were neatly arranged on a meticulously manicured lawn, and the scent of fresh flowers hung in the air.

As Timothy walked into the venue, he was surprised to see Mr. Fitzgerald waiting for him. The older man greeted him with a warm smile, an unexpected gesture given the tense family dynamics.

“Timothy, my boy,” Mr. Fitzgerald said, extending a hand, “it’s good to see here.

you Timothy shook Mr. Fitzgerald’s hand. “Thank You for ha me, sir.”

Mr. Fitzgerald’s eyes twinkled with a hint of approval. “My father mentioned that you’ve been a great support during this wedding planning process. He’s quite impressed with you.”

Timothy forced a smile. “It’s been an honor to help, sir. I just want to see everything go smoothly.”

The older man nodded in agreement. “We could use all the help we can get, especially with all the extravagant wishes my daughter’s been making.”

Timothy couldn’t agree more. “Happy to contribute. It’s my wedding too, after all”

As they made their way inside, Timothy couldn’t help but wonder about the II A complex dynamics at play. Mr. Fitzgerald’s approval was surprising, and it made Timothy wonder if there was a chance to bridge the divide between Stella and him.

Inside, they found Stella, Mrs. Fitzgerald, Andy, and Kamran already waiting for them. The room was filled with an air of tension, and Stella’s expression was a mix of uncertainty and frustration.

Stella commented, “I wasn’t sure if this place was right. I mean, there’s always some struggle, isn’t there?”

Mrs. Fitzgerald, her tone laced with annoyance, responded, “Stella, we’ve been through this a hundred times. It’s a beautiful venue, and your father thought it was perfect.”

Andy chimed in, trying to diffuse the situation, “Stella, it’s going to be a great setting, trust me.”

Kamran stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on her arm. “Yes, Stella, don’t worry too much.”

Stella let out a frustrated sigh, her voice tinged with anger, “I just don’t know if the lighting will be good. I want to give the photographer something to work with.”

All at once, they all noticed Timothy’s arrival. Their sharp eyes rested on him as he passed by the barren tables and lined up chairs, trying his hardest not to fumble anything in their presence.

“I didn’t think you would even show up,” Stella said, glaring at him. “I’ve been stressing about this all day, and now I’m undecided.”

Timothy fought the urge to roll his eyes. Of course, she would be stressing over the most trivial aspects. Still, this was his chance to get on her good side, to offer her some comforting words.

“Stella,” he said, his voice calm and soothing, “I know this has been a challenging time for you, but I’m here to help in any way I can. Let’s focus on making this day as special as possible.”

Stella’s gaze met his, and for a moment, he saw a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. “Thank you, Timothy,” she said, her voice softer. “I just want everything to go smoothly.”

O A Mrs. Fitzgerald nodded in agreement. “We all do, Stella. Let’s put our differences aside for now and make this wedding a beautiful and memorable occasion.”

As the meeting continued, Timothy actively participated in the planning process, offering suggestions and solutions to case the tensions. He could see that Stella was slowly opening up to his ideas, and her family members were willing to listen to his input as well.

As the meeting concluded, Timothy couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had managed to ease the tensions in the room, and it seemed like a step in the right direction. It seemed that their fathers were pleased with the display of affection, and Timothy couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.

As they left the venue, Stella turned to him, surprise in her eyes. “Happy to see you being more cooperative. I thought you’d turn this into a disaster.

Timothy seized the opportunity to extend an olive branch. “Well, wedding planning can be stressful.

Figured I would take some extra stuff off your plate.”

Her scowl softened slightly, and she gave him a skeptical glance. “And when did you become such an expert on weddings, Timothy?”

He chuckled, trying to keep the conversation light. “Let’s just say I’ve picked up a thing or two along the way.”

Suddenly, Stella paused just at the entrance and turned to face him. She took a deep breath and looked up at him, her scowl having returned. “Alright, let’s get this over with. What’s this about?”

Timothy blinked. “What do you mean?”

“You’re being very willing,” she said, her eyes searching his. “You want something from me.

Timothy cleared his throat, steeling himself for the confrontation that was about to unfold. “When I said I’d help, that included helping with everything else. If I were to offer my assistance with your case, I would need your authorization to legally access your properties.”

Stella’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Authorization? Why on earth would I give you that?”

Timothy seized the moment to explain himself. “It’s for your own good, Stella.

111 O With your authorization, I can navigate the legalities more efficiently and ensure the best possible outcome for you. Besides, you won’t have to see Evie again.”

Stella’s eyes bore into Timothy, her skepticism palpable. “And what do you want, Timothy? Why are you suddenly so eager to help me?”

Timothy paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. “I don’t want you stressing yourself out by juggling so many things. We’ve had our differences, but right now, we need to be a united front.

It’s for the sake of our families.”

Stella’s expression softened, and her gaze wavered. “I never thought I’d see the day when Timothy Hayes would come to my rescue.”

He couldn’t help but crack a small smile. “Well, life has a way of surprising us, doesn’t it?”

Stella leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. “Fine, Timothy. I’ll consider your request, but I’ll need to see more commitment from you first. I can’t just hand over control of my properties.”

A sense of relief washed over him. “That’s fair.”

Before he could see it coming, Mr. Fitzgerald came up behind Timothy and clapped him on the shoulder. “Thank you for your help, Timothy. I’ll be looking forward to working with you in the near future.”

Timothy nodded, suppressing the need to cringe at his implication. “Looking forward to it, Mr.

Fitzgerald.”

As both Stella and her father walked away, Timothy felt a surge of frustration. He just wanted to get this over with, but he knew he had to oblige.

For Evie’s sake.

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