Chapter 61

The days following the scandal seemed to blur together, a chaotic whirlwind of media frenzy and public speculation. I couldn’t escape the constant updates and headlines that seemed to follow me everywhere I went. Even my workplace. offered no respite, as colleagues whispered and exchanged knowing glances in the corridors.

After another grueling day at the law firm, I found myself still consumed by thoughts of Timothy. I was going to speak to him, sooner or later. Inevitably, I would also have to mention that I’d actually met with Linda before everything fell apart.

With a sigh, I grabbed my bag and headed for the exit.

As I stepped out of the glass doors of the law firm, the bustling city greeted me with its usual chaotic energy. The weight of the day’s work still clung to me, but my thoughts were consumed by something far more unsettling the relentless. storm of scandal that had engulfed Timothy.

I knew I couldn’t stand idly by, allowing the rumors and accusations to spread unchecked.

Determination fueled my steps as I made my way through the crowded sidewalk, my mind set on one goal – checking on Timothy.

The sound of my heels clicking against the pavement was a rhythmic backdrop to the cacophony of city life. As I walked, I noticed a growing commotion ahead, a cluster of flashing cameras and eager voices.

My heart sank as I realized that the paparazzi had found their next target. Me.

Cameras clicked and flashes blinded me as I instinctively raised a hand to shield. my eyes.

Reporters clamored for my attention, shouting their usual symphony of accusatory and invasive questions.

“Evie, are you jealous of Linda?” one voice called out, the words slicing through the air like a dagger.

The question hit me like a tidal wave, catching me off guard. Jealous? Of Linda?

The mere thought was absurd, and yet the question hung heavy in the air, waiting for my response.

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My jaw clenched, and I felt a surge of frustration coursing through my veins. “Linda is a desperate nobody!” I shot back, my voice laced with a venomous edge.

The words tumbled out before I could even process them fully, a spontaneous retort fueled by resentment, and maybe fear. The cameras continued to flash, capturing my moment of defiance for the world to see.

With a harsh stride, I pushed past the paparazzi, my heart racing with a mix of emotions. I had no time for their relentless scrutiny – my focus was on Timothy.

Minutes later, I was standing before Timothy’s apartment door, my heart pounding in anticipation. I raised my hand to knock, but before my knuckles could make contact, the door swung open, revealing Timothy in a state of disarray.

His clothes were disheveled and his thick hair was a half–dried mess on the top of his head. His skin shined with a thin film of perspiration, or possibly shower water, as he stumbled out of the door with a loud sigh.

All at once, he noticed me standing there, eyeballing him.

His eyes met mine, a mix of surprise and relief washing over his features. “Evie,” he breathed.

“Hey, Timothy,” I greeted, offering a small but genuine smile. “How are you?”

Timothy tilted his head from side to side. “Could be better.”

I bit my lip. “Because of the news?”

He closed the door behind him, his gaze never leaving mine. “Have you seen what’s been going on?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, I’ve been keeping up.”

Timothy ran a hand through his hair, his frustration palpable. “I can’t believe this shit. I actually let that psycho into my home, and left her around my dog!”

I took a deep breath, slightly unnerved by his outburst. “Hey, you’ll get through this. You’re not exactly new to scandal.

וי “I want to believe that, Evie,” he said, his expression softening. “But it feels like everything is spiraling out of control.”

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I stepped closer to him, my hand reaching out to gently rest on his arm. “You’re not alone in this, Timothy. We’ll face it together, like before.”

He offered me a small smile. “Thank you, Evie.”

We stood there, a silent understanding passing between us. But Timothy’s restless energy soon got the better of him, and he soon stepped away from the door. He checked his watch and glared at the ceiling, “I’m supposed to will help at thi heet with my publicist later this afternoon. I’m not even sure it “Well, you can at least give it a shot,” I urged, my voice steady. “What really happened with Linda? I want to hear it from you.”

Timothy exhaled sharply.. “Nothing you haven’t seen, really. She posted a bunch of pictures of herself in my apartment, even though I trusted her as an employee only.”

I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “So there was no romance?”

“None,” he stated firmly, handing me his phone with Linda’s profile on the screen. “They were probably taken when I asked her to look Duke while I was away,” Timothy explained bitterly. “She’s twisting a simple favor into something it’s not.” I handed his phone back to him, my mind racing as I processed the information. While it wasn’t under the most ideal circumstances, I couldn’t help but feel relieved that Linda had only fantasized about their relationship. “What do you think she’s after?”

Timothy shook his head, frustration etched on his features. “Me, probably. Or at least the fantasy of having me, judging from how intimate some of these photos were.”

There were indeed some images of Linda strewn about Timothy’s bed, sitting seductively in lingerie with a glass of wine. I felt my hands tighten into fists, furious on Timothy’s behalf. What’s worse is that I had been in her home, blissfully unaware that she was unstable.

“Evie, I need you to believe me,” Timothy implored, his voice raw with emotion. “I never had any romantic involvement with Linda. She’s manipulating the situation, and I can’t let her destroy everything I’ve worked so hard for.”

The pieces of the puzzle were slowly falling into place, and I felt a growing sense of unease.

“I should have known something was off about Linda,” I told him. “When I met with her the other night for dinner, she seemed overly fixated on you. It was like she was trying to prove something, to show how close you two were.”

Timothy’s brow furrowed, his gaze locking onto mine. “What do you mean?”

I… I had dinner with Linda the other night,” I confessed, the weight of the truth heavy on my shoulders.

His eyes widened, a mixture of shock and hurt crossing his features. “You had dinner with her?”

I nodded, my heart sinking at the pain in his voice. “I wanted to see if there was any truth to the rumors. She seemed overly fixated on you, almost like she was trying to convince me of something.”

Timothy’s fists clenched at his sides, his frustration boiling over. “And you didn’t think to tell me about this?”

“I’m sorry, Timothy,” I said. “I didn’t want to upset you.”

He turned away, his breaths coming in heavy exhales.

“I know this is hard, Timothy,” I said softly, stepping closer to him. “But we’ll get through this. We’ll prove the truth, no matter what it takes.”

Timothy’s gaze met mine, but it was cold and distant compared to before. The weight of the truth hung heavily in the air, and I watched as Timothy’s expression shifted from determination to disbelief. His eyes bore into mine, searching for answers that I wasn’t sure I could provide.

Guilt gnawed at my conscience, and I averted my gaze for a moment before meeting his eyes once more. “I wanted to make sure there was no truth to the rumors before involving you. I didn’t want to add to your stress.”

Timothy’s jaw clenched, and I could see the emotions swirling within him. Hurt, anger, and a sense of betrayal danced in his eyes.

“Hiding that type of stuff from me is just as bad,” Timothy’s stated, his voice strained.

டட் “I’m sorry,” I offered, my voice sincere. “I thought I was doing what was best, but I see now that it was a mistake.”

Timothy’s shoulders slumped, a mix of emotions washing over him. “I don’t know who to trust anymore.”

The pain in his voice tugged at my heart, and I reached out, placing a hand on his arm. “You can trust me, Timothy. I’m here to support you, no matter what.”

He frowned. “After everything that’s happened, how can I be sure?”

A heavy sigh escaped my lips, and I searched for the right words to convey the depth of my commitment. “I understand why you’re upset, and I can’t change what happened. But I’m here now, and I want to help.”

Timothy’s gaze softened, and he let out a weary sigh. “I just… I need time to process all of this.”

“Timothy,” I began, the rest of my sentence dying off as he started turning away.

As he walked toward the elevator, a pang of guilt and regret settled in my chest. I had never intended my actions to cause him more pain.

For his sake, I was going to fix this. I would have to get creative though. Just who in the hell was Linda, and how could I knock her down for good?

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