Chapter 76

Panic surged within me, my mind racing through a series of possibilities. Had someone broken in and taken it? Did Aria know what had happened? I fought to keep my thoughts from spiraling into a whirlwind of worst–case scenarios, but the anxiety that gripped me was hard to ignore.

I rushed from room to room, my search growing more frantic with each passing moment. My calls for Aria went unanswered, the only response the haunting echo. of my own voice. Tears stung my eyes as I stood in the center of the living room, the weight of the situation sinking in.

After gaining some fame, there were probably quite a few people who had a personal vendetta against me. Bruce was a given, although his whereabouts were unknown. There was also Stella, who I hadn’t seen since the trial.

The sound of the front door creaking open pulled me from my distressing thoughts, and I turned to see Aria stepping in, a puzzled look on her face. “Hey, Evie, what’s with all the-” Before she could finish her sentence, her eyes landed on the empty velvet box in my hands, and her expression shifted from confusion to concern. “Evie, what happened?”

My voice wavered as I recounted the discovery, my words rushed and trembling with the fear that clung to me. “Aria, I don’t know… The sculpture, it’s gone. I can’t find it anywhere.” Aria’s brow furrowed in genuine worry, and she stepped closer, her hand resting on my arm in a reassuring gesture. “What sculpture?”

“Timothy gave it to me,” I croaked, and it felt like my throat was closing up. “It was his gift, and I lost it somehow.”

“Hey, hey,” Aria whispered into my ear, smoothing back strands of hair that had been pulled out of my ponytail. “We’ll figure this out, Evie. Maybe it fell out by accident or got misplaced.” I shook my head, the anxiety clutching my rib cage. “That can’t be. It was on my dresser, close to the wall, it shouldn’t have fallen or anything.”

She squeezed my arm gently, her voice soft. “I’ll keep an eye out, okay? Maybe we’ll find it tucked away somewhere.”

Her words were meant to be reassuring, but there was a lingering suspicion that had taken root in my mind. She’d made it clear that she was jealous of how close I’d gotten to Timothy, but I wasn’t too sure how deep that went. She wouldn’t go as Head Top Metal Stamping? Get 10% Discount (Start Now)

FM, 22 far as stealing my belongings from him…would she?

I chastised myself for even entertaining the idea. Aria was my confidante, my partner–in- crime, someone who had stood by me through thick and thin. The thought that she could have taken the statue seemed ludicrous, yet I couldn’t shake the nagging doubt that clawed at the corners of my mind.

“Evie?”

I looked over at Aria, her expression one of sincerity and warmth. Her eyes held no malicious intent, which made me even more regretful. I watched her closely, every movement, every nuance of expression, as if searching for a hidden clue that would confirm or debunk my suspicions.

I mustered a smile, though my mind was anything but at ease. “Sorry, I’m just processing everything.”

Aria nodded, her expression understanding. “I get it. But hey, at least we’re safe.”

I sighed. “Yeah.”

She didn’t seem thoroughly convinced that I was reassured, and I wasn’t too sure that I could rest easy after this.

I plopped down on the couch and placed my head in my hands, hoping it would alleviate the weight that was causing the ache in my temples. Aria settled beside me, drawing the nearby blanket over our legs. Fortunately, she decided to turn the TV off, muting the screen’s painful light.

In an attempt to lift the somber mood that had settled between us, I took a deep breath and forced a small smile. “On a brighter note, guess what? I got Timothy to agree to meet up.” Aria’s eyes lit up with excitement, and a grin spread across her face. “No way! He really agreed?”

I laughed as she nearly fell off the couch when trying to face me. “Well, we haven’t set a date yet, but he agreed to hang out with us. He seemed pretty interested in meeting you.”

Aria’s excitement was contagious, and for a brief moment, the worry and disappointment were pushed to the sidelines. Suddenly, it felt so sill that I had doubted her, even for a second. “Sweet!”

She raised her fists and shook them wildly. “This is perfect.”

Need Top Metal Stamping? Get a 10% Discount C 12:22 Fri, 22 Mar j “Hold on.”

Aria stopped abruptly, hands frozen in the air as she looked back over at me. Her expression quickly switched to curiosity.

“What?” she asked, descending from her fangirling high.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “You might already be a taken woman, depending on how your date with Mike went,” I said mischievously.

It took a moment for the memory to dawn on her, as if any thought of Timothy temporarily banished the others from existence. She laced her fingers together and stared dreamily up at the ceiling.

“It was something else,” she said dreamily.

“Okay, spill the beans,” I prompted with a grin, giving her a playful slap on the thigh. “I want to hear all about this dinner date with the marvelous Mike.”

Aria’s cheeks flushed as she crossed her legs, her lips curving into an impish smile. “Oh, Evie, you won’t believe how it all went down.”

I laughed, intrigued. “Now I’m even more curious. Don’t keep me in suspense!”

She took a deep breath, launching into her tale with animated gestures that brought her words to life. “So, Mike and I decided to meet at this charming Italian, restaurant downtown. You know, the one with the fairy lights and that cozy outdoor seating area?”

I nodded, envisioning the picturesque spot she was describing. “Sounds romantic already.” “Oh, just wait,” Aria chuckled, her eyes sparkling. “So, I get there a little early, and I’m seated at our reserved table. Everything’s going well, the ambiance is perfect, and I’m feeling all giddy.”

I leaned in, hanging on to her every word. “And then?”

“Then Mike arrives,” she continued, her voice tinged with amusement. “And let’s just say, I wasn’t prepared for the… show that followed.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Wardrobe malfunction? What happened?”

Aria sighed dramatically. “Well, as he’s making his way over to the table, he accidentally steps on a loose part of the tablecloth. And before I can even react, the Need Top Metal Stamping? Get 10% Discoun Fri, 22 Mar whole thing comes crashing down. Plates, glasses, cutlery–you name it. It was a disaster.”

I burst into laughter, unable to contain myself. “Oh my goodness! What did you do?”

Aria shrugged, a sheepish grin on her face. “I mean, what could I do? First I laughed, then he laughed. The entire restaurant was staring, but we just went with it.”

Aria’s expression turned thoughtful, her gaze distant for a moment before she met my eyes with a knowing look. “You know, Evie, it made me realize something.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What’s that?”

She grinned, her voice soft. “Life is full of unexpected moments, and sometimes, it’s the imperfections that make the best memories. Like that disastrous tablecloth incident–it could’ve been a disaster, but instead, it brought us closer and turned the date into something special.”

I nodded in agreement, touched by her insight. “You’re absolutely right, Aria. There’s something special about the unexpected.”

Aria bumped her elbow against mine, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of mischief and affection.

“Cheers, sister, although we don’t have cups to cheer with.”

The city streets were a familiar blur as I made my way to the firm, my mind already racing with thoughts of the day ahead.

The Timothy Hayes case had caused an overflow in my email inbox. I couldn’t help but think about how my life had taken such an unexpected turn, from a struggling law student to a key player in a high–stakes court case.

Lost in my thoughts, I turned a corner and nearly collided with a woman heading in the opposite direction. I stumbled back, my surprise quickly giving way to recognition.

Anger surged within me, and I stepped forward, my voice sharp and accusatory.

“You!”

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