#Chapter 274: The Evidence

The urgency in Timothy's voice during our phone conversation had left me on edge. As I stood at the door of his apartment, a knot of worry twisted in my stomach. When he opened the door, the tension etched on his face confirmed that something was terribly wrong. "Timothy, what happened?" I asked, my voice edged with concern as I stepped inside. He sighed heavily. "It's Stella. She cornered me at her hotel, trying to manipulate me into absolving her of her crimes." My eyes widened in shock. "What? When?” “Just last night.” He guided me inside and we sat side by side on his couch. Duke bounded over, already seeking my attention. I scratched him behind his ear. “Why’d you go over there? You don’t owe her anything." Timothy gritted his teeth. “I know. I guess I was just curious about what she’d say, how she’d explain why she could do something so awful. Of course, it was just excuses.” “Figures.” I tried to stay calm, which was a little easier with a bundle of warm fur beneath my fi