Evelyn walked Stella all the way to the door. She was in a hurry, already fumbling in her coat pocket for her phone.
However, Evelyn held her shoulder firmly. "Stella, if soone calls you again like that, do not trust them," she said with a firm tone that left no room for negotiation.
"I know, Sis. I won’t trust them and surely won’t fall for their tricks again."
Stella puffed her cheeks, then wrapped her arms around Evelyn with surprising strength.
"Love you, sis. Text when you get ho. Bye..." She hurriedly left the room toward the hall, waving excitedly before walking out of the restaurant.
After Evelyn no longer saw Stella, she finally turned inside and closed the door.
She sat down again.
Exhaled slowly.
Her expression shifted from gentle big sister to sothing entirely more dangerous, a force of nature quietly simring.
She took out her phone.
Her thumb hovered over a contact na, Oscar.
She pressed the call.
The dial tone rang once.
Twice.
Then a familiar deep voice answered, warm and lazy in a way that imdiately contrasted with her mood.
"Oscar..." Evelyn said softly. Her tone was calm, steady, but chilling beneath the surface. "I am sorry to disturb you."
"Eve..." Oscar greeted with his usual cheerfulness. But the mont he heard her voice correctly, his tone shifted. "Everything alright? You sound like you’re about to take soone’s life. Should I be concerned... or impressed?"
Evelyn did not answer imdiately. She pinched the bridge of her nose, willing her anger to settle so she could speak clear words instead of unleashing a storm.
After inhaling deeply, she whispered, "Oscar, I need your help."
There was a faint chuckle from the other side.
"My god, Evelyn... You know you do not have to say it like a confession, right? Of course I’ll help you. Shoot. What happened?"
Evelyn launched into the entire story without stopping for breath. Stella’s panic. The fake phone call. The three gangsters were waiting in the dark. Stella is running for her life. Dylan appeared just in ti.
Oscar reacted exactly as expected.
"What? What the fucking hell..." he shouted. "Why are people in your country so bold? Kidnapping innocent won like it’s a Tuesday hobby? Are the movies influencing them? Or did they all fail kindergarten?"
Evelyn let out a stressed laugh despite her anger.
"I do not know. But yes, three gangsters almost kidnapped her. I am furious."
"Relax," Oscar said. "Do not be angry, or your wrinkles will show more."
"You..." Evelyn clenched her jaw, fighting the urge to laugh and strangle him at the sa ti. "Oscar Jennings! I am serious!"
"I know. I know. But I cannot let you grow old before your ti," Oscar’s voice gentled, although he still sounded amused. "Sorry, my dear friend. Now go on. Tell everything."
She rubbed her forehead, trying to smooth the lines he teased her about, then continued.
The more she explained, the quieter Oscar beca.
Until Evelyn ntioned the na Lana.
"What? That bitch..." Oscar snapped, then cleared his throat awkwardly. "Oops. Sorry. I couldn’t control myself. But seriously, that damn woman! She is rotten."
Evelyn sighed heavily, sharing the sa fury.
"I know. She is a witch. A really evil one. She already destroyed our family. And now she wants to ruin Stella’s life too. If she is brave enough to target my sister, I can imagine she will go after Alice next."
Oscar inhaled sharply. "Your family drama could win an award. A very bloody award."
Evelyn can’t help but let out a small laugh. "Do not encourage . I am already imagining cruel things."
They spent several minutes calling Lana every insulting na they could think of, Evelyn pacing the floor as she spoke.
At the sa ti, Oscar cackled on the other line. It helped lighten the weight on her chest, the humor acting as a pressure valve to the fury boiling inside her.
Once both had exhausted their creative vocabulary of curses, Oscar cleared his throat before saying, "Alright... Enough therapy. Now tell . What do you want to do?"
Evelyn paused near the window, staring at the clear sky.
"Even though I know Lana sent those n, I still have no evidence. I cannot drag her to the police without proof."
Oscar snorted. "Gotcha. So what you want is for to dig around, find the evidence, and hand her to the police with a pretty red ribbon on her head?"
"Sothing like that," Evelyn murmured.
Then she added darkly, "Honestly... my plan A was to kidnap her and torture her. But since I am a good citizen, I will go with plan B instead. Report her and send her to jail for a long, long ti."
The other side of the call went completely silent.
"Oscar?" Evelyn frowned at the phone. "Are you still there?"
After a long pause, Oscar spoke slowly. "Eve... my dear friend... You have beco soft."
"What?"
"You need to be brave," he declared. "Let us follow plan A!"
"Absolutely not!" Evelyn shouted so loudly she startled herself. "No. No. No. I am not doing that."
"Oh, co on," Oscar teased. "We could make it look like an educational trip for her."
"Educational? Oscar!" Evelyn nearly groaned. "Stop influencing . I am serious. I want the legal route. So please, just find evidence."
He laughs.
"Fine, fine. You are such a lawful citizen. It hurts . But alright. I will dig into it and get you the evidence as soon as possible. Satisfied?"
"Yes. Thank you." Evelyn’s shoulders finally relaxed. "I will not disturb you anymore. Bye, Oscar."
"Bye!" he replied, still sounding like he was suppressing a laugh.
The call ended.
And with it, Evelyn felt the tension in her chest ease.
The violent fantasies of beating Lana until she forgot her own na slowly faded.
She sighed several tis, long and cleansing, before picking up her bag.
The restaurant was crowded. She forced a smile to soothe Lisa, who was already waiting anxiously.
...
Outside the hospital, the air was crisp and fresh, brushing lightly against her face.
Evelyn breathed it in, letting her thoughts settle. She walked toward the car with a firr step.
However, just a few steps away from their car, soone called her na loudly.
"Evelyn."
She froze.
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