I greeted them both, but Mia's cold silence in response sent a chill down my spine. Something was amiss.
"Hey! What's going on?" I asked, trying to dispel the tension.
Timothy sighed, glancing at Mia before responding, "Hey, Evie. I was about to head out with you, but your mother here seems to have some concerns."
Confusion furrowed my brow as I turned to Mia, awaiting an explanation. "Concerns? Mom, what's happening?"
Mia replied sternly, “He’s not coming.”
I furrowed my eyebrows. "What? Why not?" I demanded.
"He's dangerous, Evie," Mia stated matter-of-factly. "Our relatives wouldn't appreciate having him around."
My eyes widened in disbelief. "Dangerous? Mom, this is ridiculous! His own father will be there, and he knows Timothy didn’t do anything."
Mia's eyes narrowed, her frus
