A Love Forgotten (Arianna and Elijah)

Chapter 225

Just as we were about to slip out, Evan's me, Mrs. Linden, strutted in through the main i

She was all dolled up big, bouncy curls, pale foundation, and lipstick as tedas aller engine. She was walking arm-in-arm with two other women, chatting and laughing loudly as they entered.

Trought sight of her first and immediately grabbed Evan's am

11's time to go!" Lwhispered, pointing toward the back exit. -

Evan glanced over his shoulder, and his eyes went wide. He looked like he wanted to dive under the table,

Before we could escape, though, Mrs. Linden spotted us, and her face went from surprise to fury in two seconds.

"What are you doing here, Evan?" she snapped, practically stomping over to our table. "Are you skipping school again?"

Evan stopped in his tracks, stepping in front of me protectively. "What are you doing here?" he asked defiantly,

Mrs. Linden's gaze landed on me, by and full of contempt. She scoffed. "Ch, so Ms. York thinks she can just steal one of my sons and now wants to run off with my other one too? What a piece of work

My jaw nightened. "Mrs. Linden, Evan is your son. Don't you think insulting him because he's with me is insulting yourself?

She looked taken aback for a moment but shot me a withering place before turning her actention to Evan "You little brak, dropping out of school behind my back! Have you lost your mind?.

"I wouldn't have even known if your brother hadn't told me you were suspended. Theard you're in a private boarding school now. You didn't even discuss it with me beforehand! Do mean mathing to you?"

Evan rolled his eyes, clearly fed up. "Oh, now you want to act like my mom? It's been days since I left school, and you're just finding out now? Go back to playing chess and leave alona."

Max. Linden's face flushed with anger at being called out in public "You're such a problematic child, and now you're hanging around this... this bitch who's trying to squeeze us dry! Don't tell me you're spilling our family secrets to her!" Evan named red, anger flashing in his eyes: "What could possibly say? You and the rest of the

by talk bad about Art enough. And you've got some nerve!

"You used to say she was nice to us when she gave us that 50 million dollar loan! Now that she's asking for it back, you can't stop running your mouth about her."

Mrs. Linden looked like she was about to explode, her hand flying to her chest. She stammered, unable to even form a coherent response.

Watching this all unfold, I felt a biner, cold realization settle over me. Evan wasn't even grown yet, but even he could see what my time with his family had really been like. Mrs. Linden, out of arguments, grabbed him by the arm. "You're coming with me! I won't have you running around with this-this bitch."

Evan yanked his arm away. "I'm not going anywhere. You don't care about me. Why would I go back

He looked at me, desperate, silently asking for help.

na little more calmly?"

I sighed, stepping between them and gently pulling them apart. "Mrs. Linden, he's still a kid. Could you maybe try speaking to him a

Mrs. Linden looked at me with a runting look. "Oh, and who are you to tell me bois totalk to my son?"

Evan shot back, "Am I really your son"You barely even know me."

Max Linden's face contorted in anger. "I don't need to know you to be your mother! Where would even want teclaim you? You'll never be half the man your brother is

Her words were sharp and brutal, and I saw Evan's shoulders sag. The anger in his eyes gave way to a dull, hurt expression