The soft breeze of the rotating ceiling fan caused the papers to rustle. The room was filled with scattered hushes as no one wanted to disturb the other. 

Noah sat in the corner of the room as he went through the files submitted to him an hour ago. Hundreds of pages filled with every known detail, the scene of crime, evidence collected, and of course, the person charged.

Everything he needed was in the file. The evidence was iron-clad. His fingerprints were on the lighter, and his DNA matched the hair found in the chemistry lab. Even so, he couldn't help but wonder if there was something he was missing out on.

Surely Evelyn wouldn't take a case she didn't think she could win, he thought, rubbing his chin.

That bothered him. It was easy to say that professionalism is key but he found himself deviating from it, even though it was something he believed in. He didn't want to imagine what could happen if either of them loses. 

Would Evelyn hate him? Would he hate her?

Either way, he didn't want to know.

"Were the cops able to get anything of use from Mr.Coleman?" he asked, although he knew it himself. He had been studying those pages for hours and even if confessions could be used, there'd be no point because Levi didn't utter a word.

"He has been tight-lipped about all of it," the man sitting beside him spoke. The information wasn't very helpful but he had to go one step at a time.

Noah looked at him. He was clearly stopping himself from asking something and Noah knew what it was. It was about Evelyn. After all, how often do you have court drama mix with personal drama?

"What is it?" Noah asked.

"I heard your girlfriend is representing Levi Coleman. That has to be awkward, right?" he asked what sounded like an innocent question. It probably was.

But Noah didn't see it that way.

And he knew, neither did Evelyn.

"We're keeping it professional," Noah said, "may the best person win."

⋆ ★ ⋆

"How much will that be?" Evelyn asked, her hands in her purse as she looked for loose change.

"That would be 50.99," The cashier said, handing two flip phones to her. They were a matte black and she hoped they would go unnoticed.

"The prepaid sims have been installed?" she asked, unwilling to leave behind any loose threads.

"Yup. All set and ready to go," he said confidently as she handed him three twenty-dollar bills.

She took both of them from his hand and threw one of them into her purse. Its time would come later.

Her hands hovered over the buttons on the phone and she felt uneasy. She was stepping into unventured territory and she wasn't sure how she felt about it. 

Just till the case ends. Then, we'll get rid of it, she told herself reassuringly. After all, there were only two goals.

Save Levi and make his dad proud.

She got into her car and started the engine. It was going to be an excruciating ride.

The whole time, she couldn't help but think she had ruined Levi's life. He was the one who let Andrea blackmail him, but would she even want to if not for what Evelyn did? It made her palm sweat and she imagine the worst.

If Andrea could bring herself to possibly frame Levi, what would she do to Evelyn? It had to be way worse. 

The burner phone in her hand brought her comfort, in a way. She knew that whatever she was about to do next, no one could track her down. 

No one would see it coming.

She parked her car in front of Levi's house, hoping he had cooled down, and was ready to listen to her. A car pulled up beside her which she recognized as Levi's. His father's anyway. A huge grin appeared on her face when she saw who stepped out.

Alec Coleman.

She had talked to him after years but it was only through her phone and they were discussing his son. This time, however, it felt different. She got out of her car and left the door open, not willing to waste another second. 

She rushed towards him and put her arms around him as his eyes turned wide in shock. His surprise only lasted a second before he reciprocated her action, an even smile forming on his face.

"It's been far too long," Evelyn said and her heart felt full.

"I'm glad you're doing well, Evie," Alec said gently. He had wanted to ask her about the probation officer as soon as he returned home but seeing her in person changed his mind.

Evelyn pulled away, but the smile was still bright on her face. She politely excused herself to lock the car door but her mind was locked on him. She had waited years to see him again, to show off her accomplishments and make him proud.

He was her guardian angel and he was back and the circumstances did not bother her.

"It's late enough to have dinner if you want to catch up," he said, more like a question but she would have suggested it herself.

"I would love that," Evelyn replied. 

Alec inserted the key into the lock and twisted it, revealing the setting rays as they made their way to Evelyn's feet. She looked straight and saw Levi, sitting in his usual position on his couch. His eyes skipped Evelyn and landed right on his father. 

"There you are," Levi scoffed, pushing himself from the couch. 

Alec looked at Evelyn as if he suddenly remembered what was supposed to happen that day and he addressed the question to both of them, "How was the meeting with the probation officer?"

"Why don't you ask Evelyn? You seem to have a fair share of criminal history," he spat.

Evelyn jumped in before either of them could make it worse, "The probation officer was fine. It's just, we realized that whatever happened has something to do with Iris Brown." 

Alec's let out an exasperated breath in realization. If he could remember Evelyn after all these years, there was no way he would forget Iris Brown.

"I'm the one who can't do shit right and I screw everything up. Isn't that what you said? That I shouldn't expect you to save my ass when it blows up on my face? Guess what, dad? This shit did blow up in my face and it's your fucking fault!" Levi said as if he had been waiting for this moment the whole day.

"What are you even talking about? I can't help it if you decide to burn a building!" his father screamed back in response.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe I didn't do it? Why can't you ever trust me?" Levi asked. He thought they had sorted everything out between them but it was much worse now.

"Listen, Levi. Either you tell me exactly what you did or stop trying to guilt trip me for not knowing! I can't read your mind!" Alec said, his face boiling with anger.

"Yeah, because you tell me everything! You couldn't even stay when the probation officer came, could you?" Levi asked.

"Stop going on tangents! Either tell me what the fuck you want or else leave!" Alec said.

"I want you to try harder, old man! And, I want you to know that I'm in this mess because Iris and her daughter want revenge for something you did!" Levi said, shoving the water bottle on the table to the ground. 

It was Evelyn he should have loathed, the one he blamed. Yet, he couldn't stop glaring at his father who did the same to him, neither of them backing down.

Evelyn stood by the door in complete shock. She wanted to defend Alec and tell Levi that he was only doing his job. It's what she was doing as well until she realized that he wasn't completely guilty. But how could she?

He wasn't the Alec Coleman she knew

⋆ ★ ⋆

Alec confined himself to the kitchen, trying to stay away from Levi as much as possible. That, and he did promise Evelyn dinner.

That left Levi and her all to themselves in the living room, an awkward atmosphere engulfing them. She knew she wasn't supposed to see what she did, but it was too late.

That explained why Levi didn't think his father would help. 

Evelyn couldn't help but agree with Alec to some extent but her heart ached for Levi. She knew exactly how he felt for her parents were no different when it came to her.

Alec was different, but not anymore.

"Hey, Levi," she said, cautiously.

"What do you want?" he asked quietly, exhausted by all the screaming.

"Blaming people won't solve anything. I wasn't lying when you said you don't have to worry. Now, I have a lot more information. You will be just fine," Evelyn said calmly.

"What if I'm not?" Levi asked.

"I will not let that happen," she said and pulled out the other burner phone.

"Here," she said, tossing it towards him, "talk to Andrea. Tell her everything you wanted to. And then you can tell me exactly what she said."

"A burner phone?" he muttered in shock.

"Keep it hidden and Tamara won't be going through it. You can save my burner phone's number on it too," Evelyn said.

"You have one?" he asked, completely surprised at where this was going.

"My career is on the line. If what I did goes out to the public somehow, everything I worked for will be gone," Evelyn said. Levi obliged silently ad took down the number she decided.

"I won't say I'm sorry because I've said that enough. I made a mistake and you probably did too. If you don't want to tell me what Andrea has against you, the least you can do is not judge me," Evelyn said, in a calmingly stern tone, "just like I haven't judged you."

"I guess," Levi mumbled.

"She's framing you, that's what I have gathered till now. I need to start somewhere so give me anything," Evelyn said.

Levi breathed sharply. He should have told her the day it happened but the past was the past. They had to work together, it was the only way.

"Andrea came over the night of my house arrest. I needed to tell her what happened; needed to tell her to be careful. My father was sleeping so he didn't notice," Levi said, glancing at the kitchen in hopes that his father couldn't hear him.

"What did she say?" Evelyn asked with curiosity.

"I'm sorry about the lighter," he replied.

"She said that? Interesting," Evelyn replied, but it was more than that. It wasn't enough for the court but it was enough for her. 

"Is it?" Levi asked, inquisitive. 

"It's all I need, Levi," she said, "for now."

Everything she knew about the case was a lie, but not anymore. She was going to figure it out and she was sure of it.

I will not let you ruin our lives, Iris.