Evelyn's nose flared up as she took in the aroma eliminated by the rotisserie chicken that sat in front of her. The steam from it looked like art on its own but perhaps that was because her mind saw the chicken as something more beautiful than it actually is.

She looked at Alec and smiled. He was still the same man to her - one who cared about her and looked after her as his own daughter. The relationship between Levi and Alec should have bothered her a lot more, but it didn't. After all, no one else remembered her favorite meal.

Alec returned the smile and took his seat facing Evelyn while Levi sat beside her. The wide mahogany table left ample space for the food, but it also separated Evelyn from Alec. She knew it would be highly inappropriate to sit on his lap the way she did when she was a child, but that was a memory she'd cherish for all time. 

His affection for her was in the air, mixed with the smell of rotisserie chicken, and to her, it smelt better than petrichor. There was silence but it wasn't awkward in any way. She was too busy stabbing the chicken's leg with her mighty fork.

"You never lost your love for it, did you?" Alec asked, a bright smile on his face.

"How could I? You know you make the best chicken," she said while shoving a piece into her mouth.

Meanwhile, Levi was rolling his eyes at their interaction. He didn't want to guilt trip his dad, at least not for something silly but a part of him wanted to know what his father would say.

"I can bet you don't know what my favorite dish is," Levi said bitterly.

"I don't, but that's because you don't either. Always indecisive," Alec said, impressed with his answer. 

He wasn't wrong and Levi didn't like that. He wanted to prove that his dad cared about a random person over him but clearly, he needed to do a better job.

"What are you doing now?" Evelyn asked.

"You could say I retired. I don't actively take cases anymore but I give legal advice," Alec said, "for a fee, of course."

Evelyn chuckled, "wouldn't expect you to provide free service."

The silence returned as Evelyn chewed a mouthful of the chicken. This was exactly what she needed; the best-homecooked meal she'd had in a while and the calmness that accompanied it. She knew she would get back to work after dinner but it didn't trouble her. All that mattered to her was the time she spent with Alec and the rotisserie chicken.

The meal came to an end when she could not physically have another bite. She wiped her greasy hands with tissue paper and her rest was over. She had something to do, something big.

"Uncle, thank you so much for dinner. It was really good," Evelyn said. 

She looked at Levi who had finished eating ten minutes ago and signaled him to follow her. This was not something she was prepared to do alone. She walked up the stairs, where she assumed his room would be, and let him lead the way after that. He looked at her suspiciously but didn't confront her; the look of determination mixed with worry kept his mouth shut.

Once they were inside, she took her burner phone out with shaking hands. It was the first time she had been to his room but her mind was not on what was in it. It was on the phone in her trembling hands. 

Levi was concerned. He looked at her and asked in the quietest tone he could muster, "what's wrong, Evelyn?"

"You can't tell anyone, Levi. This isn't something a lawyer does on a daily basis but it's the only way," Evelyn said as she hurriedly clicked on a contact number she had saved.

"Okay. What do you want me to do?" Levi asked, understanding the seriousness in her tone.

"Nothing. Just hover around so I feel better, I guess," Evelyn said. 

If there was one person she could tell, it was him. She could never dream of telling Alec, afraid that he wouldn't be proud of her. If her own parents could ignore her achievement because of something she did twenty years ago, who's to say Alec wouldn't either?

She already knew the worst of Levi, at least, close to the worst. He knew about the fire too, even if it wasn't in detail. 

There was no harm if he saw the worst in her now.

"I wanted to bring it up to your father but we were having a conversation after so many years. I just didn't want to ruin it. Also, he didn't seem to bother by it when we mentioned it, so maybe he thinks it's no big deal, but I don't," Evelyn said.

"What is it?" Levi asked, lost.

"Iris! I mean the fact that she's taking revenge for something I did. It makes sense, doesn't it? Why would Andrea want to frame you, when you didn't hate each other? Why would she speak about a play that never existed? She was right, my name was never announced to the public so how else would she know? I'm sure she and her mother have been planning this and I don't want to know how their plan ends!" Evelyn said.

"Okay, calm down," Levi said as he let out a morbid chuckle, "I didn't think I would be calming you down."

"I am calm. Not really, but this is as calm as I can get. The point is, there's only one way I know to keep Andrea on a leash for a little bit until I can figure something out. I'm a little worried about the something and that's why you're here," Evelyn said breathlessly.

"I'm guessing it has to do with the burner phone you suddenly own and bought for me too?" Levi asked. 

"I will send her a message, telling her that I know what she did," Evelyn said.

"Essentially, you're going to blackmail her? What the fuck?" Levi asked, stunned. This was far from what he expected.

"It seems like the only way to me. I even paid for an anonymous texting website! The situation is dire and you know it!" Evelyn exclaimed.

"I'm not questioning you, Evelyn. If it gets me out of trouble then sure, go for it. It's not like I'm at risk," Levi said and quickly added, "not at risk for blackmailing anyway."

Evelyn scoffed at him and turned her attention to the message she had typed amidst their conversation. There were only five words but she knew it could send shivers down anyone's spine. It was all set. She sent the message and there was no turning back. 

I know what you did.

"That's kind of basic," Levi said as he looked at the screen.

"Kind of vague too, now that I think about it. Maybe I should add more?" Evelyn asked herself and quickly typed in a few more words. 

Andrea would know for sure, exactly what Evelyn was talking about. She wouldn't know who knew about it, but she would be worried. And when you are worried, you make mistakes.

I am talking about the fire, btw.

"You sound like a joke," Levi said.

⋆ ★ ⋆

Andrea was pacing around her room which was lit by the light emanating from her phone. It had been that way for a whole minute for she couldn't bring herself to look away. 

Someone knew about the fire. Andrea had watched enough television shows to know that this wasn't something she could ignore. If they had solid proof of what she did and all the strings she had pulled, it would be over for her.

Even worse, if this someone were to tell Evelyn what really happened, she would figure something out. 

Evelyn will screw our lives up all over again; she'd get away with it all over again, Andrea thought and her face grew sour. 

What kind of revenge would it be if Evelyn won again?

Andrea sat on her bed and heaved a heavy sigh. She had to tell her mother. Perhaps she would know what to do and they could figure it out together. 

That's when it hit her. She could use this to her advantage. Levi was worried enough as it is and this could add to it. All she needed to do was get Levi involved with her blackmailer and she wouldn't be the only one in trouble. 

She closed the window of the anonymous message and tapped on Levi's number. This was going to be their problem.

We have a problem, she wrote.

We're going to turn this around, she told herself as she waited for his reply. She had one more thing to do. 

She went back to the anonymous number's window and plastered on a confident smile. She had chosen to do this with her mother and a coward who hid behind a number hider wasn't going to stop her. If this person really did know everything, she would make them pay. 

You've made a huge mistake, she replied to the message and a satisfied grin replaced her confident smile. Whoever this was would regret sending her the message.

If only Andrea knew.

That was her first mistake.