LOGIN“I’m saying my child is not a topic for public speculation,” Solene said. “And I will not entertain conversations that reduce her to a headline.” Clarissa clicked her tongue softly. “Convenient.” Linda folded her arms. “Of course…run away, Solene.” “She’s not running away.“ Lewis suddenly said. “Know the difference already.” Linda turned to him sharply and glared. “Then what is she doing?” “What about the photos?” Rachel’s voice cut in once more. “The ones showing you and Mr Crawford in what many describe as…intimate settings.”Solene didn’t flinch once. In fact, the side of her lip curled slightly. “They are moments taken out of context.” She said. “Moments that have been twisted to fit a narrative.”“And that narrative being?”“That I’m involved with a man from my past.” Her eye flicked briefly to the camera, then back to Rachel. “I’m not.” Lewis’ jaw tightened again.Still, Rachel pressed, out for blood as she adjusted in her seat.“Mrs Alvarez, some people believe this goe
The morning settled in the house, like it had nothing to offer that day. It was slow, a little too warm, and definitely not the kind to make serious moves. Linda sat curled against the couch, a blanket loosely draped over her body, her legs resting on Lewis’s knee as he absentmindedly ran his hand over them. “It feels a bit swollen.” Linda whined, one hand absentmindedly on her tummy, the other gripping the blanket.Clarissa didn’t look up from the magazine in her hand. “It’s in your head.”“But I can feel it.“That’s because you don’t move anymore. And you need to eat properly.” Clarissa flipped a page. “None of that skipping meals nonsense.”“But I do eat.”“Only a little.Linda frowned. “I just don’t feel like it sometimes.” “That’s exactly when you should eat more.”Linda opened her mouth to argue, then she closed it, turning to Lewis.“Lewis, back me up here.” Silence.“Lewis?” she called. “Lewis!” He blinked. “Yes?” “Were you even listening?” Linda asked.“A little.” He
“Our brand holds a certain standard,” Tessa added, on the other end of the phone. Her tone polite, but firm. “Especially when it comes to the faces we associate with.”Solène’s typing on the laptop slowed, but didn’t stop.She nodded once. “I understand.”“Although we’re not making any decisions yet,” Tessa clarified quickly. “However…the situation is gaining a lot of traction. Public perception matters.” Silence settled, longer than it had since the call began.“Mrs Alvarez, I trust that whatever is happening will be addressed. Quickly.” She added, “Before it begins to reflect beyond just you.” Solene let out a breath. She knew exactly what she meant.“It’ll be handled.”“I’m glad to hear that,” Tessa replied. “We’d hate for a child so promising like Arianna to be…affected by avoidable circumstances.” ‘Avoidable,’ the word echoed.But Solene said nothing.Then Tessa’s voice came through, calm and practiced. “We’ll be in touch.” The call ended.Solene placed the phone down on the
“No,” his voice was flat, firm.He leaned back, clearly crossing it out completely. “I’m not doing that.” That set something off in Solene’s mind, and she paused, watching the side of his face, the set of his jaw, like she was deciding what to do.She knew Lewis could be difficult. But she didn’t know he’d refuse at such a critical time like this.Her brows drew slightly together. “You don’t get to opt out of this, Lewis.”He didn’t look at her. “Watch me.”Solene opened her mouth to speak, but then she shut it again and sighed.‘You can’t yell at Lewis, Solene. He’ll only make it worse.’ she reminded herself.So instead, she straightened, her voice maintaining its calm.“You really don’t know what’s at stake, do you?”No response.“They’re dragging your name into it. They’re dragging mine.” She paused. “And they’ve dragged a child into it.”That made him turn, like the realization had just dawned on him.“Arianna—”“They’re questioning who her father is, Lewis.”“She didn’t ask for
“Silence—Violent or Cheater? Or both?”BODY LANGUAGE EXPERTS CLAIM: That look was not innocent.“This has been going on longer than we think.” INSIDE SOURCES: She’s not what people think she is.“Was she triggered by the pregnancy?”EX-WIFE…OR MISTRESS?Lewis shut off the phone abruptly, his grip tightening around it like he might actually toss it out the window. “What the hell is going on?” he muttered under his breath as the traffic light turned green and the car rolled forwardHe blinked hard, dragging a hand through his hair as he turned to stare out the window.Frankly, he was just seeing all that’d been happening online.Like he’d just paid attention to the reason his phone had been buzzing uncontrollably for the past two days. The noise, the headlines, the filth people were so comfortable saying about a woman they didn’t even know.And somehow, he’d missed all of it. Because he’d been busy with Linda and…the new development.He hadn’t exactly had time to think about anythin
The sound of slamming doors echoed through the yard, followed by softer footsteps crunching over the gravel. “Feels so good to be back.” Linda whined, resting her head on Lewis’s shoulder as he guided her carefully towards the front door. Clarissa walked a few steps behind, her eyes glued to her phone as she scrolled, her expression tightening with every swipe. She paused once, her throat bobbing, clearly resisting the urge to say something as they all got to the door. “Careful now, dear,” she called with a straight voice. The door opened from within before they even got to it. Lewis’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He paused for a moment like it was the first time it was doing that, and pulled it out, staring at the screen. Linda paused too. “What is it?” She asked softly, trying to peek into the phone. But his grip blocked her view. Instead, Lewis locked the screen and shoved it back into his pocket, continuing towards the stairs. “It’s nothing.” But Linda was
“If you need anything—anything at all, don’t hesitate to call me.” Her mom said at the door.Solene nodded, her smile as bright as ever. “I will.”Then Vanessa shifted her gaze to Ronan, who stood a little behind, looking worn out. “Ronan dear, please take care of my daughter.”Ronan pulled Solene’
The car drove smoothly along the almost empty road, giving the night the quiet satisfaction it deserved.Ronan sat in the backseat, his eyes fixed to an iPad in his hands as he scrolled leisurely.“And the reservation for tonight?” He asked.“Yes, sir, the—”A scratching sound cut through the line.
Solene sipped her coffee with one hand, her bag clutched in the other as she stepped into the elevator.Her phone vibrated in her bag, and she passed her coffee to Mae, reaching into the bag for it.It was a notification from Hannah.A smile tugged at her lips as she clicked on the message.It had
“Why didn’t you tell me all of this, and I had to hear it from Hannah?”Solene nearly rolled her eyes. “That’s because I wasn’t bothered about it. Why would I want to burden you with something that’s in my past, Mom?”“And when that past surfaces, is it still the past?” the woman asked on the other







