Five

"Her new life."

The weight of those three words kept replaying in his head like a haunting mantra.

Yulia smiled, she heard everything but pretended not to, good for her. She doesn't have to be scared anymore.

And Franklin felt disturbed, he dialed her number again and again but she didn't pick.

Did she move one quickly? Or she cheated on him?

No, it can't be. He trusted Thalia so much, she'd never cheat on him.

But who was that man that spoke to him?

“Frank...I'm so happy, we're together..”She was saying to distract him.

“Me too.” He responded, placing a light kiss on her forehead.

Then Delilah barged into the mansion, her heels striking the polished tiles with sharp, echoing clicks that sliced through the still air.

“Franklin!” she bellowed, her voice shrill and commanding.

She didn’t wait for a response. Rage twisted her face as she stormed up the stairs, her expensive coat flaring behind her like the wings of fury itself.

She threw open the bedroom door—and stopped.

There, just as she had feared, stood Yulia in Franklin’s arms.

Wearing a delicate peach wedding gown that shimmered softly under the chandelier lights, Yulia smiled. The large diamond ring on her finger caught the light as she detached herself gently from Franklin’s embrace and stepped forward with mock sweetness.

“Aunt Delilah…”

The words had barely left her mouth when Delilah’s hand cracked across her cheek, the sound ricocheting off the walls.

Yulia staggered backward, one hand flying to her stinging face. Her cheeks flushed red, not just from the blow—but from the humiliation.

Her eyes flashed with restrained fury. She hadn’t expected the slap, but what didn't surprise her was the seething hatred glowing on her face.

“Mother!” Franklin barked, moving swiftly to block Yulia from another attack. He gripped her arm firmly and pulled her behind him. “What the hell is this?!”

“She hit me,” Yulia said, voice soft but trembling, fingers pressing against the side of her burning cheek. “I didn’t do anything—”

“Of course you didn’t,” Franklin said, shielding her with his body. “You’re my wife now. She has no right to lay a finger at you.”

Delilah’s mouth fell open in disbelief. “Wife?” she echoed, voice rising.

“Where’s Thalia?” she demanded, eyes darting around the room.

“She’s gone,” Franklin replied, cold and curt. “I divorced her.”

The silence that followed his words was sharp and suffocating.

Delilah took a step back, as if slapped herself. “You...what?”

“You heard right, I divorced her,” he repeated, unflinching.

“And you married this whore?” Delilah’s voice cracked with venom, her hands trembling. “You left your wife Thalia for her?!”

Franklin narrowed his eyes. “Watch your mouth, mother.”

Delilah laughed sharply and bitterly. “You really think she loves you? You really believe this...this act?”

He scoffed and turned to Yulia, brushing a gentle breath across her cheek.

“Are you okay?”

Yulia nodded weakly. “It’s fine. I understand...your mother hates me, who wouldn't react like this”

“It doesn’t matter. You’re my wife,” he said, his tone decisive, almost possessive. “Whether she respects you or not, it is her problem.”

Delilah stared at her son like she didn’t recognize him. “I can’t believe this. Yulia—of all people? Over her sister?!”

“Mother,” Franklin growled, stepping forward. “You don’t get to barge in here and talk like this, this is my life and I get to live it the way I wish. I have every right to choose the right partner for myself!”

“Stop it, Frank, don't embarrass me in front of this bitch!” Delilah cut him off. “Open your eyes! And wake the hell up! She doesn’t love you. She never did. She used to envy Thalia and you really think she’s here for you? You think this marriage is love?”

“She’s here because Thalia failed!” Franklin snapped. “Thalia failed to keep me.”

Delilah flinched. “No. You betrayed her. You pushed her out for this woman, and now you want me to smile and accept it? I feel so ashamed.”

Yulia stood silently behind Franklin, her hand still pressed to her cheek. Her gaze flickered between them.

“I’m not going to argue with you,” Franklin said, stepping back. “Mother, I already made my choice.”

Delilah’s voice lowered, her anger sharpening into something deadly serious. “And I’ll make mine too. You either leave this woman or...

"Don't start, if you think you can threaten me with your money or anything. Well sorry, I'm not that Franklin anymore."

Delilah was surprised, her son talking to her like she's some stranger for a woman. All for a woman.

“You've lost everything and very soon you'll see why”

With that, she turned on her heel and stormed out, her heels once again striking the floor like gunshots.

The silence she left behind was suffocating.

Yulia wrapped her arms around Franklin, resting her cheek against his chest. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to cause all this.”

Franklin held her tighter. “You didn’t do anything. She did.”

By now, the internet is talking about them, just like she wanted. Everyone should label Thalia as the bad person and she should be the victim.

Thalia snatched Franklin from her years ago and now she's out of his life for good.

Yulia clung to him, her arms coiling tighter around his torso.

“You didn’t. She did,” Franklin repeated, but his voice sounded hollow now, echoing into the silence of the room.

His heart thudded not with passion, but with unrest. He had just defended Yulia against his mother, a woman who never once questioned his judgment until now. A woman who had loved Thalia like a daughter.

And now, she was disgusted by him. Who cares anyway, he has his own money, his company and he has nothing to lose.

But something was off. He could feel it in the pit of his stomach, but he pushed it down, hard.

Yulia tilted her head up. “Frank, maybe we should postpone the honeymoon… until things cool down.”

Franklin pulled back just enough to look at her, eyes scanning her face. “No. We’ll go as planned. I don’t need her approval. We’re already married.”

She offered a soft smile,but a fake one. “Of course, baby.”

Her fingers brushed over his chest, slowly, deliberately. “I’m yours now...completely.”

But as she kissed his cheek, his eyes drifted across the room and landed on the photo frame that still sat crooked on the shelf. A photo he had forgotten to remove. It was him and Thalia,

laughing, on their first anniversary.

Yulia followed his gaze and her lips twitched to what her eyes landed on—a photo frame. The instant she saw Thalia's face, she lost it.

She moved subtly, crossing the room in a graceful glide, lifted the photo frame, and without a word, smashed it against the wall.

The glass shattered across the floor.

---

Three days later, Thalia sat quietly in George’s apartment, curled up on the small couch, a thin blanket draped around her. Her phone buzzed again—notifications.

Yulia's fans are already attacking her on I*******m and Twitter—calling her different bad names.

Slut. Ugly woman. Useless. Homewrecker...and so on.

The words crawled across her skin. She swallowed back the lump rising in her throat and dropped the phone on the couch. Her heart thudded unevenly, a mix of anger, pain, and with disbelief.

Is this really her life?

No matter how much she hated herself for it, the truth still whispers in her heart; She still loved Franklin. She was still carrying his child and the scars he left in her heart wasn't healing—It was burning.

George emerged from the kitchen with a mug of warm tea. He set it gently in front of her, then sat beside her, watching her in silence.

Thalia didn’t look at him. “I don't know why I can't...”

“You still love him,” George cut in sharply. “It’s okay to admit that.”

He had been in her shoes before, in the past. So he understood her.

She finally turned, her eyes soft. “Do you think that makes me weak?”

“No,” he replied softly. “It makes you human.”

She took a shaky breath and reached for the tea. “I don't want to go back to him.”

“I know,” George said.

“But that doesn’t mean I’ve healed, it feels like yesterday.” she added quietly.

George nodded. “You don’t have to heal all at once. You just have to keep breathing. Let it out however you can, that's how you can start.”

Thalia offered a weak smile.

Then the doorbell rang.

They both looked up.

George rose cautiously. “Stay here,” he said, heading for the door.

He opened it to find a man in a black suit and sunglasses holding a sealed envelope.

“Delivery for Miss Thalia Frost.”

George narrowed his eyes. “From who?”

The man didn’t answer. He simply handed it over and walked away.

George shut the door, turned, and handed the envelope to her.

Thalia opened it slowly.

Inside was a single sheet of ivory paper.

She unfolded the letter, hands trembling slightly.

"Congratulations, Miss Thalia Frost — You’ve been selected as one of the elite finalists for the Paris International Runway Experience, hosted by Maison de Lumière. Your portfolio has captured the attention of global designers. This is your official invitation to represent your country on the world stage."

Thalia froze.

She blinked at the words, then re-read the lines again. This...this was her dream. Her biggest dream. Ever since she was seventeen. To walk the runway in Paris. To be more than just a local model. To be seen.

She should’ve screamed with joy. But instead...She let the paper fall from her hands.

“You're not happy?”George asked after reading it.

“It's not too late, Thalia.”He whispered behind her.

“I'm pregnant...”She said.

“Leave that to me, you can't give up your dream because of anything.”He held her hand and she nodded.

“When are you sending the divorce papers to Franklin?” He asked.

“Today.”She replied flatly, her heart skipped at the mention of his name.

“Sign them and I'll send it.” He offered.

She shook her head and headed straight to the room where her suitcase was, then she unzipped it.

George followed her.

“I'll do it myself, a final goodbye should be done in person.”She stared at the papers and swallowed her emotions.

“Be careful, my driver will drop you off.”He told her before she turned to leave.

George called his driver as he strode out of the room.

“Make sure to protect her, if she comes back with a scratch, it won't end well for you.”He warned the driver darkly.

---

Thalia got down from the car, she wore her normal innocent face, her hair tied in a rough bun.

She walked inside the mansion, it was too quiet—no bodyguard's nobody, nothing.

What's going on? She was confused but nevertheless she entered.

“I'm changing everything in this mansion...!"Yulia was still barking at a maid when she caught a glimpse of Thalia.

And their mother,Tina rose from the couch in an arrogant pose.

“Well, look who we have here.”She drawled.

Thalia was shocked to see her, the same mother she called that told her—she was sick and lying in the hospital.

She was here, and obviously supporting Yulia again.

“Mother, you told me you're sick!”Thalia shouted at her mother.

“Yes, I was sick of you.”Tina replied coldly.

“You are siding with her again, huh?” she murmured, glancing at Yulia.

Thalia's heart shattered again, she thought her mother sympathized with her.No, she was a fake again.

Nothing really surprised Thalia because Tina has always taken her side since day one.

“What are you doing here?”Franklin's voice came from behind, deep and sharp.

Yulia ran into his arms and he kissed her shortly.

But Thalia didn't turn, she waited for Franklin to come face her. And he did.

“It would've been disrespectful to send this over, so I came myself.”She said.

“You shouldn't have bothered.” He replied.

She handed the divorce papers to him and he snatched it from her without any drama.

She signed it...good.

“Finally.” Yulia breathed.

“Finally?”Thalia's lips curved.“If he can leave me for you, trust me he'll leave you for someone else as well. So, enjoy it while it lasts.”

“Of course.”Yulia smiled, teasingly.

Franklin was silent, his silence burned her more than his words.

And Tina watched the drama in silence.

“Out of my house.”He ordered.

She turned before her tears could fall.

In the car, she wiped her face, slipped her wedding ring from her finger and let it fall out of the window.

George was right, it's not too late to start all over.

And she would.