That night, Vania’s apartment felt unbearably still. Arga was away at an urgent meeting with his legal team, leaving her alone in the dimly lit living room. A desk lamp cast a muted glow across the space. A notebook lay open on her lap, though her thoughts were far away.The doorbell rang softly.Vania flinched. Rarely did anyone visit at such an hour. She hesitated for a few seconds before rising and opening the door.A man stood there. His hair was slightly disheveled, his face weary, his eyes scanning the hallway with caution.“Mrs. Vania?” His voice was low.Vania held her breath. “Yes. Who are you?”He quickly introduced himself. “I’m Dimas, an independent journalist. I once worked with Arga on several investigative reports.” He glanced down the corridor again before continuing, his tone serious. “May I come in? It’s important—and not safe to talk out here.”Suspicion mingled with curiosity, but Vania nodded and stepped aside. Once the door shut securely, Dimas lowered his backpa
Rain pounded the city that night. Heavy drops lashed against the apartment windows, amplifying the suffocating weight already hanging in the air.Vania sat on the living room floor, knees drawn to her chest, face buried in her hands. Her shoulders shook violently, tears spilling without end.Arga entered, his coat still dripping from the storm outside. The moment his eyes found her crumpled form, his heart plummeted. He tore the coat off and dropped beside her.“Vania… what’s happening?” His voice trembled with alarm.She lifted her face, swollen and streaked with tears. Her red-rimmed eyes cut straight through him. “Arga… I can’t do this anymore. Maybe… maybe it’s better if I step away.”Arga froze. “What do you mean?”“If I stay by your side, I’ll only drag you down. Everyone thinks I’m weak, unworthy, a burden.” Her fist struck her chest as another sob ripped free. “They won’t stop until I’m destroyed. And when I fall, you’ll be pulled under with me. I can’t let that happen to you.
The television studio blazed with dazzling lights. Crew members rushed back and forth, arranging the guest chairs, adjusting microphones, checking cameras. Off-screen, the online world was already waiting—ready to devour every word that would be spoken that night.Liora sat in the dressing room, her face flawlessly made up. Soft red lipstick, an elegant black dress—she looked untouchable, like a star. But in the wide mirror, she saw a different reflection: eyes full of hesitation.Her fingers twisted the hem of her skirt, cold and trembling.On the corner monitor, a news segment replayed Vania’s tense face from the recent press conference. The voice-over cut deep:> “Is Vania truly worthy of standing beside Arga? The public still doubts her resolve.”The broadcast paraded netizen comments as if they were ornaments:#LioraIsBetter#VaniaInsecureLiora inhaled sharply, her chest tight.---The dressing room door opened. Devandra walked in with a thin, chilling smile. His suit was sharp,
Vania’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. That night, the small screen in her hand felt like a black hole, sucking all her strength away.Comment after comment kept popping up:> “Pathetic insecure woman, not on Arga’s level!”“If Liora’s shadow already makes her insecure, how can she ever be a true partner?”“She’s probably just riding his fame.”Vania scrolled with trembling fingers. Each word stabbed deeper, tearing at her heart without mercy.Then her eyes caught a private message:> “Get out of Arga’s life, or you’ll regret it.”Her stomach dropped. Breath caught in her throat, as though the spacious apartment had suddenly shrunk into a suffocating box.---Arga walked in, face taut, carrying a laptop full of online news reports.“Vania, have you seen this?” His voice was sharp, almost a shout.Vania quickly closed her phone, hiding the storm of hateful comments.“I’ve seen it.”Arga slammed the laptop down on the table.“They’ve gone too far! The media is twisting your words, quoting
The morning sky looked gloomy, though the sun had already risen high. Vania stood before the mirror, straightening her hair with trembling hands. The navy-blue blazer she wore felt heavier than usual, as if the fabric itself carried the crushing weight of gossip that suffocated her life.Behind her, Arga entered with a tense expression.“Are you sure you want to do this?” His voice was low, almost a whisper.Vania turned, her eyes filled with determination though unease lingered behind them.“If I keep silent, the rumors will only grow louder. They need to know I am not just a shadow.”Arga stepped closer, resting his hand on her shoulder.“I can face this on my own. You don’t have to bear it.”“But it’s me they’re attacking, Arga. Not you.” Vania’s gaze hardened, silencing him. “If I run away now, everyone will believe they’re right.”Silence fell. Arga let out a long breath before finally nodding.“Alright. But I’ll be by your side, no matter what happens.”---The press conference
A light rain fell, soaking the streets that night. The city felt subdued, streetlights casting pale yellow reflections across the wet asphalt. Arga held Vania’s hand tightly, though doubt still lingered on her face.“Arga… where are we going?” Vania asked softly.He only glanced at her, his eyes serious. “There’s something you need to see. I don’t want there to be any more secrets between us.”The car stopped in front of an old, half-abandoned building. Its paint was peeling, wooden boards across the windows rotten with age. Vania frowned in confusion as they stepped out.“What is this place?”Arga drew a long breath, locking his gaze on hers. “This… is where I fell once. The lowest point of my life, after Liora left me.”---They stepped inside. The air was damp and musty. In the corner, a broken table and a splintered chair remained. Vania shivered—not from the cold, but from the weight of memories clinging to the place.Arga moved slowly through the dim room, his fingertips brushin