I Am Taking Back My Child And My Wife.

"If he wants war," Zane said, eyes sharp, voice colder than steel, "we give him fire."

Alessia clutched the crumpled headline, the words VELEZ FILES FOR FULL CUSTODY still burning into her memory. She didn’t speak for a while, didn’t breathe. She just stared at the tablet until her hands trembled.

Zane took it from her gently and set it aside. "He’s trying to punish you publicly, he wants to drag you through the mud."

"He wants to take my child," she whispered.

Zane met her eyes. "No, he wants to take you and have you, he can't accept that you are gone and you belong to me, the baby’s just the weapon."

Alessia looked away, that truth cut too deep.

Zane paced the room.

"You want to beat him? Don’t play defense, take offense. Do you want justice? Embarrass him."

She lifted her chin slowly. "How?"

He turned, calculating. "An interview, live. On primetime. You deny the baby’s his, publicly and on your terms."

She blinked. "Zane... that would ruin him.”

He smiled, slow and dangerous. "Exactly."

“He made me almost kill myself and my baby, I will do it.” She nodded as she gathered her breath. Zane moved in and hugged her.

The invitation from DreameWorld Live came within hours, Alessia agreed.

The network wanted a statement, but she offered a show. Zane hired a stylist, a a private glam team. He transformed their penthouse lounge into a war room. He was prepared for everything.

"You need to look like everything he tried to suppress," Zane murmured, watching her sit for makeup. "Power, beauty and control."

Alessia wore a soft pink gown. Her glow around was unmistakable. When the earrings clipped on and the high heels clicked, she didn’t look like someone in survival mode. She looked like a queen ready for war.

Zane stood behind her, fixing the necklace, his necklace.

"Go show them who owns your story now." He kissed her temple, and she left for the studio.

******

The lights were too bright. The camera lens is too unforgiving.

But Alessia didn’t flinch, she smiled when introduced and answered questions with grace. The world watched live, streamed in six countries. Social feeds are exploding, and then came the moment.

"Mrs. Wolfe," the interviewer said softly.

"The public is... divided, you married Zane Wolfe immediately after Roman Velez, embarrassed and divorced you, and now you're expecting a child. So, may I ask... who is the father?"

There was a pause and a smile, she leaned forward slightly.

"Zane Wolfe."

Gasps and instant reactions.

She continued, eyes damp.

"Roman and I were... already over, for years, long before the papers came. He didn't even tell me about the divorce, he showed the world and that was the same time I knew about it, and I signed. Zane is everything, Roman isn't.”

She wiped away a tear that may or may not have been real.

"He makes me feel safe and that’s all any woman wants."

Social media detonated.

Zane stood in the wings, watching it unfold. His expression was unreadable, but his fingers curled into his palms, she was doing it and she was magnificent. He would protect her at all costs. Even if it meant going to hell.

Roman threw the remote, the screen cracked.

"Get the PR team! Now!" he barked.

No one moved, his staff looked frozen, terrified.

The interview played again on someone’s phone. Alessia’s words echoed around the office.

He makes me feel safe.

Roman slammed his fist against the glass table. It shattered.

"Sir," his assistant whispered.

"The stocks are dropping and there’s panic on the investor line."

"Tell them to hold."

"They don’t believe you, sir. Everyone thinks you’re the bitter ex."

Roman turned toward his lawyer.

"Fix it, I want custody, I want paternity confirmation and I want a damn press conference."

His voice dropped to a dangerous hush.

"And I want her to remember exactly who she humiliated." Blood dripped from his hand, but he didn't notice.

The lawyer tried to reason.

"Roman, this will make it worse. The press loves her right now. If you push…"

"Push?" He laughed, sharp and cruel.

“She turned my life into a circus. She gave my child to Zane Wolfe. Do you know what that does to my name?"

"We could try silence, or reconciliation…"

"No. I’ll see her in court, in flames."

He walked to his desk, pulled open the drawer. Inside sat the paternity test form, half-filled. He hadn’t submitted it yet but he would now. He signed it with blood-streaked fingers.

"Announce the press conference," he muttered.

"Bring me the damn test. I’m taking back my name, my child... and my wife."