In the Spotlight

The courtroom doors opened with a dull creak, spilling harsh afternoon light into the hallway.

Roman Velez stepped out first, tall and composed, his navy suit untouched by the chaos behind him. He adjusted his cufflinks slowly, as if the cameras weren’t already clicking, as if the world hadn’t just witnessed a brutal custody battle unfold inside.

Behind him, Tatiana followed, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. She wore a fitted cream blazer and a clipped smile, holding a thick folder against her chest. Everything about her screamed control. As they descended the stone steps, a wave of reporters surged forward.

“Roman, what do you have to say about the judge’s decision?”

“Do you believe Alessia’s unfit as a mother?”

“Are you seeking full custody permanently?”

Roman paused at the foot of the stairs. The flashes from the cameras reflected in his sunglasses, his expression unreadable. He took them off slowly and let his gaze sweep across the crowd. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm and clear.

“This is not about taking sides. This is about my child.” He waited a beat, then added,

“I respect Alessia. But we all saw what happened there. I will do what I must to make sure my baby is protected, even if that means stepping into roles I never expected.”

Tatiana leaned closer, her voice low but audible.

“Let’s move, Roman. I’ve lined up the interviews. Start soft, then hit hard.”

He gave her a small nod and faced the crowd again.

“I won’t be taking more questions at this time. I appreciate your concern for my family.”

As they walked toward the waiting black SUV, the crowd parted like water. Roman didn’t look back. Tatiana opened the door and slipped in beside him. Inside the car, she handed him a phone already on speaker.

“Channel Eight. They’re ready. Keep it clean, and remember the highlights,

stable father

unstable new husband

family helps the child. .’ Don’t go off-script.”

Roman looked out the tinted window, watching the courthouse fade behind them. He loosened his tie just slightly, then spoke into the phone.

“Roman Velez. Ready when you are.”

Roman sat in the soft leather armchair like he’d done it a hundred times before. The set was warm, polished, drenched in gold light. Across from him sat the host, a woman with too white teeth and an expression carefully balanced between sympathy and intrigue.

“Mr. Velez, thank you for joining us. I know this isn’t an easy time for you.”

Roman nodded solemnly.

“No, it’s not. But I’m doing this because I want people to understand what’s really going on.”

The host tilted her head. “There’s been a lot of speculation about the courtroom footage. Some are saying Alessia’s behavior was erratic. Others believe she’s being pushed too far.”

He took a breath, just long enough to seem reluctant.

“Alessia will be the mother of my child. That’s never going to change. But I can’t ignore her actions and what the court saw. Her decisions lately are questionable. And I’m not saying that to discredit her. I’m saying that as a father.”

The host leaned forward, her voice lower. “Are you saying Alessia is unstable?”

Roman gave a soft, practiced sigh. “I’m saying she needs help. And I want her to get it. But until then, I can’t just stand by and do nothing. I need to be the stable one. The parent who can offer calm and routine, Zane Wolfe can't offer that.

There was a pause. Just long enough for the cameras to capture the look of noble struggle on his face.

“And you’re not doing this to win? Not for revenge?”

His smile was faint. “No. This isn’t about me. It’s about our baby who didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t come forward for headlines. I did it because my baby deserves better.”

“I want my baby to have both parents,” He continued.

“But I won’t apologize for stepping up when one of them is spiraling.”

Across the city, millions watched. Some frowned. Some nodded.

At home, Lisa clicked the volume louder, lips parting. “Wow,” she whispered.

And across town, in a quiet house with drawn curtains, Alessia saw it too.

Her hand trembled. The remote slipped from her fingers and thudded against the rug. On the screen, Roman was still speaking, still calm, still so damn convincing.

The television screen froze with Roman’s face still lingering, handsome, measured, heartbreakingly sincere. The network had cut to commercial, but the damage had already landed like a punch to the chest.

Alessia stared at the screen, her mouth slightly open. Her breath had gone shallow. She looked like she’d been slapped.

The silence stretched until Lisa spoke.

“Alessia...” Her voice was cautious, almost small.

“I’m fine,” Alessia murmured, blinking slowly, like if she did it enough times, she might wake up somewhere else. “It’s not... it’s just PR. He’s spinning things. That’s what he does.”

Lisa sat on the armrest, fingers clutching a half-empty glass of water she didn’t remember pouring.

“He made you look like a lunatic. You realize that, right?”

Alessia didn’t answer.

“People believe him,” Lisa said. “He played it perfectly. You, the emotional mother. Him, the rational, wounded father just trying to protect his little girl. He even cried, for God’s sake.”

“I know.” Alessia’s voice cracked on the last word. She reached for the remote but couldn’t bring herself to rewind or mute or shut it off. She just stared at the frozen frame like it was mocking her.

“You think I don’t know what he’s doing?” Her voice broke.

“You think I didn’t feel it the second he opened his mouth?”

Lisa softened. “I’m not blaming you.”

Lisa put the glass down. “That’s not who you are.”

Alessia gave a bitter laugh.

“It’s exactly what I looked like in court, though, wasn’t it? All those cameras, all those eyes. And him walking out with that... that woman like they were royalty.”

Lisa’s jaw tightened. “Tatiana.”

Alessia scoffed. “Of course it’s Tatiana. The new perfect accessory for his redemption arc. Pretty, poised, and completely unaware of what she’s tied herself to.”

“Do you want me to turn it off?”

“No.” Alessia sat forward, breathing hard. “Let it play. Let me see exactly how deep the knife goes.”

Lisa looked at her for a moment, then nodded. The commercial ended. The screen faded back into the studio, and Roman was still talking.

Alessia didn't cry.

Not yet.

She just sat there, staring, trying not to come apart.

Not until later, when she thought no one was watching.

And by then, it was too late.

Zane had been looking for her. He found her there like a ghost curled in on herself, hollowed out.

He didn’t ask what was wrong. He’d seen it too. The entire country had.

“Alessia.”

She didn’t look at him.

Zane crouched in front of her. “You saw the interview.”

“Of course I did.”

Her voice was low, hoarse from crying. She looked past him, eyes distant. “He knows exactly what to say. What to show. How to make me the villain.”

Zane clenched his jaw. “He’s a liar.”

Her gaze snapped to his. “He’s still the father of my child.”

The words cut like glass between them. Zane stood. “That doesn’t mean you have to let him win.”

“I’m not letting him win,” she snapped. “But I can’t erase him from my baby's life. I wouldn’t even if I could.”

Zane stared at her, chest heaving. “I want you to stop hurting like this.”

Her lips trembled. “Don’t you think I want that too?”

He moved closer, his voice quieter now. “You’re not alone, you know.”

“I feel alone.”

“You’re not.”

The air thickened between them. Her lashes were wet, her mouth parted. His hand hovered by her cheek but didn’t touch. She looked up at him, eyes raw and vulnerable.

Zane’s voice dropped. “Say the word.”

She didn’t.

But she didn’t look away either.

They were too close. The moment charged. His breath mingled with hers. His fingers brushed her jaw.

Their lips almost met.

Almost.

She pulled back, eyes flickering with panic.

“I can’t.”