Jia stood frozen, her hand hovering near the door handle. Silvio had stepped closer, trying to brush past her.Without thinking, she slammed the door shut and pressed her back against it, eyes darting to both children.Silvio can't see Kian. He mustn't."Is everything okay?" Kian asked, his voice soft but alert.Jia nodded quickly and crossed the room. She crouched beside him.. grabbing his small hand "Come here"She opened the wardrobe and gently lifted him inside "Stay here" she whispered, eyes locked on his "Don't come out until Mommy says so” "But why?" Kian asked, eyes wide, curiosity flickering behind them.A sharp knock on the door sliced through the air.Jia flinched, her heart pounded against her chest. She leaned in, kissed the top of Kian's head "Please, No questions…Just listen” Kian nodded "Okay” She looked at him one last time before closing the wardrobe door - not too tight, just enough.Another knock.Kira tilted her head "Who's at the door? Why does Kian have to
Lilian's heart ached as she clutched Enzo's hand "Stop acting pathetic, Enzo" she said "That woman and her kids don't deserve you” But Enzo yanked his hand away, the sudden motion making Lilian stumble a step back.His eyes burned with fury "You are the pathetic one” he spat. "A pathetic mother"Lilian froze. The words hit harder than a slap. She opened her mouth, trying to form a response but Enzo wasn't done"You don't love me, cause If you did, you would know you have taken away everything that made me happy" He paused, jaw clenched "in hate you Lilian. Don't come near me or my house again” Without another glance, he stepped inside.. the door shutting firmly behind him.Lilian stood there, frozen.. her hand pressed to her chest as if to keep her heart from breaking. Her breath came in shaky waves and tears blurred her vision.How could he say that to me? Her fists clenched at her sides. It's all that woman's fault. Jia... She's poisoned my son's mind.*********The car ride was
Enzo rushed to her "Mom, are you okay?""Don't touch me!" Lilian barked, slapping his hand away. "This is who you married? A woman ready to kill your own mother? I'm ashamed of you!"Jia stood a few feet away, chest rising and falling.Her voice cut through the rain "I think it's time she heard the truth” Enzo’s head snapped toward the her, eyes wide “ Jia, now is not the right time” Her gaze never wavered as she met his eyes, her tone unwavering "There's no right time for this, your mother deserves to know the truth"Lilian, still on the ground, pushed herself up slowly..eyes narrowing as she wiped the dirt from her hands "What truth?" she sneered.Jia faced her directly "Enzo and I were never married"Lilian's laugh was sharp, incredulous “Do you think I'm someone you can fool?"Jia's eyes flicked to Enzo "You can ask him yourself” Lilian's gaze snapped to her son, her voice low but demanding "Enzo... tell me, is what she's saying the truth?"For a long moment, Enzo stood motio
Jia gave a small shake of her head "I'm not okay" she whispered, the words cracking as tears slipped down her cheeks. She sniffed hard, trying to pull herself back together but it was no use.Silvio reached out and wiped the tears away with the back of his hand "It's okay to cry" he said softly "So tell me... how are you feeling?"Something in his voice—steady, quiet, unjudging—cut through the noise in her chest. Jia let out a trembling breath and slowly, she opened her mouth "I feel... suffocated” she said, pressing her palm lightly against her chest "I'm hurting Silvio, Everyone's against me. The little bit of fame I tried to build over the last few months—it's all gone. Just like that, In a day” Her voice broke "I couldn't even defend myself back there..." Her tears began to fall faster "Even Elena...Jia's voice faltered as she looked away.Silvio caught the shift in her eyes "What happened with your friend?"She didn't answer, the memory from earlier rushed back—every harsh
"They texted—they are already here, Just waiting on the signal” Zara's eyes gleamed "Then what are you waiting for? Give it"The assistant pulled out her phone, typed quickly and tapped send "It's done, ma'am"Zara leaned back, eyes glued to the screen "Showtime"Back in the press conference, Jia felt the pressure like a noose tightening around her neck. The questions had grown uglier, the stares colder. She wanted to speak but her throat burned and no words would come. Her body moved before her mind could catch up. She stood.Then..chaosRaised voices echoed through the room. Heads turned. Gasps followed.Six middle—aged women stormed in from the back, some wielding sticks, others carrying crates filled with eggs, wilted cabbages and raw fish. The scent hit before the shock did."There she is!" one of them shouted, pointing a shaking finger at Jia "This whore has been sleeping with our husbands!"Gasps turned into a frenzy. Flashbulbs lit up the room like lightning "Miss Jia" a r
Jia stood on her balcony, arms crossed as the night breeze brushed past her. The city lights blinked in the distance but her mind was elsewhere.Her phone beeped.She flinched as her eyes darted toward the screen, ever since the scandal, every notification made her stomach drop. Slowly, she reached for it.It was an emailShe tapped it open with reluctant fingers. As her eyes scanned the message, her grip tightened around the device. Her role was being pulled. Just like that.She wasn’t surprised at all, she had expected it Even the carefully worded statement from her company hadn't stopped the flood of hate. Her name was still climbing search charts, tangled in rumors and ridicule. She glanced toward the street below, shadows shifting near the gate. She knew they were paparazzi watching herThe thought of it made her skin crawl.And Thank God Enzo had taken the kids to his parents'.Beep.Another message.Jia's heart gave a soft thud. She hesitated..fingers hovering over the scre