جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 30

VIVI’S POINT OF VIEW. …..they’re both here…..the realization hits me like a snack. Both Felix and Elias, waiting downstairs for me…… Why is Elias here? How is Elias here? This means……it means he cares about me. If he didn’t, he would never show up for me, especially when Public favor leans against me right now. Something hard, fast and violent enough to Omo k the air out of my lungs crashes into me. Calliope sees it happen. “Genevieve….” She says again, slower this time, her tone careful. Like she’s scared I might break if she pushes too hard. I don’t answer because I can already feel it. That pull from two directions. God…. My fingers curl against my stomach, instinctively yet again, like i need to Belinda myself before i fall apart completely. “They’re not getting up here,” calliope says quickly when I move to get off the bed, stepping in front of me like she can stop this from happening. “We can tell security to send them away….” “No.” The word leaves my mouth before I

ELIAS’ POINT OF VIEW.“Did you not hear me?” The words leave my mouth low and controlled, but there’s nothing controlled about what’s happening inside my chest at that moment. My grip tightened around the neck of the foolish reporter, the one who stupidly thrust his microphone in Genevieve’s mouth earlier, not enough to choke him.Just enough to remind him I can.The cameras flash harder, faster, and the reporters are clearly hungrier than before Felix and me appeared. But I don’t look at them; I don’t look at anyone…….I look at her.Curled slightly into Felix’s chest, wearing his coat. His hand on her face, his voice still lingering in the air. ‘Sorry I’m late, love….’Love? Love???Something ugly snaps inside me at that term. I still don’t know why I feel this way, but my body has become so accustomed to these feelings over the last two days; I barely question them as much anymore…Felix doesn’t move. That’s the next thing I notice; he doesn’t flinch, or step back, nor does he remo

ELIAS’ POINT OF VIEW.“Mr Elias, is that your child?” The question didn’t land; it detonates everything. Every. Kids, every flash of the camera, every moment collapses into that single moment.I don’t breathe, or think. All I can do is stare at her. Her hand still rests on her stomach protectively. And suddenly, nothing else matters. Not the press, nor Felix… nothing.Not even the past can I remember. Just her, a child… the possibility of our child. However, before she could respond, a short laugh cut through the silence. It’s sort, delicate, and oddly timed.“Wow…” she murmurs as she steps forward, her heels clicking against the tile like the sound of a timer attached to a ticking bomb. The crowd parts for her instantly, like they’d been waiting for her arrival.Of course they have…….of course she would step out right now; but when Genevieve would breathe life into my lungs with one word……yes. Her gaze sweeps over the crowd, then lands on Genevieve wrapped in my arms.It lingers on

VIVI’S POINT OF VIEW.The sound of my hand connecting with her cheek doesn’t satisfy me. The sight of the bright red handprint across her face doesn’t either. Bianca stands, eyes wide with clear shock, hand cradling her cheek.My chest rises and falls rapidly; the one word she’d uttered amongst many echoed in my mind……bastard.How could she? Insinuating that I had an affair? That I was some……whore?My hand itches again; I want to strike her once more……but something still holds me back.Bianca’s head snaps to the side, her hair flying with the impact. Her hand flies to her cheeks slowly, subsiding on it like her body hasn’t caught up to what just happened yet.Silence……real silence echoes all around us. The kind that comes before something breaks. My palm stings, my chest heaves, but I don’t take a step back.Nor do I apologize or blink.She turns to me slowly, eyes glossy, not with pain… but disbelief.“You just…”“Yes.” My voice cuts hers, steady……too steady for how my heart is pound

VIVI’S POINT OF VIEW.“Call me that one more time, Bianca.” I glared at her. She stops in her tracks, her hand in the air towards Elias’ arm. He doesn’t glance at her. “I dare you…”“You sure have a lot of bark for a woman we just caught cheating.” She chuckles. “I sure know I wouldn’t be so shameless.”“I…”“Enough of this.” Elias slaps a hand to his face. “Who cares if some bullshit report claims the baby is two months old, or one month old? Hell, even if it’s six months old, it would not matter.Genevieve and I were married for over six months. The baby is mine.”“Excuse me?” Julian’s voice cuts in, silver eyes glaring at Elias. “Repeat that.” Elias doesn’t flinch, or back down. His hand tightens around mine instead, the touch grounding and possessive. For a moment, it felt like we were married again. I glanced at Felix, trying to let him know our plan might be working.Elias might really become mine again. However, he doesn’t look at me. He stares at Elias’ hand around mine.His