Ella’s POV:
I sat in Arec’s office, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on .
The air was thick with tension as Greg from the PR team rattled off instructions on how we should handle the live video.
My mind was only half-focused on his words. I was supposed to go on cara and defend myself against Klaus’s lies, to explain the twisted narrative he’d spun about . But all I could feel was the sharp sting of betrayal.
Arec sat beside , his presence both reassuring and terrifying. I wasn’t used to him being so close, so personal.
Ever since we found out about the baby, he had been different, more attentive, softer in ways I hadn’t expected. But even now, with him trying to fix everything, I wasn’t sure how we could co out of this unscathed.
My phone rang, cutting through the noise of Greg’s briefing. I glanced down at the screen and saw my mother’s na. My heart dropped.
I knew what was coming.
I pressed the answer button and brought the phone to my ear, trying to steady my breath. "Mom?"
Her voice was frantic, shaking with a mixture of fear and aanger
"Ella, what the hell is going on? I just saw that video, and I am livid! How could you be tangled up in sothing like this? That disgusting man, Klaus he’s slandering you all over the internet! What’s going to happen now? This could ruin you, sweetheart."
My chest tightened as I listened to her. I could hear the worry beneath her fury, but it didn’t make her words sting any less.
"I don’t know, Mom. Arec...he’s trying to handle it. He says it’s going to be okay."
She didn’t calm down. "Arec? How’s he taking all of this? I can’t believe this is happening right before your wedding. This Klaus is a selfish, unkind man! To do this to you, to your reputation... he’s trash, Ella! Absolute trash!"
The anger in her voice flared, and I closed my eyes, feeling like I was being pulled in a hundred different directions. I glanced at Arec, who was listening intently, probably piecing together the conversation from my end. He reached for my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, but the pressure in my chest didn’t ease.
"He’s taking care of it, Mom," I said quietly, though I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince her or myself. "He’s called the PR team, and we’re going live soon to address everything."
My mother sighed deeply on the other end of the line. "Put Arec on the phone, Ella. I need to talk to him."
I didn’t even question it. I just handed him the phone, feeling like a child caught in a ss too big to clean up on my own.
Arec took the phone, his expression unreadable as he stood up from his chair and walked to the corner of the office, speaking in low tones with my mother. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but I caught the occasional nod, the softening of his features. He was calm, collected, the opposite of what I felt inside.
It made feel worse.
Greg continued talking about damage control, about how we could spin this, but my mind was elsewhere.
I couldn’t stop thinking about my mother’s words, the worry in her voice. What if this did ruin ? What if people only saw Klaus’s side, the lies he was feeding them, and no matter what we said, they’d already made up their minds?
Arec handed the phone back to . "Your mother wants to talk to you."
I took it hesitantly. "Mom?"
Her voice was calr now, but the worry was still there, lingering beneath the surface. "Ella, listen to . Arec is a good man. He’s going to take care of this. You just need to be strong, alright? You can’t let Klaus win. You’ve always been stronger than this. I know it hurts, but don’t give up. And rember, I’m here for you, no matter what happens."
Tears pricked at my eyes, and I wiped them away quickly before they could fall. "I know, Mom. Thank you."
We said our goodbyes, and as I was about to hang up, another call ca through. Kate.
I stared at the screen for a second, then picked up, trying to brace myself for what she was going to say.
"Ella, are you okay?" Kate’s voice was softer than usual, but I could hear the strain in it, the concern. "I’ve been worried about you ever since I saw that video. I knew Klaus was a jerk, but this...this is a new level of low."
I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "I don’t know what to do, Kate. Everyone’s going to believe him. They’re already calling a gold-digger, saying I’m only with Arec for his money. I can’t... I don’t know how to fix this."
Kate’s voice sharpened. "You don’t need to fix anything. You did nothing wrong. Klaus is bitter and spiteful because you moved on, and he can’t stand it. He’s always been like that, trying to tear people down when things don’t go his way. The people who really know you won’t believe a word he says. Don’t let the internet trolls get to you."
I wanted to believe her. I wanted to believe that people would see through Klaus’s lies, but the hurt in her voice only made it harder. She was trying to be strong for , but I could hear how much this was affecting her too.
"I don’t know if I can do this, Kate," I whispered, my voice barely holding together. "It’s too much. I feel like I’m being torn apart. This fake relationship with Arec, the baby, now Klaus... It’s all too much."
Kate’s tone softened. "You can do this. I know you. You’ve been through worse, and you ca out stronger. You have to focus on what matters, your baby, your future. Let Klaus wallow in his own misery. He’s not worth your energy."
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see . "Thanks, Kate."
After a few more comforting words, we hung up, and I was left sitting there in Arec’s office, feeling like the world was closing in on . The hurt in my mother’s voice, the concern from Kate...it all cut deep. I was trying to stay strong, but the weight of everything was pressing down on , suffocating .
Arec was back at my side, his hand resting on my shoulder. "Ella, we’re going to get through this. I won’t let him tear you down. I promise."
I looked up at him, trying to hold back the tears. He had no reason to fight this hard for , especially with the way our relationship had started. But here he was, standing by my side, willing to take the heat with . It felt...different. Like maybe this wasn’t just about the contract anymore.
"We need to get ready for the live," Greg said, breaking the mont. "The longer we wait, the worse this is going to get."
I nodded, wiping my eyes and taking a deep breath. This was it. My chance to set the record straight, to show everyone that Klaus’s lies weren’t going to define .
As we prepped for the live stream, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped, trapped between my past with Klaus and the present I was trying to build with Arec.
I wasn’t sure which one would destroy first.
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