ARIA’S POVAs I scroll through the TikTok feed and come across a video of the incident. In this video, the narrator is describing what has been captured while he was at the restaurant that day; Tania’s wild-eyed fury as she charges at me with a knife, screaming incoherent accusations. Tony steps in front of me, shielding me from the attack, and the security quickly subdues Tania.The video is shaky, clearly filmed by the TikToker, but the chaos is evident. The slashing of the arm and blood oozing out of Tony’s arm has not been blurred and this incident is laid bare to anyone on social media.These days, people seem ready to capture any moment on their phones, no matter how private or sensitive, and then quickly upload it to social media for the world to see, not bothered about the person’s reputation or emotions.As I watch, I notice the comments section filling up rapidly. One of the early comments catches my eye; “Wow, that boyfriend is really nice to protect his girlfriend.”It’s a
ARIA’S POVWhen I get home, the first thing I do is check the video and the comments again.“She’s not even pretty! Tony deserves so much better.”“Why didn’t she do anything to protect herself or at least not let him get hurt? So useless!”“This is disgusting. Tony is way out of her league.”“How dare that plain Jane think she’s good enough for Tony!”Each comment feels like a punch to my gut, a painful reminder of what I used to hear when I was married to Adam. It’s as if nothing has changed, as if I’m forever trapped in a cycle of not being enough.I sit on the edge of my bed, scrolling through the comments, feeling the weight of their judgement bearing down on me. The problem with social media is that once someone lights the fire, it spreads like a wildfire, and it's nearly impossible to put out the flames or may take some time.In my case, it may take longer.“Tony deserves someone better.”“She’s just using him for his fame.”One comment reads, while another claims. The words bl
ARIA’S POVIt seems that Tony’s revelation has made things worst. When Tony tags me in the photo, it doesn't take long for people to figure out who I am. They recognize me as Neal’s sister and the CEO of Jackson Paragon. Despite Tony’s plea for his fans to stop their harsh comments, the controversy still impacts our stock market value. It feels like my entire world is under a magnifying glass, every move scrutinized.Soon, it’s not just Tony’s fans who are noticing. The media and general public start digging into my past. My marriage with Adam resurfaces, and rumors begin to swirl again about how I supposedly climbed my way up the corporate ladder through less-than-ethical means. The frustration is overwhelming, and I feel like I’m being suffocated by the weight of public opinion.Nonetheless, in the midst of this chaos, Adam’s company releases a statement defending me. They clarify that our marriage ended amicably and affirm that I was an excellent worker during my time with them. Sh
ARIA’S POVLying in bed, I feel a mix of exhaustion and hope washing over me. The weight of the day presses down on me, yet the thought of Tony by my side provides a comforting reassurance. The journey ahead is bound to be challenging, but knowing that we are in this together makes me feel more equipped to handle whatever comes our way. I close my eyes, allowing a sense of renewed determination to fill me. As I drift off to sleep, I embrace the hope that tomorrow will bring strength and resilience.Nevertheless, I finally feel at ease, the turbulence of the past days settling into a calm acceptance. Yet, a sense of impending dread lingers as the court date for Tania approaches. The uncertainty of what lies ahead weighs heavily on my mind, casting a shadow over the fragile peace I've found.The day has finally arrived when I shall seek justice once again. In the courtroom, I take the stand and testify as a witness. I carefully narrate each and every detail to the court, emphasizing tha
ARIA’S POVThe courtroom scene still lingers in my mind as I leave the courthouse. Tania's menacing words echo in my ears, but I push them aside as Adam approaches me with an urgent look. I am a bit impatient, but I decide to hear him out.We step away from the bustling crowd, and Adam’s expression grows even more serious. He begins, his tone grave."I’ve found something you need to know about Tony."I feel a surge of irritation. I don’t want to hear anything that might ruin the fragile peace I’ve just begun to rebuild. But Adam's concern looks genuine, so I nod for him to continue.Adam pulls out his phone and shows me a series of documents and photos.“Tony was a scammer before he became a model. He used his looks to scam money from rich old widows.”I glance at the so-called evidence coldly. It’s a collection of emails, text messages, and photos showing Tony with various women. My mind refuses to accept it, perhaps because it’s coming from Adam, who has always doubted me in the pas
ARIA’S POVThe next day, when I meet Tony at the café, he seems visibly concerned. My own excitement for our usual meetings is dampened today, as this isn't a typical date but a moment for Tony to provide some much-needed explanations.As we settle down and order something to drink, Tony focuses his full attention, ready for the conversation.“Tell me, Aria. What’s bothering you.”I take another deep breath, feeling the weight of the conversation ahead.“I heard something about you… Something related to your past.”Tony's breath seems to hitch for a second, his face paling and his eyebrows furrowing in concern.Seeing no reaction from him, I feel that I should clarify.“Is it true that you were into old rich widows?”Tony is taken aback by my findings and he asks me from where did I get such news.“Someone claims you were involved in scamming old rich widows before you became a model.”I ask him if there any truth to that, as Adam showed me some evidences yesterday. There’s a pause and
ADAM’S POVI can't believe that Aria didn’t believe a word I said to her, despite showing her the pieces of evidence. But who is to be blamed for this? Only me. My own past mistakes and the way I treated her during our marriage have come back to haunt me. The irony is suffocating. I try to shake off the frustration, but it lingers like a dark cloud over my thoughts.When George invites me to the bar for a drink, I don’t refuse him. I need to clear my mind, to find some semblance of normalcy in the chaos. The bar is dimly lit, filled with the low hum of conversations and the occasional burst of laughter.It’s a familiar, almost comforting scene. I lose myself in the rhythm of clinking glasses and idle chatter, hoping to drown out the turmoil within. The warmth of the setting and the steady flow of conversation offer a brief respite from my overwhelming thoughts.“So, how are things from your end?”George asks me about the latest events in my life, carefully avoiding any mention of Aria
ARIA’S POV“Aria? Uhm… Can you pick me from the police station?”The call from Tony shatters the calm of my evening. His urgent plea to pick him up from the police station sends a jolt of fear through me.“Why? What happened?”“I’m alright, don’t worry. Please just come and pick me up.”Thoughts swirl as I rush to his aid, the drive fraught with worry and unanswered questions about what could have transpired. I am thinking about Tania who despite being in jail, has connections and must have sent someone to attack Tony.I remember how she threatened me in the court and how confident she was about her claims. I can’t think of anyone else bringing more issues into my life or even harm the people associated with me.Arriving at the station, I'm taken aback to find Tony standing with Adam. Tony's bruised face tells a silent story of recent violence, contrasting sharply with Adam's uneasy demeanor. Confusion and concern ripple through me as I take in the scene before me, trying to piece tog