The Garden Of Rising Stars

The cell reeked of rust and rain. The female police officers strapped Noa Streep to a metal chair, questioning her between cruel blows. She refused to speak as she wept.

When water splashed across her face, she gasped, coughing violently. Her wrists burned against the restraints, but she lifted her head and whispered in a low, weak voice, “i didn’t do it, i swear. I’m being framed.”

….

With a battered bag in her hand, Noa emerged from the prison as the gate opened. In the hopes of spotting familiar faces, she scanned the area. There was nobody present.

Czar Holland, her spouse, had committed to picking her up today with the children.

However, he wasn't present.

Noa took out her phone and called him. Four calls go unanswered. He instantly declined her call on the fifth attempt.

What's happening? Is there a problem?

Just as she was going to call Czar’s assistant, a car drove to where she stood, making her heart race. Gia Monroe, her best friend, was the one as the car window rolled down.

"Enter, Noa. I have something to show you.”

Noa hesitated, taken aback. "Why are you here, G? Don’t you have work today?”

Gia scowled and gave Noa her phone, saying, "You told me Czar was picking you up, so I wasn't gonna come, but—“ she heaved a sigh. “Take a look at this."

Noa looked at the screen. The headline read: "Berg city’s Billionaire Czar Holland Attends Mya Streep’s fashion Studio Opening at Abble Hotel today, Valentine's Day"

Underneath was a picture of Czar encircling Mya with his arm. They were grinning as they looked at one another. A cute six-year-old boy named Eli Holland, the son of Noa and Czar, stood between them.

They appeared to be the ideal family.

The article featured Mya as the final pupil of famous fashion designer Troy Nash, and described the elaborate celebration and all the notable attendees.

The phone slipped from Noa’s grasp as her hands trembled. Her fingers were shaking too much for her to hold on when she bent down to grab it.

She was in disbelief. Czar was celebrating with Mya, the same woman Noa had been imprisoned for. So that was why he wasn’t here to pick her up.

For Mya, she was framed! How could Czar forgot that?

When Mya killed someone in a drunk driving accident five years ago, the family made a deliberate choice. They assumed Noa would be treated better in prison because she was pregnant. Thus, they disregarded her.

Refusing to accept the blame, Noa had retaliated. Nevertheless, the police arrived and took her into custody.

Noa then discovered that in order to prevent her from proving her innocence, her family had staged the security tape and bought off witnesses.

She had begged Czar for assistance while crying.

Czar had pledged to utilize his power to ease her incarceration.

The police temporarily release Noa from prison on the day she gave birth. She gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Czar had tightly held her hand and assured her that he would raise the kids and visit her every month.

However, he never did. Not once. He had offered her only the pictures of the kids as consolation, claiming that prison was "bad luck" and "no place for children".

Her lifeline came from those pictures. Night after day, she would gaze at them for hours.

The only time Noa saw Czar and the kids was on prison television. She never complained, even if these times were seldom.

Prison was bad for the kids, she told herself.

However, she never imagined that Czar would forego her release day in order to spend time with Mya.

The irony was heartbreaking.

"What an asshole! Look at him—playing house with that snake Mya, after you nearly died giving birth to his children in that prison!" Gia yelled.

She tightened her hold on the steering wheel. "And now she's bragging about being Mr. Nash’s best pupil? What a farce! She wouldn't dare speak if Mr. Nash was still alive and his actual pupils were still in Berg city. Everyone is aware that his real star student is—“

"G." When Noa finally picked up the phone, she interrupted her.

Her fingernails dug into her palms as she bit her lip firmly. "So Czar and Mya, are they a couple now?" Noa asked, heart beating and fearing the worst.

Gia frowned as she hesitated. "I can't say for certain, but... Czar’s been throwing Mya’s birthday parties for the past four years."

Noa’s heart broke. She found it difficult to breathe as her body went numb.

With little medical attention to aid in her recovery, she had nearly died during childbirth while handcuffed in the hospital bed. As if that weren't enough, one of the inmate had set her, and she was sent into the solitary confinement, then still forced outside into the rain by the female police officers even while they knew she was ill and frail.

And Czar was out there celebrating Mya’s birthday all those time?

He was aware that the hit-and-run was carried out by Mya!

Not her!

How could he have betrayed her in this way?

It hit her like a ton of bricks: her family wasn't the only ones responsible for the setup. Czar, her own husband, must have been involved from the start too.

The vehicle came to a stop. They had reached the Abble Hotel.

Noa heard the boisterous revelry inside as they emerged. Czar must have rented the entire space. How kind of him.

"Baby!" Noa exclaimed as she stormed through the doors and saw her beloved son, Eli, whom she had yearned to embrace every day of those four unending years in prison.

As soon as Eli saw her, his eyes brightened. Grinning, he rushed to embrace her. "Mommy, I missed you so much!"

With her arms extended, Noa fell to her knees and waited to embrace her son.

That one word—"Mommy"—melted away all of her suffering and anger.

Perhaps Czar hadn't totally eliminated her from their life if her young son still recognized her.

But then, without even looking at Noa, Eli sprinted past her and toward someone behind her, making Noa’s heart stop cold.

"Oh Li, baby I'm sorry I'm late!" The lady said, smiling. “Your father insisted that today had to be flawless. He forced me to alter everything three times, including my jewelry!”

Mya’s voice was heard.

Noa turned, motionless, and saw Eli put his arms around Mya’s legs while grinning broadly. "Mommy, you look beautiful in everything!"

“Thanks baby.” Mya blushed and rubbed Eli’s hair.

Noa’s world whirled. Mya was being called "Mommy" by her kid.

"Come on, Ya! Everyone is anticipating your arrival.” Czar suddenly said.

Ya? Did Czar just call Mya “Ya”? Since when?

A pout formed on Eli’s face.

Czar was looking calm and refined in his fitted black suit.

With a familiar ease, Mya linked her arm through Czar’s and held Eli’s right hand.

"You look beautiful darling.” Czar said.

“Thanks.” Mya blushed and smiled.

Darling? It felt like a slap on Noa’s ear hearing this.

She observed them. It felt like a knife to the heart.

The temptation to run forward and demand answers made Noa’s legs shake, but she was immobile. unable to speak. Her thoughts were racing as she stood there.

Four years.

After four years of dreaming about this reunion, she finally saw it.

As the three prepared to depart, Noa at last found her voice, which sounded raspy and unsteady as she yelled, "Czar Holland."

Czar turn to look at her. He heard Noa despite the commotion.

He had not aged; rather, time had only given his features a more sophisticated maturity.

"What are you doing here?" he scowled, displaying an expression of surprise.