bChapter /bb79 /b

    A few hourster…

    b90/b%

    The video of Aliana had already be a hot topic on social media. Hashtags rted to Aliana Velor topped the trending list, while online rews outlets began publishing blurred snippets of the footage.

    Public opinion was divided–some refused to believe it, while others rushed to judge. Gossip media outlets started seeking confirmation from the Vetor family, and Derek knew this would corner Alianapletely. Even if she tried to deny it, public opinion had already taken shape.

    On one gossip forumb, /bsomeone wrote:

    “All this time I thought she was a calm, elegant woman. Turns out… well, every mask eventuallyes off.”

    “I knew her back in college. I thought she was quiet and reserved. Turns out… nothing more than a cheap woman.”

    Derek read thements with a faint smile. To him, this was the perfect bfirst /bstep in destroying Aliana’s reputation. Satisfaction coursed through him as he watched the n unfold smoothly. He was certain Bianca would be pleased with his work.

    Derek went to see Bianca in her VVIP hospital room.

    Bianca was reclining on the bed, scrolling on her phone, her face still wrapped in bandages in several ces. Even so, her eyes lit up with satisfaction when she saw Derek enter.

    “Derek,” Bianca greeted with a thin smile. “I’ve seen the result. It’s magnificent.”

    Derek closed the door slowly before walking over to her bedside.

    “As you ordered, Miss. The video was edited before being uploaded through several secure channels. The release was staged to look like it came from an anonymous source who despises Miss Aliana. I’ve made sure there’s not a single trace pointing back to us.”

    Bianca’s eyes gleamed brighter, herughter light yet filled with satisfaction.

    “Good, Derek. Very good. Make sure the video keeps spreading. I want everyone who knows Aliana to see it.”

    “It’s already been arranged, Miss,” Derek replied, taking out his phone and showing her several forums and social media ounts already buzzing about the video, thement sections heating up in mere hours. “The news will spread on its own. Public opinion will shape itself without us having to intervene further.”

    Bianca studied the screen as biif /i/bshe were watching the most delightful entertainment.

    “Look at that… the perfect image of Madam Velor is cracking. This is very good.”

    Derek closed the phone and looked at her calmly. “If you wish, I can prepare the next move–something bigger, in case this video isn’t enough to bring her downb./bb” /b

    Bianca exhaled in satisfaction, settling morefortably against her pillows. “Oh, I’m sure she’ll be busy defending herself after this, But if she’s still standing, we’ll make her kneel. And as always, Derek… I’m counting on you.”

    Derek gave a short nod, his manner formal though/a slight smile touched the corner of his lips.

    “Of course, Miss. I’ll handle it for you. That’s why I hope you won’t think too much–just focus on your recovery.”

    “Of course,” Bianca replied softly, touched by Derek’s concern and loyalty. “From now on, I’ll focus more on my treatment.”

    Meanwhile, in her private room bat /bbthe /bVr family pavilionb, /bAliana sat on the floor with her back against the side bof /bthe bed. bThe /broom, usually immacte, was now in disarray; ba /bcrystal vasey shattered in the corner, books were strewn across the floor, and fragments bof /bba /bpicture frame rested bnear /bher feet.

    07:17 Tue, b2 /bbSept /b

    90b% /b

    A few hours earlier, Elena had entered with a tense expression to deliver the news that social media and gossip sites were buzzing with a “scandal” involving her. At first, Aliana had responded indifferently, but Elena’s panic prompted her to press for details. Upon hearing that the circting foota was an obscene video allegedly involving her, Aliana immediately tried calling Rafe to request a report on the video. But her calls went unanswered btexts /bremained unsent–Rafe’s phone was off.

    Relying on her own skills, Aliana sat at her desk, turned on her personalptop, and began tracing the file’s trail through the dark web, anonymous forumsb, /band hidden file searchworks.

    Within minutes, Aliana found the file in question–its title deliberately provocative to draw public attention. When she pressed “y,” the screen showed a woman whose face was identical to hersb. /b

    Aliana froze for a few seconds, her eyes narrowingb–/bnot out of shock bat /bthe usation, but because she recognized the person in the video.

    Her lips pressed tightly together, her fingers gripping the mouse trembling slightly. That woman… was Alicia. The sister who had been bat /bthe center of all her vengeance. In the videob, /bAlicia was clearly being assaulted–recorded without her consent.

    Aliana’s fury erupted. Without realizing bit/bb, /bshe swept everything boff /bthe table with one violent motion. Herptop, vase, and documents crashed to the floor. She kicked the chair over, grabbed ba /bframed photo from the bedside table, and hurled it against the wall, shattering the ss. Her breathing was heavy, her eyes burning with a deadly glint.

    Aliana’s anger wasn’t because the footage could destroy her public reputation–it was because someone had dared to edit the assault on her sister into a twisted joke to make it seem bas if /bshe herself were involved.

    To Alianab, /bthis wasn’t bjust /ba reputational attack–it was an insult to Aliciab, /bwho was already dead. And for Aliana, Alicia’s honor was ba /bline that must never be crossed.

    Now, Aliana sat in the middle of the wreckage she had created. Theptop lying on the floor still yed the video, its sounds pounding in her ears.

    Her bedroom door was knocked on yet again—it had been happening repeatedly since she locked herself inside. This timeb, /bthe knocks were ba /blittle

    louder.

    From outside, Elena’s anxious voice called,

    “Miss… Mr. Andrian is here. He wants to see you.”

    There was no answer. Aliana remained seated where she was, her back against the bed, her eyes fixed on theptop screen on the floor. Her breathing was steady but cold, as though she no longer cared about the world beyond her room.

    Elena knocked once more, her voice hesitant. “Miss, he’s waiting outside. Maybe it would be better-”

    Her words were cut short as hard knocks reced the soft ones from before. They were followed by a deep, firm voice Aliana knew all too well.

    “Aliana! Let’s talk! This won’t be resolved if you just stay silent. I’ll listen to your exnation!” Andrian’s voice echoed along the corridor walls.

    But Aliana ididn’t /imove an inch. Her eyes stayed fixed, unblinking, as though Andrian’s presence outside was nothing more than a passing shadow.

    The pounding on the idoor /icame again, this time more urgent. “Aliana! Open the doorb!/b”

    Silence.

    Aliana still did not stir. She didn’t want ito /isee anyone–not Andrian, not Elena, no one.

    Behind her empty gaze, her mind spun bon /bonly one thing–the video, Alicia’s face, and the person who dared touch her sister’s honor. To Aliana, everything else, even Andrian waiting outside the door, was nothing more than a nuisance unworthy of her attention right now.

    She stared at the screen with ba /bvacant lookb, /bbut beneath her seemingly empty eyes, her fury condensed into an unshakable resolve: to find whoever hadmitted the vile act of exploiting Alicia’s tragedy bto /bstrike bat /bher.

    Aliana swore that person would pay dearly–in ba /bway they would never forget.

    90%

    She had lost track of how many times the door had been knocked on, and how long she had kept herself locked inside Time seemed to crawl, as it room had be a world apart from the chaos outside.

    Andrian had left long ago. Before leaving bin /banger, he had thrown out one firm sentence he would have a serious talk with her once he dealt with an urgent matter at the office, caused by her actions.

    Aliana didn’t care. She remained still. Unmoving in the silence that had now taken over the room.

    Her thoughts were still consumed by Alicia’s tormented face in the video, and the person who had dared to turn it into a weapon.

    Momentster, another knock came. Unlike before, this one was soft, apanied by the sound of trembling sobs.

    “Aliana…”

    Aliana lifted her head. She knew that voice. Olivia.

    Her mother’s voice pleaded from the other side of the door. “Sweetheart, please open the door… I came with your father. We want to talk to you.”

    Aliana stayed silent. Only her quiet breathing could be heard.

    The sobs outside grew clearerb, /bsounding as though they were being held back–but failing.

    “Please… I’m begging you. Whatever you’re feeling, we’re feeling it toob. /bDon’t face this alone. Let’s talk.”

    Aliana closed her eyes. She knew those tears weren’t for her personally or for the video now circting in public. Her mother wasn’t crying because of the Zavier family’s threatened reputation. Those tearsb… /bwere for Alicia.

    Olivia understood exactly what had happened to Aliciab, /beven if it had been hidden from the world until now. Seeing a scandal about Alicia resurface in such a degrading way must have been shattering.

    Aliana took a deep breath. Slowly, she stood, her steps heavy as she moved toward the door. Every knock and sob outside pressed against her chest like a weight.

    When her hand touched the doorknob, Olivia’s sobs grew louder.

    “Aliana… I beg byou/bb…/bb” /b

    With ba /bslow movement, Aliana turned the knob and opened the door. The moment the gap widened, Olivia immediately pulled her into a tight embrace, not giving her a chance to speak.

    The hug was firm, as though Olivia had no intention of letting go. Her sobs broke, her shoulders shaking, her voice hoarse as she called her daughter’s name over and over.

    Behind Olivia, Ethan stood ifrozen/i. The man Aliana had always known bas /bstern and unemotional now had his head bowed. Tears fell from his eyes, and he couldn’t bring himself to look directly at her. The sharp determination that usually lit his gaze was gone.

    Aliana stayed frozen in her mother’s embrace. She didn’t know what to do–her arms hung stiffly at her sides.

    But when her eyes caught the sight of tears on her father’s cheeks, something inside her cracked. She couldn’t ignore it–the parents who had once abandoned her now stood before her, fragile.

    Slowly, Aliana’s tears began to fall. There were no sobs, no words, just a steady stream of warmth running down her cheeks.

    Olivia tightened her hold, patting her daughter’s back as if to soothe her, though she herself was barely holding her pain at bay.

    “Forgive me… forgive usb…/bb” /bshe whispered through her tears.

    Ethan stepped forward, his voice low, almost trembling. “Sweetheart… we won’t let you go through this alone. I’ll do anythingb–/bfor you and for Alicia.”

    e, 2 sept

    Aliana lowered her gaze. Speaking felt impossible. Even with the wounds in their rtionship, this moment wat different. There w

    was right or wrong. No usations. Only shared grief and the same burning anger anger toward the person who had trampled Allch’s ihomer /i

    Olivia stepped back slightly, holding Aliana’s face in both her hands. Her eyes were red, wet with tears.

    “We will not stay silent. We’ll find whoever did this. We’ll take revenge–together.”

    Aliana only gave a small nod. She couldn’t speak yet, but she understood her mother felt the same.

    Ethan moved closer, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. “We’ll get through this together. No matter what it takes. You won’t face this alone”

    The three of them stood in the doorway, the silence filled only by breaths and lingering sobs. No grand promises were made, no sweet words offered forfort. But for Alianab, /bit was enough. At least now, she knew her parents cared for her–and for Alicia.

    After a while, Olivia led Aliana back into the room. Ethan closed the door softlyb, /bthen sat in ba /bchair near the bed. Olivia remained beside Aliana, holding her hand tightly as if afraid to let go.

    Aliana wiped her tears with trembling fingers. Her gaze hardened again–not to shut herself off, but because her resolve had solidified. Now she carried not only vengeance for Alicia, but also for her parents, who were forced to feel the pain bof /bthe insult dealt to her and Alicia.

    There was no longer any doubt. Whoever had done this would

    pay

    dearly.

    AD