Three days after Aria's hospital scare, the storm she feared finally struck.
Not with sirens.
Not with bullets.
But with words millions of them, splattered across screens like blood.
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LEAKED: The Voss-Lawrence Prenup Agreement — Love or Business Deal?
EXCLUSIVE: Billionaire Promised $5 Million for Child in Contract Clause
Was Aria Lawrence Just Another Voss Investment?
The world didn't wait for truth.
It took what it saw and devoured it.
Aria sat on the edge of her hospital bed, numb.
The leaked contract spread like wildfire. Her name was everywhere once again. Only this time, it was worse.
Screenshots. Paragraphs. Highlighted sections with misleading captions:
"Should a child result from the marriage, Mrs. Lawrence will be entitled to..."
Out of context. Twisted. Weaponized.
She read one cruel comment aloud, voice empty:
"So she sold her womb for luxury. Typical gold-digger."
Another:
"No wonder her sister died this family breeds scandals."
Her hands shook as she dropped the tablet.
"I can't breathe," she whispered.
Damien sat beside her, rage simmering beneath his skin. "We'll sue every platform. Shut it all down."
She didn't answer.
He reached for her, but she pulled away.
"Don't," she said softly.
"Aria—"
"I asked you something once," she said, eyes glistening. "I asked you if this marriage would ever stop feeling like a game."
He froze.
"And now the whole world knows I was nothing more than a pawn in yours."
Damien stormed out of the hospital room and called Marcus.
"Tell me you've found the leak."
"We traced the documents to a private server connected to Kieran's network," Marcus replied. "But that's not all."
He sent Damien a photo.
A familiar woman.
"Vanessa?" Damien muttered, jaw clenched.
"Yep. She met with a courier the night before the leak. We suspect she delivered a copy of the prenup."
Damien's eyes darkened. "She had access. She's been waiting for this moment."
"Want me to handle her?"
"No," Damien said coldly. "I will."
Meanwhile, Aria scrolled through social media, watching herself unravel in the public eye.
She was being labeled everything:
Manipulator.
Gold-digger.
Liar.
But what hurt most were the people she thought would defend her and stayed silent.
No calls from her mother.
No messages from extended family.
Not even a private text of support.
In their eyes, her shame was deserved.
Tears slid down her cheeks. She touched her growing stomach.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "You didn't ask for any of this."
Later that evening, Damien returned to her room.
She looked at him blankly.
"I know what you're thinking," he said. "That I used you. That this all started with business."
She didn't respond.
"But I never expected to feel this way about you. I didn't know I'd fall in love."
She stared at the wall. "It doesn't matter now. Everyone already made up their mind."
He moved closer. "Then let me show them the truth."
She looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"
"I want to rewrite the contract."
"What?"
"I want to tear it up and build a new one with no conditions, no clauses, no payouts. Just love. Just us."
Aria shook her head. "You think a revised contract will fix public opinion?"
"No," he said quietly. "But I don't care about public opinion anymore. I care about you. About this baby. And about making things right."
Her voice cracked. "Then stop hiding. Stop handling everything behind closed doors."
"I'm not afraid of the world," he said. "Only of losing you."
At that very moment, Kieran Maddox watched Damien's live apology speech go viral.
"This marriage may have started as a contract, but what we've built goes far beyond paper. I love my wife. And I won't let lies define her."
Kieran scoffed and turned to Vanessa.
"He's starting to get too honest. That's dangerous."
Vanessa leaned against the windowsill, arms folded. "Honesty can't erase what we've done."
Kieran smirked. "No. But it can make her bleed slower."
Then he tossed another file on the table.
Vanessa glanced at the label:
"Lawrence Family Assets. Confidential."
Her eyes narrowed. "You're targeting her inheritance next?"
"Exactly," Kieran said. "Let's see what happens when she realizes even her legacy is slipping away."