Chapter 19
**ARIA’S POV p>
With a sense of trepidation, I tapped on one of the trending posts that had caught
my eye.
The bold caption screamed at me from the screen: “Heiress Arla Jones bullies innocent woman over ex-fiancé; victim later attempts suicide p>
As the video began to play, a chill ran down my spine. My heart raced, and I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. The footage was so cleverly manipulated that it twisted the truth into something grotesque. It portrayed me as a tyrant, demanding Liam to kneel before me in a restaurant, conveniently omitting the context of our entire conversation.
But the second clip was even more gut-wrenching—Sophia collapsing to her knees, pleading with me to forgive Liam. The way it was edited made it appear as though I had forced her into that humiliating position.
“This is absolutely insane,” I murmured, my hands trembling as I scrolled through the barrage of comments. The vitriol was overwhelming; thousands were branding me a monster, a bully, a heartless witch.
“Who the hell posted this?” Lillian’s voice cut through my haze, her eyes narrowing as she leaned over my shoulder.
I scanned the account name. “It’s just some gossip site,” I replied, feeling a mix of anger and disbelief.
“Let’s get out of here,” Lillian said, her expression fierce as she glared at the saleswomen nearby. “People need to check their facts before they start judging p>
We hurried to a nearby coffee shop, seeking refuge in a quiet corner, away from the prying eyes and judgmental whispers.
“This has Sophia written all over it,” Lillian fumed, stirring her latte with a vengeance. “That woman is the very definition of toxic p>
I nodded, but my mind was racing. “The video is clearly edited,” I insisted, striving to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.
As I scoured the internet, my heart sank further with each headline I encountered: “Sophia Clarke hospitalized after suicide attempt following public humiliation p>
“Oh my God, Lillian,” I gasped, my stomach twisting into knots. “She actually did it. After she knelt in front of me at the restaurant… she tried to take her own life p>
Lillian’s eyes widened in shock, but her tone was unwavering. “Do not even think about blaming yourself for this p>
She grasped my arm tightly, grounding me in that moment. “This is emotional manipulation at its finest. That girl knows exactly what she’s doing. Public humiliation followed by a suicide attempt? She’s painting herself as the victim so everyone turns against you p>
I nodded slowly, but the sick feeling in my stomach wouldn’t dissipate. “I need to do something. I can’t let this narrative spread p>
“How about we release the full, unedited video?” Lillian suggested, her eyes lighting up with determination. “We can show everyone what really happened p>
Just as I was about to agree, my phone rang, the name Aiden flashing across the screen.
“Hello?” I answered, surprised by the call.
“I saw the video,” his deep voice resonated through the line. “Do you need help handling this situation p>
I hesitated, caught off guard. “I… I’m figuring it out p>
“I have connections with several media outlets. This can be contained,” he offered, his tone reassuring.
“Thanks, but I think I need to handle this myself,” I replied, trying to assert my independence. “I don’t want to be in your debt again p>
“No interest charged this time,” he said lightly, and I could almost picture the hint of
a smile on his lips. “This affects the Carter name too p>
Despite his offer, I remained firm, explaining that I had my own approach in mind.
“I have something that might help you,” Aiden persisted, undeterred by my reluctance. “Give me your email. I’ll send it over p>
After we hung up, Lillian raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. “Well, that’s interesting. Seems like Mr. Carter is quite protective of his fake wife p>
I stared at my phone, perplexed. We were in a contract marriage-why was he going to such lengths to assist me? It didn’t make sense, yet I felt a warmth spread through my chest at the thought of his concern.
Ten minutes later, my email pinged. It was from Aiden-a file containing CCTV footage from the restaurant.
“How did he get this?” Lillian gasped, peering over my shoulder.
“I don’t know,” I murmured, my heart racing, “and I’m not sure I want to find out p>
The footage was crystal clear, revealing the entire encounter-Sophia’s uninvited arrival, her dramatic performance, and how she had dropped to her knees of her own volition. No one had coerced her into that position.
“This is exactly what we need,” Lillian declared triumphantly.
I bit my lip, deep in thought. “It’s not enough just to defend myself. I need to end this cycle once and for all p>
I hastily picked out a gift-a vintage gemstone brooch that seemed elegant enough
for Mrs. Carter—and headed home, my mind racing with thoughts far more pressing than shopping.
Once home, I settled at my desk, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. It was time to be brave.
For hours, I meticulously crafted a detailed response for Instagram.
First, I shared the unedited CCTV footage, showcasing how Sophia had knelt voluntarily—no coercion whatsoever. Then, I confronted the narrative that claimed “she deserved it p>
But the most crucial part was yet to come. With trembling hands, I uploaded dozens of text exchanges between Liam and me from the past few years. The contrast was striking. Back then, he had been attentive and present. He never missed my birthday, our anniversary, or even the small joys like brunch plans.
Messages that highlighted the stark difference-how loving and engaged he used to be, compared to the distance that had grown since Sophia returned to New York.
My birthday, our anniversary, Valentine’s Day-each had been marred by Sophia’s “emergencies.” Even during significant moments, he had left me for her.
The pattern was unmistakable, and I felt a surge of determination.
“I defended this relationship for years,” I wrote in my caption. “I made excuses. I
tried to be understanding. But everyone has their limits. This isn’t about revenge-
it’s about truth. I refuse to be painted as the villain in a story where I was the one continually hurt p>
I hit post before I could second-guess myself.
“Are you sure about this?” Lillian asked gently, her voice laced with concern. “There’s no turning back now p>
“I’m tired of hiding,” I replied, my voice stronger than I anticipated. “Let the world see the truth p>
Within moments, comments began flooding in:
“OMG the receipts! She came with RECEIPTS p>
“Wait, so Sophia crashed their dinner AND faked a suicide? That’s psychotic p>
“Don’t worry about her; she’s just a friend. Liam is trash p>
Lillian quickly shared my post, adding her own comment: “As Aria’s friend of ten years, I’ve watched her endure this toxic relationship over and over. If she weren’t so kind-hearted, I would’ve exposed Sophia’s shameless behavior long ago. Innocent p>
“Please. Who calls someone at 3 AM to stake their claim on another woman’s man? Who conveniently has ’emergencies’ during every important occasion? And what business did she have showing up at a private dinner between two families p>
My post spread like wildfire, igniting a blaze of support.
“Plot twist!” commented one user. “I knew something was off about that Sophia woman! Everyone was attacking Aria, but come on-this was a private dinner. What business did Sophia have crashing it and making a scene? If I were Aria, I would’ve had security escort her out p>
“Brave of you to speak up now! I got attacked earlier just for saying Sophia seemed manipulative. Justice for Aria p>
“Are we not going to talk about how Liam abandoned his girlfriend on her BIRTHDAY to comfort another woman? What kind of boyfriend does that? ‘She’s just a friend?’ Liam’s either incredibly stupid or willfully blind p>
“Stop overreacting. ‘There’s nothing between us,’ ‘We’re just friends,’ ‘I can’t help if you’re insecure,’ ‘Can’t you be more understanding?’-classic gaslighting phrases! My heart breaks for Aria p>
“Team Aria all the way! Those two deserve each other-just stay away from decent people p>
I couldn’t stop refreshing my phone. The notifications were pouring in at an astonishing rate, my screen struggling to keep up. After years of silently enduring Sophia’s manipulations, witnessing the truth finally come to light felt like inhaling fresh air for the first time.
“Holy shit, Aria! We’re trending number one!” Lillian exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement as she showed me her screen. “Look at all these comments supporting you p>
I scrolled through the responses, a wave of vindication and relief washing over me. People weren’t just sympathizing—they were angry on my behalf. Screenshots of my text exchanges with Liam were being shared thousands of times.
“I never thought this many people would care,” I admitted, still in shock.
“Of course they care! Everyone loves watching a villain get exposed,” Lillian replied, gleefully scrolling through the comments. “And Sophia is basically the textbook definition of toxic p>
Just then, my phone buzzed again, displaying Sophia’s number.
I braced myself for what was coming next.