Chapter 11 : Two Sides of the Truth I watched the press conference on mute , standing by the window of Neil's condo with the skyline of the city blurring behind the smudged glass . My reflection stared back at me - pale , hollow - eyed , wearing the same clothes I had on yesterday . I hadn't even brushed my hair . But I wasn't broken anymore . Just ... waiting . Celine stood at the podium like she owned grief , her voice buttery smooth , crafted for the camera . Her soft sobs were timed , her pauses rehearsed . Zach stood behind her , silent , slightly off - center . Supporting , but distant . A man trapped in a cage he helped build . " I don't blame anyone , " she said gently . " I only ask for compassion , not just for me , but for every woman who has ever suffered loss in silence . " I tossed the phone in my pocket , pacing back and forth . Neil was sitting at the dining table , reviewing more documents . He looked up as I approached and handed me a fresh envelope . " What's this ? " He exhaled . " Photos . Taken by a private nurse from the fertility clinic where Celine's tests were done . " I opened it slowly , expecting cold , clinical images . But no , these were more damning than I thought . One picture showed her laughing , holding a prescription bottle , two days after she was told there was no viable pregnancy . Another showed her holding a digital pregnancy test - clearly negative . She had posed with it . " She documented her lie ," I whispered , disgusted . " Why ? " " Because it wasn't just a lie , " Neil muttered . " It was a campaign . She knew exactly what she was doing , down to the mascara she wore when she ' cried ' on camera . " I sat down . My legs couldn't hold me anymore . " What now ? What do we even do with this ? " Neil pulled up an email thread on his laptop . "I already sent a tip to two journalists . Independent , unaffiliated with Zach's PR team . One of them just responded . She wants to meet you . " I laughed , short and bitter . " Meet me ? For what ? So she can paint me as the crazy ex with a folder full of fake receipts ? " " She doesn't want the version they aired , " Neil replied . " She wants your version . The real one . " I stared at the ceiling , bile rising in my throat . " If I do this , there's no going back . No 113 way to quietly walk away . " " There never was ," he said . " Celine made sure of that . " At exactly seven in the evening , we arrived at a private studio on the West Side . They kept it lowkey - no stylists , no bright sets , just a mic , a chair , and the truth . " Are you ready ? " the journalist asked . I nodded . " As I'll ever be . " When the camera rolled , I didn't cry . I didn't try to be pitiful . I just spoke plainly . " I didn't attack her that day , " I said , holding up the hospital records . " She took pills to trigger bleeding . The doctors knew the pregnancy had already failed two weeks before . But no one asked the right questions . Everyone just ... believed her . " I paused , my hands trembling slightly . " She played on our worst fears . A woman losing a child . But the truth ? The child never existed . The fear was real , but it didn't come from me - it came from the image she wanted the world to see . " The journalist leaned forward . " What about Mr. Hatton ? What does he know ? " I swallowed . " Enough . But he hasn't said a word . Maybe he's ashamed . Maybe he still believes her . I don't know . " I met the camera head - on . " But what I do know is that I came back for my son . I stayed quiet because I thought it would protect him . I thought being civil would be enough . I was wrong . " That night , the video dropped with the headline : ' The Other Side : Arianne Green Breaks Her Silence ' Within two hours , it was trending on X and Instagram . When I returned to Zach's place , Liam was asleep on the couch , curled up with his favorite book half - open on his chest . I bent down and kissed his forehead gently . " You won't remember any of this when you're older," I whispered . " But I'll never forget ." My phone buzzed again - messages flooding in . Some hateful , some apologetic . But one stood out : Zach : Can we talk ? Please . Just us . I stared at the phone ... But put it on silent mode after a beat . Celine was halfway through her bath when her phone buzzed violently on the counter . She sighed , annoyed at the interruption , until she saw Zach's name flashing . " What now ? " she murmured , wrapping a towel around herself . She answered , still damp . " Yes , love ? " But his voice wasn't tender this time . " You need to see what's trending . " She walked toward the bed and opened her iPad , the screen lighting up with notifications . Her own name , paired with Arianne's , littered the headlines again - but this time , they weren't singing her praises . Her lips parted as she played the interview . " ... she knew there was no viable pregnancy . But she used it anyway ... " " No , " she whispered . " No , no , no- " She threw the iPad across the bed . Zach was still on the line . " You planned all of this ," he said in monotone . " Of course not ! " she snapped . " She's making it up - she always twists things ! " There was a silence that cut through her lie . And then- " Then why do I have the same reports in front of me ? Same dates . Same diagnosis ." Her blood ran cold . " You had me investigated ? You went behind my back ? " " I had to , " he said .. " Because I believed you . I defended you , and you let me walk into that hospital thinking we lost something real ." " Zach , I did it for us - for our future- " " For you ," he said flatly . " You did it for your image . " She sank into the edge of the bed , mouth dry . " You should've just told me ," he added . " I would've grieved with you . I would've stood by you anyway ." " But you don't believe me now , " she whispered . " I don't know what to believe anymore ," he said , letting out a heavy , frustrated breath . He ended the call . Celine stared into space , but her evil plans were two steps ahead of the rift she started . 19:40 Tue , Sep 30 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!