Chapter 2 : Aftermath of Getting Viral Morning came slowly each passing day . The house felt too quiet - like even the walls were trying to make space for the fallout . I stood by the kitchen sink , watching sunlight pour over the untouched breakfast table . There were no coffee cups anymore . No phone calls buzzing from Zach's office upstairs . Just the sound of Liam's pencil scratching faintly against paper in the living room . He wasn't asking questions . And that , somehow , hurt worse . I carried a glass of water to him , watching his small hands trace lazy shapes in his notebook . " Draw anything good ? " He held up the page . It was a cartoon version of the concert crowd . He'd drawn me and him , hands up in the air , smiling - before the moment everything flipped . " Memory rewrite ," he said with a grin . A part of me cracked open at that . Not from sadness , but from the quiet strength in his voice . That my ten - year - old , sick as he was , understood something I had spent years ignoring . I kissed the top of his head . " You want to talk about it ? " I asked gently . He looked up , eyes tired but sharp . " Everyone at school saw the clip . " I sat beside him . " I know . " He pressed his lips together and carefully asked , " Did you give him the divorce papers already ? " I nodded once . " Yeah . The day after the concert . " He exhaled like a grown man . " He texted me yesterday . Said he might come by today , " Liam added , almost like an afterthought . " But I told him not to . " I blinked . " You did ? " Liam shrugged . " And I don't want to see him ... yet . " " Me too ." Liam held my hand and said , " Don't worry , Mom . I will never hurt you like what he did . I will protect you ... always . " My chest tightened at the sincerity of his voice . I had to bite the tears back to my throat . Around noon , I took my time at the grocery store . Touched things I didn't need . Read labels I already knew by heart . Maybe it was the illusion of control - choosing brands , checking expiry dates , when everything else in my life had rotted quietly behind my back . I was halfway through the produce aisle when I heard a familiar voice . " Arianne ? " I turned . It was Celeste Santiago , our neighbor three blocks away - the one who throws brunches with pastel cupcakes and has a husband who only wears golf shirts . Her eyes were wide with concern . But behind it , curiosity burned like a poorly hidden candle . " Oh my God , " she said in a hushed tone . " I wasn't sure if I should even say anything , but ... I saw that video . The concert . The ... um ... Kiss Cam thing . " I smiled politely . " A lot of people did . " She blinked , startled at how steady I was . " I just ... I can't believe he would do that . And with her ? Isn't she like ... his intern or something ? " " Assistant ," I said simply , inspecting a lemon . " Though clearly , she's been promoted . " Celeste chuckled nervously . " I mean , I just wanted to say - we're all behind you . Like , team Arianne all the way . If you ever want to talk , or come by for sangria night ... " " That's kind , " I said , placing the lemon in my cart . " But I think I've had enough sour for a while . " She blinked again . I didn't fill the silence . She shifted her weight awkwardly . " Well , anyway . You're handling it all with so much grace . Honestly , if it were me , I'd beat the shit out of them . " " Trust me ," I said , pushing the cart forward . " The temptation was there . " I left her standing there with a polite nod and a heart that felt a little heavier than when I walked in . Back in the car , I sat with the engine off . Grocery bags filled the backseat , my fingers tightened around the steering wheel as if I could squeeze the ache out of my chest . The video didn't lie . But it didn't tell the full story either . By the time I got home , the sun had dipped low . I walked in to find Liam curled on the couch , cartoons playing quietly. He smiled when he saw me - like nothing had changed . Like he was still my anchor . I ruffled his hair , kissed his forehead , then excused myself to the study . That's where I noticed a white envelope sitting on the desk . My pulse slowed as I pulled out the photo . It was my husband . In an expensive suite . Shirtless . Leaning over Celine . It was clearly taken in secret - but the intent was unmistakable . And on the back , in careful handwriting : The concert was only the beginning . You deserve the truth . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!