Chapter 10 – Ashes In The Fire
Aria’s Pov
I sat with a steaming mug of tea, legs curled beneath me, as the news anchor’s voice crackled through the living room.”
“Breaking news: Fashion designer Mira Harrington is currently under fire after allegations surfaced that she has been plagiarizing the work of an anonymous designer.“}
I smirked. Finally.
The footage cut to Mira seated in a glossy studio with a sympathetic–looking host leaning toward her.
“My heart is breaking,” Mira sniffled. Her voice trembled and her mascara was already smudging. “I–I didn’t steal anything. I’ve always been passionate about design.”
The camera panned closer.
“I believe someone is trying to ruin me… my stepsister, Aria,” she said with a choked sob.
I didn’t flinch. I just sipped my tea.
“This is personal,” she said. “She’s always been jealous. She’s trying to destroy everything I’ve worked for.”
“You worked for nothing, sweetheart,” I muttered to myself.
The host leaned closer. “Is it true your stepsister is the one spreading these claims anonymously?“!
“I don’t know!” Mira cried. “But I can feel it. She hates me. She wants to destroy my life.”
The screen cut again.
Now it was Austin.
“She’s innocent,” he said firmly. “People are always quick to believe gossip. Mira has built her brand from scratch. She’s talented, passionate, and–most importantly–she has a good heart.“)
I choked on my tea from laughter.
“A good heart? Really?”
الله
Austin’s face was tight with rage. “My wife has done nothing wrong. These anonymous accounts are just haters. We will sue anyone that spreads lies.”
I turned the volume up as another face appeared. My father.
I knew that background. He’d chosen to speak from his study–probably wanted to look intellectual.
“My daughter Mira-” he said, and I immediately saw red.
Daughter.
“My daughter is incapable of something so vile. She’s sweet. She’s honest. She’s my little angel.”
1 clenched my fists.
“I raised Mira right. We’ll get to the bottom of this,” he added with a self–important nod.”
Kian walked in then, holding a tablet. “You watching it too?”
I looked at him. “They’re unbelievable.“}
“They’re terrified,” he said, sitting beside me. “That’s the sound of desperation.”
“They’re liars,” I corrected. “All three of them. Do you see how quickly they leap to protect her, without even questioning the truth?”
Kian gave a soft smile. “You hit a nerve, love. Mira’s trending in all the wrong ways.”
He tapped the tablet and handed it to me.0
“Top brands are pulling out of her campaign. A few designers she planned to collaborate with released statements–said they don’t support fraud. They’re distancing themselves.”
I scrolled through, reading the posts aloud.
Integrity matters more than influence. We won’t be working with Mira.‘&
To the anonymous designer–thank you for speaking out. You inspire us.‘
One even read: ‘Mira, maybe try creating something on your own for once.’
Kian chuckled. “That one’s my favorite.”
I handed the tablet back. “It’s not enough. Not yet.”
“Be careful,” he said.
I raised an eyebrow. “What?”
He looked serious now. “You’re playing with fire. If you’re not careful, it’ll consume you.“!
I stared ahead for a second.
“My mother died because of this,” I said quietly.
Kian didn’t say anything.
“She found out my father had a mistress. A child. Mira. And still, she stayed. She tried to love him. She tried to love us both. But it broke her. Slowly. Until one day… she stopped getting out of bed. Her heart just–gave up.”
Kian reached for my hand, but I pulled it away gently.
apter 10- Ashes In The Fire
単口
12:00 AM
a b
ཟཀབས༔་ཅ ན་པ་ ཟཅ་ ་ སྐན་པ ས་ ་ ཅཔ་ད་པ ་ ས་་ས་ སྤུ་་་་་
“Mira took everything. My father. My husband. My baby. My brother.”
“Then let me help you,” he said. “But don’t lose yourself in it.”
I’m not losing myself,” I said. “I’m finally finding the version of me they tried to bury.“N
There was a knock at the door.
Kian stood to answer it. A maid handed him a brown package.
He turned and brought it to me. “For you.”S
“From who?”
“No return address.”
I took the package and opened it. Inside, a single sheet of paper.
You are requested to present yourself for a paternity test. Enclosed is the location, date, and time. The requesting party remains confidential.
I stared at it!
Kian frowned. “What is it?”
I passed him the paper.
He scanned it, then looked up. “A paternity test?“}
I nodded.
“What does this mean? Who is doing this?” He asked.§
I shrugged, “I have no idea all I found is a plea to come for a paternity test enclosed with a check of ten million dollars,” I answered.
–
