C14 Shattered Loyalties

I closed my eyes; the recollections flooding returned in sharp, painful flashes. “Olivia... she’s pregnant with Anthony’s infant. She showed up out of nowhere, and now she’s staying in our house. Evelyn already knows her, and she’s appearing like I don’t even exist anymore.”

Noah’s jaw clenched, but he stayed quiet, letting me hold.

“And Anthony… He says he didn’t recognize about the baby till lately, but how am I supposed to keep in mind that? How can I believe him while he’s been lying to me this entire time? He guarantees me he’ll restore it; however, it’s too overdue. Evelyn’s already made up her thoughts, and Olivia is... she’s so boastful about all of it, like she’s received, and I’m simply... I don’t recognize what to do.”

Noah sat down beside me, his presence sturdy and grounding. “Mia, you’re now not loopy for feeling this manner. This is a nightmare, and you don’t deserve any of it.”

I sniffled, looking at him through blurry eyes. “But what am I purported to do, Noah? I’ve attempted so hard to make this marriage artwork, and now I’m... I’m caught. Anthony’s modified, or as a minimum, he’s seeking to, however this toddler... it changes everything.”

Noah let loose a protracted breath, his brow furrowed. “This isn’t your burden to carry, Mia. Anthony made this mess. You don’t should easy it up for him.”

“But Evelyn... she’s already made her preference,” I whispered, feeling the weight of her coldness pressing down on me. “She’s already chosen the toddler over me.”

Noah’s eyes hardened. “Evelyn may be Anthony’s grandmother, but that doesn’t mean she’s right. You’re his spouse, Mia. You want to be dealt with with appreciation, with love. And if Anthony can’t see that, then perhaps you want to think about what you need. Not what they need.”

His words lingered in the air, putting a chord deep within me. For goodbye, I have been living for all people else—Anthony, Evelyn, and the general public. My music turned into the handiest issue that felt like mine, or even that began to slip through my arms.

I wiped my face over again, nodding slowly. “I simply… I need time to think.”

Noah nodded, his gaze in no way leaving mine. “Take all the time you need. But something making a decision, clearly know which you’re not on my own. I’m proper right here, Mia. I’ll continually be right here.”

His phrases hung within the air, comforting but additionally confusing. I didn’t recognize what I had purported to do with them, however, for the number one time in a prolonged on the same time, I felt like I wasn’t alone in this storm.

Noah stood up and provided me with a hand. “Come on, allow’s take a harm. Clear your head. You want it.”

I hesitated for a second, however, then I took his hand, letting him pull me up. As we walked out of the studio collectively, I couldn’t shake the sensation that subjects were approximately to change—whether I was equipped for it or not.

Noah and I sat in the small café, the smooth murmur of conversations filling the space. I wrapped my fingers across the cup of espresso, staring into the swirling liquid. Noah leaned ahead, his voice low and soothing. “Mia, don’t allow Anthony to distract you. Remember why you’re here inside the first vicinity. Your song, your career—that’s what topics.”

I nodded, knowing he become right. But the load of the entirety going on at home became suffocating me. Olivia’s being pregnant, Evelyn’s approval of it, and Anthony’s ensuring that felt empty—it changed into all too much.

“I recognize,” I said softly, my voice slightly above a whisper. “It’s absolutely… tough. Everything’s a huge variety, and I don’t even understand what’s actual anymore.”

Noah looked at me, his eyes complete of something I hadn’t seen in advance than—scenario, possibly even admiration. “Mia, I understand your marriage to Anthony is a settlement marriage. I’ve recognized for some time, and I’ve commonly hated how he dealt with you. You’re too talented, too ideal to be stuck in a situation like this.”

I blinked, surprised by using his terms. “You knew?”

He nodded, his gaze steady. “I’ve continually seemed. And I’ve additionally recognized that you deserve so much higher than what Anthony’s been supplying you with. You’re an exceptional artist, Mia. Your tune movements people. I simply hate seeing you go through like this.”

His words made my chest tighten. Noah has become saying matters I hadn’t heard in See you later—phrases of encouragement, guidance, and care. But I wasn’t certain if I should bear in mind him. What becomes his attitude in all of this? Was he clearly in search of assistance, or was there something more?

“I don’t apprehend why you’re saying all of this,” I admitted, my voice cracking slightly. “Why do you even care?”

Noah sighed, leaning once more in his chair. “Because I do care. I’ve usually cared. I can’t stand seeing you want this, Mia. You don’t deserve it.”

His sincerity stuck me off the shield, and for a second, I didn’t recognize a manner to reply. Just as I opened my mouth to say something, the door to the café swung open, and my coronary heart sank.

Anthony walked in, his eyes at once locking onto us. I stiffened in my seat, surprised to appearance him. How did he recognize I changed here?

He strode over, his jaw clenched, and without a lot of a greeting, he snapped at me. “Is this the studio you’re presupposed to be in? What are you doing here, dropping the producer’s time? And having a stupid communication with Noah, of everybody?”

Noah’s expression darkened. He stood up, going through Anthony squarely. “Don’t you dare call this conversation stupid, Anthony,” he stated his voice company. “Mia needed a break. She’s managing plenty properly now, and you have to be the closing individual to criticize her for taking a 2d to respire.”

Anthony grew to turn out to his cold gaze on Noah. “This isn’t your company, Noah. Stay out of it.”

Noah crossed his hands, unfazed. “It is my business whilst Mia’s well-being is involved. You’ve been treating her like rubbish for months, and now you care approximately her timetable? About her time?”

I sat there, frozen, looking at the tension and upward push between the two men. This wasn’t what I wished proper now. The final factor I desired modified right into a fight—mainly proper right here, in front of everybody.

“Anthony,” I said, my voice quiet but business enterprise. “Please, simply stop. I came right here to paintings, and I wanted a destroy. That’s all. Noah grows to be simply seeking to help.”

Anthony’s eyes flicked again to me, and for a moment, I observed something flicker there—guilt, maybe. But it disappeared as quickly as it got here, changed by the cold mask he usually wore. “We don’t have time for this, Mia,” he stated sharply. “You’re losing valuable studio time. Let’s go.”

I hesitated, glancing at Noah, who gave me a reassuring nod. “You don’t need to go along with him if you don’t need to, Mia. You have a say in this.”

Anthony’s jaw clenched. “Noah, back off.”

I stood up, my coronary heart racing. “Both of you, save you it,” I stated, my voice louder than I supposed. The people around us grew to come to be to stare, however, I didn’t care. “I’m tired of this. I’m bored with being pulled into specific instructions. Anthony, I’ll move again to the studio after I’m equipped.”

Anthony’s eyes narrowed, his fists clenched at his components. He wasn’t used to being challenged, at least at some point to me. “Mia, you’re my spouse. You’re coming with me now.”

I shook my head, feeling a surge of defiance. “I’m now not a puppet, Anthony. I’ll bypass once I’m geared up, no longer because of the reality you order me to.”

Noah stepped closer, reputation via way of my aspect. “She’s right. You can’t manage her like this.”

Anthony’s eyes darkened as he stepped closer to Noah. His fist flew out before I could even check in on what was going on, and it linked with Noah’s jaw with a sickening thud. Noah staggered and returned, clutching his face in surprise.