Chapter 5 When The World Watches.

The morning sun did little to brighten the darkness that had settled over Alex's world. He had barely slept, pacing Maya's new living room, his phone vibrating with endless notifications-emails, missed calls, and news alerts.

Then it happened.

The first headline read: "Billionaire Scandal: Alex Carrington's Affair Exposed."

Within an hour, it was everywhere-gossip sites, business news networks, even trending on social media. The video of Evelyn attacking Maya outside her apartment was a wildfire, spreading across platforms with captions like "Wife vs. Mistress: The Battle of the Carringtons."

Alex's phone buzzed again. His assistant, Mark, was on the line.

"Alex, this... this is getting out of hand. The board is calling for an emergency meeting, and the PR team is demanding to know what we should say."

"Tell them... Tell them I'll handle it," Alex muttered, rubbing his temple. His words were weak even to his ears.

But it wasn't just the company. The chaos had spilled over into every aspect of his life.

Maya sat curled on the couch, staring at the TV in horror as the video played on repeat. Her tear-streaked face, her torn clothes, Evelyn's rage-all captured, dissected and judged by millions.

"I... I didn't know it would get this bad," she whispered, her voice shaking.

"I promise, I'll fix this," Alex said, but even he didn't believe it anymore.

Across town, Evelyn's phone rang non-stop. Some were from friends offering sympathy. Most were from strangers-some calling her strong for fighting for her family, others mocking her for staying with a cheating husband.

And then there were the hate messages.

"You deserved it."

"Weak woman."

"How could you stay with him?"

Her fingers trembled as she deleted them, but they kept coming. The video was inescapable. Even Jason and Karen couldn't avoid it-text messages from classmates whispered in the hallway.

Karen had locked herself in her room, refusing to speak to anyone. Jason tried to ignore it, but the shame followed him, his friends staring at him with a mix of pity and curiosity.

"Mom, make it stop!" Jason finally shouted, his voice cracking. "Make it all go away!"

Evelyn's heart broke, but she didn't have an answer.

At Wexler & Co., Alex's primary business partner, Michael Wexler, frowned at the swirling chaos on his laptop screen. Stocks were already beginning to slide. The board was restless. They didn't care about his personal life-until it started costing them money.

A call came through. Michael picked up, listening as one of the senior board members spoke in a low, sharp tone.

"If Alex can't contain this... we may need to consider a leadership change."

Back at Maya's house, Alex's phone buzzed again. This time, it was his lawyer.

"Alex, you need to act fast. The press won't stop until they have more dirt, and with your wife's public attack... we're looking at possible assault charges. Your business is at risk. Your family is in freefall. We need to strategize."

Maya looked at Alex, eyes wide with fear. "What does that mean?"

"It means we're running out of time," Alex whispered.

And outside, another flash went off-reporters circling the quiet neighborhood, cameras hungry for more.

Alex stood in the middle of Maya's living room, his phone clutched in his hand like a lifeline. Outside, the flashes of cameras continued, and reporters huddled around, hoping for another scandalous moment.

He couldn't breathe. His mind raced.

"Maya, pack a bag. Now," he ordered, his voice sharp. He moved to the window, peeking through the blinds. The reporters were growing bolder, some even knocking on the neighbor's doors, asking questions.

Maya looked up from the couch, her eyes swollen and red. "Pack? Where are we going?"

"Somewhere they can't follow," Alex snapped. "We can't stay here. Not after... everything."

"But I have nowhere else," she whispered, her voice breaking. "This was supposed to be my escape, my new start."

"Please, Maya, trust me. I won't let them ruin you."

She hesitated, then rose, disappearing into the bedroom. Alex's mind raced. He called his assistant.

"Mark, I need a private suite at the Highland Hotel. Secure. Discreet. Have the staff sign NDAs. And I want a private security team on Maya."

"Yes, sir. But... Alex, the board-"

"I don't care about the board right now!" Alex barked, his frustration boiling over. "Just do it."

As he ended the call, he saw a new headline flash across his phone screen:

"Alex Carrington's Mistress Revealed: The Scandal Deepens."

A sinking feeling twisted in his stomach. They knew about Maya. Her name, her face-it was all out there now. A reporter had likely followed the chaos, snapped her picture, and now she was another target.

A soft sob pulled him back. Maya stood in the hallway, a small suitcase in her trembling hand. "They know, don't they? They know I'm the other woman."

"I won't let them hurt you," Alex promised, crossing the room to her. He reached for her, but she pulled back.

"You already did," she whispered, her voice laced with pain.

Alex's jaw tightened. There was no time for regret. Only damage control.

He guided Maya to the door, one arm protectively around her, and as they stepped out, the reporters pounced.

"Mr. Carrington! Are you leaving your wife for her?"

"Is this your mistress?"

"Ms. Bennett, how do you feel about breaking up a family?"

Maya's head lowered, tears slipping down her cheeks, but Alex tightened his grip, pushing forward. The security team Mark had sent intercepted them, creating a barrier between them and the shouting crowd. Cameras flashed like lightning.

"Get in the car," Alex ordered, opening the door for her. He slid in behind her, the tinted windows shielding them, but the pounding on the glass continued until the driver peeled away.

Maya curled into herself, silent tears streaking her face. Alex rubbed his temples, his mind reeling.

This was his fault. He had dragged her into this chaos, destroyed his family, and now his world was collapsing.

"Maybe... maybe I should go away," Maya whispered, staring out the window.

"No." His voice was firm, desperate. "You don't run. Not because of them."

"Alex, they hate me. They're calling me... they're saying...." Her voice broke, her shoulders trembling.

"I'll protect you. I promise." But the words felt hollow.

The car pulled up to the Highland Hotel. Discreet, secluded-safe. For now.

As they stepped out, Alex's phone rang again. Mark.

"Sir... it's worse. Evelyn just posted a statement online. She's accusing you of abandoning your family for your mistress. The public is rallying around her. We're being slaughtered in the media."

Alex's grip on the phone tightened. "Did you secure the suite?"

"Yes, but... the board is demanding a meeting tomorrow. They want you to step down, Alex."

Evelyn sat on the edge of her bed, her phone buzzing endlessly on the nightstand. Messages flooded in-sympathy from friends, righteous anger from strangers, and a flurry of comments under her post.

"You're so strong, Evelyn. Stay strong for your kids."

"Men like him don't deserve good women."

"I hope you take him for everything he's worth!"

She hadn't expected the outpouring of support. A part of her felt vindicated by a twisted satisfaction in seeing Alex painted as the villain he truly was. But beneath that, a gnawing emptiness clawed at her. Public sympathy was a poor replacement for the shattered trust of a twenty-year marriage.

"Mom?" Jason's voice drifted in, cautious.

She looked up, forcing a smile. "Yes, sweetheart?"

"I... I saw the post. Is it true? Are you reading Dad?" His voice wavered, and he stood there, fidgeting with his sleeves.

Evelyn's chest tightened. "Jason... I don't know yet. But I won't let anyone hurt you or your sister. Not him, not anyone."

Jason's gaze fell. "I hate him. I hate that he did this to you. To us."

Evelyn stood, walking over to her son, wrapping him in a tight embrace. "Don't hate, Jason. Don't become bitter. I don't want you to carry that poison in your heart."

"But... you're angry too," he whispered.

"I am. Furious. But I'm your mother. I can take it. You don't have to."

Jason's arms tightened around her, and for a moment, Evelyn felt like the world outside didn't exist. Just her and her children, the only family she truly had left.

A soft knock on the door interrupted them. Karen peeked in, her eyes red. "Mom, are we going to be okay?"

Evelyn's heart ached. "Yes, sweetheart. We're going to be just fine."

But even as she said it, her phone continued to vibrate, each notification a reminder of the chaos she had unleashed.

One message stood out. A direct message from an unknown account:

"You don't know the full story. He didn't betray you. You betrayed him first."

Her blood ran cold. Who would dare send this? And what did they mean?