Chapter 13 - THE STORY THE INTERNET GOT WRONG|
By midnight, the video had reached more than a hundred thousand views.
By morning, strangers were discussing my life as though they knew me.
Some called me brave.
Others called me manipulative.
A few accused me of deliberately destroying Luca Moretti's engagement so I could take Vanessa's place.
I sat on my bed in my small apartment, staring at the screen.
My hands were shaking.
The video showed Vanessa crying.
It showed Luca canceling the wedding.
It showed me standing beside Benjamin.
But it didn't show the cut balloon.
It didn't show the stolen birthday card.
It didn't show the boarding-school document.
And it certainly didn't show the months of fear that had brought Benjamin to the point of believing his father no longer wanted him.
Someone had edited the recording.
Carefully.
Deliberately.
And now thousands of people were judging us from a three-minute clip.
My phone rang.
It was Mrs. Carter.
"Rachel, dear, have you seen it?"
I closed my eyes.
"Yes."
"Don't read the comments."
I laughed bitterly.
"Too late."
She sighed.
"How are you?"
I looked at the screen.
Another message appeared.
Gold digger.
Then another.
She knew exactly what she was doing.
I swallowed.
"I'm trying not to cry."
Mrs. Carter's voice softened.
"Oh, sweetheart."
I looked away.
"I didn't ask for any of this."
"I know."
"I just caught a balloon."
For a moment, Mrs. Carter said nothing.
Then she whispered, "And that's what makes all this so cruel."
After we ended the call, I switched off my phone.
But I couldn't switch off the thoughts.
What if my mother saw the comments?
What if someone found our address?
What if Benjamin saw the video?
And what if the people sharing it never knew the truth?
At nine, Frank arrived to drive me to work.
I hesitated before getting into the car.
He noticed.
"Rachel, are you all right?"
I nodded.
Then shook my head.
"I don't know."
He opened the door.
"Mr. Moretti has seen the video."
My stomach tightened.
"What did he say?"
"That nobody from the household should discuss Benjamin publicly."
I nodded.
That sounded right.
Benjamin had already endured enough.
He didn't need strangers turning his childhood into entertainment.
When we arrived at the mansion, two reporters stood near the front gate.
One held a microphone.
The other was filming.
I looked down as we passed.
But I heard my name.
"Rachel!"
I froze.
"Rachel Morgan!"
Frank continued driving.
The reporter shouted again.
"Did you have a relationship with Luca Moretti before the engagement ended?"
My stomach dropped.
Frank glanced at me.
"Don't answer."
I nodded.
I hadn't intended to.
Inside the mansion, the atmosphere was tense.
Mrs. Carter was speaking quietly with the kitchen staff.
Elena Brooks stood near the staircase.
Luca was in his study with Caroline.
The doors were open.
When he saw me, he immediately stepped into the hallway.
"Rachel."
I stopped.
"Good morning."
His expression softened.
"I'm sorry."
I shook my head.
"You didn't post the video."
"No."
"But it's connected to what happened in my home."
I looked down.
He continued.
"Elena is working with the platform and the people involved to address the unauthorized recording."
I nodded.
"And Frank is coordinating with the police regarding the threats."
"Okay."
He hesitated.
"How's your mother?"
"She's frightened."
Luca's expression tightened.
"Understandably."
I took a breath.
"Has Benjamin seen it?"
"No."
Relief washed over me.
Luca continued.
"Caroline and I are keeping the situation away from him as much as possible."
I nodded.
"Good."
Then he added, "We've also arranged for him to speak with a child therapist."
I looked up.
"Really?"
Luca nodded.
"Someone recommended by his pediatrician."
My eyes filled.
"That's wonderful."
He smiled sadly.
"I should have recognized sooner that reassurance alone might not be enough."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Caroline stepped into the hallway.
"Rachel."
I turned.
She looked tired but determined.
"I wanted to ask how you're doing."
I tried to smile.
"Not great."
She nodded.
"I thought so."
Then she surprised me.
"Would you like to take a few days away from the estate?"
I hesitated.
She continued.
"Not because we want you gone."
Her voice softened.
"But because you deserve some peace."
I looked toward the staircase.
"What about Benjamin?"
Caroline smiled gently.
"We'll explain that you're taking personal time."
I swallowed.
"Will he understand?"
"He may be disappointed."
She paused.
"But that's part of what Luca and I are learning."
I frowned.
"What?"
"That Benjamin can miss someone without believing he's being abandoned."
My eyes filled.
Caroline gently touched my arm.
"And we need to help him learn that."
I looked down.
She was right.
For weeks, I'd been terrified that taking care of myself would hurt Benjamin.
But I couldn't become the person responsible for preventing every uncomfortable feeling in his life.
That wasn't love.
That was fear.
I took a breath.
"I think I need a couple of days."
Luca nodded immediately.
"Take them."
I looked up.
"Thank you."
"Your wages won't be affected."
I shook my head.
"Sir, you don't have to—"
He smiled slightly.
"Rachel."
I stopped.
"Sometimes you can simply accept help."
I laughed softly through my tears.
"Okay."
Before leaving, I went upstairs to say goodbye to Benjamin.
He was sitting on his bed, reading a book about constellations.
When he saw me, he smiled.
"Miss Rachel!"
"Hi, sweetheart."
He put down the book.
"Are you going somewhere?"
I nodded.
"I'm taking a little break."
His smile faded.
"How long?"
"Just a few days."
He looked down.
"Because of me?"
My heart tightened.
"No."
He studied my face.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"Absolutely not."
I sat beside him.
"Sometimes grown-ups need rest."
Benjamin considered this.
"Like when Daddy comes home tired?"
"Exactly."
He nodded slowly.
"Okay."
Then he looked toward his blue suitcase.
I followed his gaze.
It was still under the bed.
He hadn't unpacked it completely.
"Miss Rachel?"
"Yes?"
"If you go away, can I still draw you pictures?"
I smiled.
"Of course."
"And can you come back?"
I took a breath.
"That's my plan."
He studied me.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
He reached into his desk drawer.
And removed a small folded note.
I opened it.
Inside was a drawing of two stars.
Underneath, in crooked handwriting, were the words:
One for when you are here.
One for when you are somewhere else.
I began crying.
Benjamin looked worried.
"Is it bad?"
I shook my head quickly.
"No, honey."
I smiled through my tears.
"It's beautiful."
He smiled.
"Mommy helped me spell somewhere."
I laughed.
"She did a good job."
He hugged me.
And for the first time, I left his room without feeling as though I was abandoning him.
That afternoon, I went home and made lunch with my mother.
We talked about ordinary things.
Groceries.
Her physical therapy.
The neighbor's new puppy.
For a few hours, I almost forgot the video.
Then the doorbell rang.
My mother looked toward the hallway.
I froze.
After the stranger's visit, even an ordinary knock felt threatening.
I checked the peephole.
A woman stood outside holding a folder.
She was middle-aged, with blonde hair and a long beige coat.
I didn't recognize her.
"Who is it?" I asked through the door.
"My name is Allison Grant."
I frowned.
"What do you want?"
"I'm a former employee of Vanessa Bellini."
My stomach tightened.
She continued.
"I saw the video."
I didn't move.
"And I think you need to know something."
I looked toward my mother.
She shook her head slightly.
I kept the door locked.
"What?"
Allison hesitated.
Then held a document toward the peephole.
"I worked for Vanessa for three years."
Her voice trembled.
"And you're not the first employee she's tried to destroy."
I swallowed.
"What do you mean?"
She looked directly at the door.
"I kept records."
My heart began pounding.
"Records of what?"
May you like
Allison took a breath.
"Of what happened when her previous fiancé refused to let her control his daughter."
