The morning after the gala, everything changed.
Irina woke to the harsh sound of her phone buzzing relentlessly on the nightstand. Groggy, she reached for it, squinting at the screen. Her heart dropped as she saw the headline splashed across her news feed:
LIAM CONOR AND MYSTERIOUS WOMAN CAUGHT IN STEAMY BALCONY MOMENT.
The photo was grainy, taken from a distance, but the image was unmistakable Liam and Irina, close enough to touch, standing in a private moment on the balcony. She could feel the heat of the night, the tension that had nearly broken between them, swirling up in the photo like a tidal wave. And now, it was out in the world for everyone to see.
The phone rang again but this time, it was Jacob.
"Where the hell are you?" His voice was sharp but panic was clearly noticeable underlying his usually controlled tone. "The press is going crazy. The tabloids are running with this, and it's only a matter of time before someone digs into your past."
Irina's stomach twisted. "I… I… I didn't mean for this to happen, Jacob. It was just a moment, a private moment."
"Private?!" Jacob nearly shouted. "There is no such thing as privacy in your world now, Samantha. Sylvia's already on the warpath. You've got 24 hours to disappear, or this scandal is going to take down Liam.
YOU UNDERSTAND?"
The words hit Irina so hard that she wasn't really listening anymore to what Jacob was saying. Liam's career, the thing he'd worked so hard for, the thing he protected with everything he had was teetering on the edge because of her. And now, she had no choice but to run.
She doesn't really have much choice here, so she did what was best for everyone and started packing her things, a knot in her stomach refused to loosen. She wasn't sure if it was guilt, fear, or the ache of leaving everything behind.
Her room was a mess, clothes strewn across the floor with half packed bags everywhere.
The suitcases were barely zipped when there was a knock at the door. Dmitri stood there with blank expression.
"Everything okay?" His voice was low.
Irina stared at him, just confused and debating whether to scream or just collapse into his arms.
"No, Dmitri, It's falling apart." she managed to say, trying so hard not to cry.
Without a word, Dmitri stepped into the room, scanning everywhere before resting his eyes on her.
"What happened?"
"I'm being kicked out," she said, her voice thick with frustration. "Liam's mother is furious, Jacob wants me gone, and now… now the world knows. The scandal… that photo is all over the tabloids."
Dmitri walked towards to her and placed his right hand on her shoulder. "You're not doing this alone."
"I have no choice," Irina said, her voice breaking in a silent sob. "I can't stay Dmitri, I have to leave. For Liam, for his caree…"
Dmitri shook his head, his usual stoic demeanor almost faded for a moment. "This isn't your fault, Irina. You didn't bring this on."
Before she could respond, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was an anonymous message. She stared at the screen, the words searing through her thoughts:
"May knows who you are."
Blood drained from her face because she immediately know who it was.
"MAY WINTERS"
"Who was that?" Dmitri asked with concern.
Irina swallowed hard and showed him the message.
Is it May, like Liam's…. Yes, yes Dmitri, Irina cuts him off.
"May is going to use this against you," Dmitri said, she knows something you don't want her to know. You have to leave now, Irina. Before she traps you."
Irina's heart thudded in her chest. She couldn't possibly have double thoughts about staying anymore now.
Because maybe the scandal might fade away within a once once another big news comes up but if May links her secret, then it's a doom for her.
She can't risk it, not when May is using her past as a weapon.
"I don't know what to do," Irina admitted. "How can I just disappear? How can I walk away from him?"
Dmitri's expression softened for the briefest moment, but then his gaze hardened again. "You have no choice here Irina. May has already find out who you are, which means it's over, if she tells Liam, he will never forgive you."
Deep down, Irina knew he was right. She couldn't stay in the crossfire. If May uncovered her past, then everything would unravel.
Irina stood up, straightening her shoulders. She couldn't afford to show weakness, not when her entire future was on the line. With a final look around the room, she zipped her suitcase and headed toward the door.
But just before she left, Dmitri caught her arm. "You're going to need more than just a new life, Irina. You need to find out what May's hiding. Because May might still expose you even after you leave and if she's going to expose you, you can't let her do it first."
Irina looked at Dmitri one last time, before walking away. As she stepped out into the hallway, she knew one thing for sure: May Winters had the upper hand. But Irina wouldn't go down without a fight.