It was hard to explain to Thomas why there were so many people outside our home. He was confused and a little scared. I tried my best to reassure him, but it was difficult. He was only four years old, and he didn’t understand why people were so interested in him.
Zachary was a rock for both of us. He did his best to shield us from the media attention, and he made sure that we had everything we needed. But even he couldn’t stop the press from printing lies about us.
I tried to stay strong, but it was hard. I felt like my world was falling apart, and I didn’t know how to stop it. I couldn’t even go to work because of all the reporters waiting outside the office building.
I started to doubt myself. Maybe I wasn’t good enough for Zachary.
But every time I felt like giving up, Zachary was there to remind me that I was worth it. He told me how much he loved me and how much he believed in me. He made me feel like I could overcome anything, as long as we were together.
And Thomas… seeing how much he adored Zachary made me realize that this was all worth it. They needed each other, and so did I.
I knew that I couldn’t give up, not when I had two people depending on me. I had to be strong for them, even when it felt like the whole world was against us.
Zachary’s lawyers were able to get a restraining order against Alena, which meant that she couldn’t come within 500 feet of any of us. But that didn’t stop her from trying to manipulate the situation to her advantage.
She gave interviews to the press, painting herself as the victim. She claimed that Zachary had cheated on her and that I was just a homewrecker trying to steal her man.
It made me sick to hear her lies, but there was nothing I could do to stop her. All I could do was ignore her and focus on my own life.
Zachary and I spent every spare moment together. We went on dates, had deep conversations, and just enjoyed each other’s company.
And through it all, Thomas blossomed. He loved having Zachary around, and the two of them quickly formed a strong bond. It melted my heart to see them playing together, laughing, and having so much fun.
Despite all the chaos that Alena had caused, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the way things had turned out. If she hadn’t leaked that story, who knows how long it would have taken for Zachary and me to realize our feelings for each other?
I knew that our love was strong enough to overcome anything, even the evil schemes of Alena Richards. And with Thomas by our side, we were a family, and nothing could break that bond.
In the end, Alena’s plan backfired. Instead of driving us apart, she brought us closer together. And as we sat on the couch, holding hands and watching Thomas play with his toys, I knew that we would always be there for each other, no matter what life threw our way.
The first day back at the office after the news broke was a disaster.
Everyone was staring at me and whispering behind my back. I could feel their eyes on me as I walked through the building, and it made my skin crawl.
I tried to ignore them and just focus on my work, but it was impossible. Every time I turned around, there was someone new staring at me or asking me inappropriate questions.
I just wanted to hide under a rock and never come out. But I couldn’t do that. I had a job to do, and I was determined to do it well, no matter what anyone else thought.
So, I put my head down and got to work. I threw myself into my tasks and tried to block out everything else.
But even that wasn’t enough to keep the rumors from spreading. By lunchtime, everyone in the office was talking about me and Zachary.
Some people were supportive, but others were cruel. They said that I was a homewrecker and that I had seduced Zachary to get ahead in the company.
It hurt to hear them talk about me like that, but I tried not to let it get to me. I knew that most of it wasn’t true, and the rest was just gossip.
I wished that Zachary and I had never gone public with our relationship. But at the same time, I was glad that the truth was finally out.
I knew that things would get better with time. People would forget about the scandal, and they would move on to something else.
Until then, I just had to tough it out. I had to be stronger than the rumors and the gossip. I had to rise above it all and show everyone what I was really made of.
And that’s exactly what I did. I worked hard and proved myself every day. Slowly but surely, people began to see me in a new light.
They realized that I wasn’t just Zachary’s mistress. I was a talented and dedicated employee who deserved their respect.
It took time, but eventually, things got better. The rumors died down, and people stopped staring at me all the time.
I was finally able to focus on my work without all the drama and distractions. And I was grateful for that.
In the end, going through the fire made me stronger. It taught me how to stand up for myself and how to overcome adversity.
And it reminded me that no matter what challenges lay ahead, I could face them head-on and come out even stronger on the other side.
I just needed to keep my head up and my eyes on the prize. And with Zachary and Thomas by my side, I knew that I could handle anything that came my way.
When I got home from work, Thomas ran to greet me, throwing his arms around my legs.