Page 196 of Wisteria and Cloves
I gasped for breath, suddenly remembering. "My phone—it's still recording. Upstairs, by the window."
The realization dawned on all their faces at once. Christopher's eyebrows shot up, Miles let out a startled laugh, and Nicolaus's lips curved into that rare, genuine smile that transformed his face.
"You were livestreaming?" Nicolaus asked, his analytical mind clearly reassessing everything that had just transpired.
I nodded, feeling heat flush my cheeks. "I wanted people to see for themselves what was really happening. I was tired of letting other people control my story."
"Brilliant," Miles breathed, his eyes bright with admiration. "Absolutely brilliant."
Christopher was already moving toward the house. "We should end the stream and secure the footage before—"
"Before it goes viral," Nicolaus finished, though he didn't sound concerned. If anything, he looked pleased. "Which it will, given what just happened."
Julian's arm tightened around my waist as we headed inside. "How many viewers did you have?"
"I don't know," I admitted, my voice small. "I was too nervous to look at the numbers after the first few minutes."
We climbed the stairs quickly, and I could hear the others following close behind. My phone was still propped against the window, the live stream continuing to broadcast to whoever was still watching. As I reached for it, I caught a glimpse of the viewer count and gasped.
"Forty-seven thousand," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "There are forty-seven thousand people watching."
The comments were scrolling by so fast they were a blur, but I could catch fragments—words of support mixed with outrage, people sharing the stream, demanding answers. My handstrembled as I ended the broadcast, the sudden silence in the room deafening after the chaos of the confrontation.
"It's done," I said, sinking onto the bed as the full weight of what I'd just done hit me. "I just... I just told the entire world about my mother. About what she did to me."
Miles sat beside me, his laptop already open. "And you should be proud, you controlled the encounter instead of letting her manipulate it. Though I am pretty sure she will try to make up a story to go in her favor…but with that recording…it will be hard for her to do so."
"She'll still try," I whispered, staring at my phone as notifications began flooding in. Social media alerts, text messages from numbers I didn't recognize, news alerts mentioning my name. The reality of what I'd done was beginning to sink in. "She always finds a way to twist things."
Julian knelt before me, taking my trembling hands in his. "Not this time. You spoke your truth, and thousands of people witnessed it. She can't erase that."
Christopher opened his phone scrolling through it, his expression serious but not worried. "The video is already being shared across multiple platforms. Screenshots, clips... it's spreading faster than even I expected."
"Is that... good?" I asked, uncertain how to feel about my private life becoming so public.
Nicolaus nodded, his analytical mind clearly processing the implications. "In this case, yes. Your mother thrives on secrecy and control.” He paused,"Exposure is her worst enemy," Nicolaus continued, his voice steady and reassuring. "You've done what she never expected - you took control.”
I bit my lip, watching as my phone continued to vibrate with notifications. "I never wanted to be... public like this. I just wanted to live quietly with all of you."
Miles shifted closer to me on the bed. "I know, sweetheart. But sometimes the best defense is a strong offense. You've shown incredible courage today."
"What happens now?" I asked, looking around at the four men who had become my world. "Will this change things between us?"
Christopher sat on my other side, his warm presence grounding me. "Only in ways we choose to let it. Our relationship remains ours, regardless of what the world knows or thinks about it."
Julian was still kneeling before me, his thumbs tracing gentle circles over my knuckles. "Nothing changes between us," he said firmly. "If anything, watching you stand up to her like that... I've never been more proud to call you mine."
"Ours," Christopher corrected with a soft smile, his hand finding my shoulder.
I leaned into his touch, feeling some of the tension leave my body. "I keep thinking about all those people watching. What they must think of me now."
"They think you're brave," Miles said, glancing up from his laptop where he'd been monitoring the response. "The comments that are getting the most engagement are supportive. People are calling you courageous for speaking out."
I felt tears prick at my eyes, but they weren't tears of sadness. For the first time in my life, I felt truly seen. Not as a commodity or a disappointment, but as myself.
Miles looked at Nicolaus, his expression thoughtful. "We should prepare for media requests. This story is going to get picked up by major outlets within hours."
My stomach dropped. "Media requests? Should I check what people are saying then?," I asked, though the thought made my stomach clench.
