The hospital room was too quiet—so quiet it made every heartbeat feel like an alarm. Aaliyah sat on the edge of the bed with Winona beside her, her hand resting protectively over her daughter's. The tension in the air was thick enough to choke. When the doctor finally walked in, the look on his face already told them the news wasn't simple.
Doctor: "I need you both to listen carefully. Estrella's growth has slowed down again. The stress levels around the pregnancy are causing complications… more than before."
Aaliyah's breath shook.
Aaliyah: "Is she… in danger?"
Doctor: "Not immediately. But if this continues… you may have to deliver earlier than we planned. Much earlier."
Aaliyah's world spun.
Winona grabbed her hand instantly.
Winona: "She's strong. My granddaughter is strong. But you need to keep her safe, baby."
Before Aaliyah could process more, the doctor added:
Doctor: "For now, you must remain monitored. No media pressure, no emotional strain, no traveling. And Damiano needs to be informed. Both of you must work as a team."
Aaliyah nodded weakly, tears slipping down her cheeks.
Meanwhile — Damiano at the Press Conference
Across town, dozens of reporters shouted his name while cameras flashed like explosions. Damiano finally stepped to the podium, jaw tight, eyes tired but burning with anger.
Damiano: "I'm here to address the lies, the harassment, and the ongoing attacks against Aaliyah and our unborn daughter."
A wave of murmurs rolled through the room.
Damiano: "My label has been pressuring me to distance myself from my family. That ends today. If protecting them costs me my career—"
He paused.
A red notification suddenly lit up every reporter's phone.
And then the screens behind him flashed.
A leak.
A massive one.
A private email thread.
Dozens of messages.
Executives plotting to discredit Aaliyah, smear her mental health, and push Damiano into a publicity breakup.
The room erupted.
Journalist: "Damiano! Did you know about this?"
Another: "Is this why you were summoned to the label meeting?"
Another: "Are they responsible for the attacks on Aaliyah?!"
Damiano clenched his fists.
Damiano: "No more questions."
He left the stage immediately, fury boiling beneath his skin.
Back at the Hospital — Winona's Discovery
While Aaliyah slept under monitoring, Winona stepped outside to call Damiano—only to overhear two nurses whispering near the vending machine.
Nurse 1: "Did you see the leak?"
Nurse 2: "And that's not the worst of it… they found who sent the first false report about Aaliyah."
Winona froze.
Nurse 1: "It wasn't the band. It wasn't a fan. It came from inside the industry."
Nurse 2: "Someone who wanted her out of the picture permanently."
Winona's stomach dropped.
Someone had targeted her daughter.
Someone with resources.
Someone dangerous.
She stepped back, shaken, whispering to herself:
Winona: "I knew it… it wasn't just gossip. Someone is trying to destroy her."
Damiano Returns
He rushed into the hospital room, out of breath, chest heaving. Aaliyah sat up, alarmed.
Aaliyah: "Damiano? What happened?"
He grabbed her hands, his voice trembling.
Damiano: "They leaked everything. The label planned the whole smear campaign. They tried to break us apart. They tried to destroy you."
Her eyes widened. Winona stood behind him, pale.
Winona: "And there's more. Someone from the industry started this. Someone who wanted your reputation destroyed from the beginning."
Aaliyah swallowed hard.
Aaliyah: "But why me?"
Before anyone could answer, the monitors next to her beeped faster.
Too fast.
The doctor rushed in.
Doctor: "Her stress levels just spiked—everyone needs to step back."
Aaliyah: "Damiano—don't go—"
Doctor: "We need to stabilize both of them. Right now."
They ushered Damiano and Winona out as alarms echoed down the hallway.
Damiano pressed his forehead against the wall, shaking.
Damiano: "Please… Estrella… hold on."
The chapter ends with the red emergency lights reflecting in his eyes—the world falling apart outside, while the two people he loves most fight to hold on inside.