Chapter 4 Fractures And Fallout.

Alex helped Maya stumble into her apartment, her eyes swollen, her spirit fragile. He spoke softly, the guilt heavy in his voice. "Maya, I'm so sorry for everything. This... all of this, it's my fault."

She nodded, barely able to meet his gaze.

"You need to pack your things," he continued voice urgent but controlled. "It's not safe for you here anymore. I'll have someone discreetly take you to a new place, somewhere private."

Maya swallowed hard, torn between relief and heartbreak.

Outside, the swarm of reporters lingered at the building's entrance, buzzing with anticipation. They had been waiting hours for Alex to emerge, desperate for a statement, any sign of remorse or defiance. Cameras flashed as he finally stepped out, the weight of the scandal visible in the tight line of his jaw.

"Mr. Carrington," a reporter called out, "Can you tell us what you have to say about these allegations?"

Alex paused, eyes scanning the crowd. Then, carefully, he replied, "My family and I are going through a very difficult time. I ask for privacy as we try to work through this. I will not comment further."

The cameras clicked relentlessly as he vanished inside his car, leaving a city abuzz with speculation and judgment.

Back inside the Carrington mansion, Evelyn stood by the grand window overlooking the city skyline, her mind a storm of fury and heartbreak. The public spectacle had already ignited whispers and headlines, but Evelyn was determined to control the narrative on her own terms.

She picked up her phone and dialed a number she hadn't called in years. The line connected, and after a brief pause, a familiar voice answered.

"It's time," she said coldly. "I want everything ready by tomorrow morning. We're not done yet."

Her eyes hardened. The battle for her family and her pride had only just begun. Evelyn hung up the phone, a calculated calm settling over her as she began plotting her next moves. She paced the room, the sharp heels of her shoes clicking against the marble floor, each step a silent vow to fight for what was hers.

Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions, betrayal, hurt, anger but beneath it all was steel determination. She wasn't about to crumble, not now. Not when her family was at stake.

First, she reached out to their longtime family attorney. "I need to understand my options," she said, her voice steady but firm. "I want to protect the children, the family assets... and make sure Alex knows there will be consequences."

At the same time, she knew this wasn't just a legal battle. She had to confront the emotional wreckage, both for herself and her kids. Later that evening, she called Jason and Karen into the living room.

Sitting between them, Evelyn forced a soft smile. "Whatever you're hearing or seeing, know this-I love you both, and no matter what happens between me and your father, you're my priority."

Jason looked away, his jaw tight, while Karen nodded slowly, eyes brimming but silent.

Evelyn reached out, pulling them into a protective embrace. "We'll get through this. Together."

But beneath her words, the cracks were already deepening, and the fight was only just beginning.

Later that night, Alex returned home, his face flushed with frustration and anger. The tension in the house was thick enough to choke on.

"Evelyn," he barked as soon as the door shut behind him, "what the hell were you thinking? Beating Maya like that? You made a scene, there were neighbors, cameras! You've ruined everything."

Evelyn turned slowly, her eyes blazing with a fury that had been simmering for far too long. "You think I wanted to be the one who exposed us like this? I'm sick and tired, Alex. Sick and tired of your lies, your coldness, your betrayal."

Her voice cracked slightly but her stance remained unyielding. "I stayed for the kids. For Jason and Karen. But I'm done pretending this marriage is something it's not. And if you think I'm just going to swallow this and move on, you're wrong."

She took a step closer, voice low and deadly serious. "I've already spoken to the lawyer. The divorce papers are ready. And I'm not afraid to use them."

Alex's face was drained of color. The man who once ruled boardrooms with unshakable confidence now looked exposed, vulnerable and terrified.

Alex's jaw clenched, his usual calm replaced by something raw and unsettled. "You're really going through with this? After everything? After all, we've built?"

Evelyn's eyes didn't waver. "After everything you've done, Alex? Don't forget, I'm the one who held this family together while you were busy chasing another woman."

He ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room. "I didn't want it to come to this. I thought I could fix it... somehow."

"Fix it?" Evelyn scoffed bitterly. "By lying, hiding, and breaking our children's hearts? You think this is just a business you can manage with a few apologies?"

Jason's footsteps echoed from the hallway. Both turned sharply.

Evelyn softened for a moment, stepping toward her son. "Go back to your room, Jason. This is between your father and me."

Jason hesitated, the hurt in his eyes unmistakable, before he nodded silently and retreated.

Alex stared after his son, then back at Evelyn. "You think divorce is the only way?"

"Right now, it's the only way I see to save what's left of my self-respect and protect our kids from this mess."

The weight of her words hung heavy in the room.

Alex exhaled sharply, his voice dropping. "If that's how it's going to be, then so be it. But know this, I'm not going down without a fight."

Evelyn's eyes flashed. "Good. Because I'm not either."

After the fierce exchange with Evelyn, Alex moved quickly through their spacious home, packing a small suitcase with essentials. His hands were steady, but his mind was a storm. He knew he couldn't stay, not here, not with the tension thick enough to suffocate them all. He needed to be with Maya, to protect her now more than ever.

Meanwhile, Maya sat curled on her worn sofa, her face streaked with tears, the weight of Evelyn's brutal attack pressing down on her like a physical force. The apartment felt smaller and colder, the walls closing in with the shame and chaos.

Upstairs, Jason sat quietly beside his younger sister Karen's bed. Her small frame was trembling, eyes red and puffy from crying. Jason didn't know how to comfort her; he felt helpless. Finally, when she drifted into a restless sleep, he slipped out of the room and reached for his phone.

He dialed a number he hoped would bring some calm into the storm.

"Mrs. Reynolds?" Jason said softly when she answered.

"Yes, Jason? Is everything alright?" came the concerned voice on the other end.

"No. Mom... she's really upset. She's talking about ending the marriage. I don't want that to happen. Could you please come? Maybe you can talk to her."

Within the hour, Evelyn's oldest and closest friend arrived, Marianne, a woman whose own marriage had weathered storms that once seemed insurmountable.

They sat in the quiet living room, shadows cast by the late afternoon sun.

Marianne took Evelyn's hands gently. "Eve, I know you're hurting. And you're angry. But twenty years... that's a lifetime. You and Alex, you built something rare."

Evelyn's voice cracked. "But he betrayed me, Marianne. With her."

"I know. But sometimes marriage isn't about perfection. It's about fighting through the worst to hold onto what's real. Remember when we started? We had nothing but each other and hope. You can fight for that, too."

Evelyn looked down, tears welling up again. "I don't know if I can anymore."

"Give yourself time," Marianne urged. "Fight for your family. Fight for you. But only fight until you know it's truly not worth it anymore."

Evelyn nodded slowly, a fragile resolve settling in her eyes.

Alex pulled up outside the modest townhouse nestled in a quiet neighborhood, far from the chaos of the city buzz and the prying eyes that had plagued Maya's apartment. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows over the neat lawn as he stepped out of the car, his heart heavy with regret and uncertainty.

The door opened before he could knock. Maya stood there, wrapped in a soft cardigan, her eyes wary but relieved to see him.

"I'm sorry," Alex said, voice low. "For everything. What happened... it shouldn't have. You don't have to stay there anymore. This place is yours now.

Maya nodded silently, the pain still raw in her expression but a flicker of gratitude there beneath it.

Alex looked down the street, knowing the reporters were still out there somewhere, hungry for a story, waiting to capture his next move.

The moment Alex closed the door behind them, the tense weight of the world outside seemed to settle into the quiet rooms of Maya's new house. He moved through the space almost mechanically turning on lights, drawing the curtains, and setting a kettle to boil in the small kitchen.

Maya sat on the edge of the couch, her hands trembling slightly as she folded and unfolded the hem of her cardigan. Alex could see the fatigue in her eyes, the bruises on her skin barely hidden beneath long sleeves.

"I'm sorry for everything," he said again, his voice softer this time, filled with a rare vulnerability. "You didn't deserve what happened. I should have protected you."

Maya shook her head. "You didn't. That was your wife... your family."

Alex's jaw tightened. "I know. And that's what makes this so complicated. But right now, you're safe here. No one will touch you again."

He handed her a glass of water, watching her drink slowly. The silence between them was heavy but necessary, a fragile truce forming in the wreckage of their lives.

"I'll have someone bring your things tomorrow," he said. "And I'm staying until you feel better."

Maya looked up, meeting his eyes. For a moment, the anger and pain softened, replaced by something raw and fragile, hope.

But little did she know this was just the beginning.