That evening, the news about superstar Aria and an unknown woman's confrontation was everywhere. Headlines screamed across every platform:

#UnknownWomanPushedTheNationalGoddess

#GoddessAriaPitifulFace

#ProtectOurAria

Fans were relentless, flooding the internet with rage.

"Who the heck does she think she is to push my goddess?" one fan cursed.

"Oh my Aria, she looks so cute with that teary face," another drooled 

"See how Prince Charming protected her? They're a match made in heaven," a third fan gushed.

"That bitch dared to push my goddess? I'll find her!" one of Aria's die-hard supporters wrote scornfully.

"Wait-did anyone notice the adorable baby in that woman's arms? She's so beautiful, I could watch her all day," the second  fan added.

"Don't get distracted by the baby-focus on Aria! Can't you see she was trembling? She must have been terrified," another fan countered.

"Well... I'm drawn to anything good-looking. That's why I'm a fan of my goddess," she rebutted.

"Ugh, that unknown woman is disgusting. She's probably just a hater trying to tarnish my goddess's reputation," another sneered.

"Why hasn't she been identified yet? She must be some social climber trying to leech off Aria's fame. Let's dig her out!" a die-hard fan declared.

"Careful-don't spread fake rumors. We don't know the full story yet." That rare calm voice was quickly drowned in replies calling them a hater.

⸻

Julia had just settled into the quiet of her hotel room, preparing to take a shower, when her phone began to ring. The name flashing on the screen made her freeze.

Mother.

The woman who hadn't called her in years.

Her finger hovered over the accept button before she finally pressed it.

"You just came back and you're causing issues again?!" Margaret's voice erupted the moment the line connected. "Why would you even push your sister?"

Julia blinked, holding the phone away from her ear slightly. Her mother's tone hadn't changed -it was still sharp, still accusing.

"You're always causing problems for this family. I wish we never had to go through all of this because of you!" Margaret's voice trembled with anger

Julia's lips curved faintly, but her eyes remained blank. She was used to this. Too used to it. "What are you talking about, ma'am?" she asked calmly, her voice soft but steady.

"The news! It's everywhere. You pushed your sister, and now your father is furious. Aria doesn't need negative publicity right now-her career is only just climbing! But you-" Margaret's voice cracked, "you only ever bring trouble. Why can't you be more like your sister?"

Unmoved, Julia walked over to the small desk in the corner of the hotel room, opened her laptop, and typed Aria's name into the search bar. Instantly, headlines and videos popped up. Her stomach clenched at the sight.

#Slut #Bitch

Her face was plastered across posters painted in red, angry words scrawled across her image. Comment sections were overflowing with insults, each more vicious than the last.

Her fingers gripped the laptop harder, but her face betrayed no emotion. She had learned long ago not to show weakness-not to them, not to anyone.

"Well," Julia said at last, her voice cool, "I did nothing wrong. She called my child a bastard."

There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end. "Aria would never say such things-especially not in public!" Margaret shot back immediately. "You're jealous of her, aren't you? That's why you pushed her."

Julia's jaw tightened. She wanted to laugh at the irony, but instead, she remained silent.

"Your father says you're to come home for dinner tonight," Margaret added curtly, her voice lower now, almost trembling as though she knew she'd gone too far. Before Julia could respond, the line went dead.

The silence in the room was deafening.

"Mummy?" a small, sleepy voice broke through. Maya rubbed her eyes, padding over to Julia with her blanket. "Who was that?"

Julia crouched down and tucked her daughter's hair behind her ear. "It's nothing, baby. Go back to sleep." She kissed Maya's forehead and guided her back into bed, patting her gently until her breathing softened again.

When she finally straightened, Julia's shoulders slumped, and she let out a long, tired sigh. None of this surprised her anymore. Her parents always believed anyone but her. Always put Aria first.

And now, even after the truth of their birth had been revealed, nothing had changed.

She glanced once more at the venomous headlines flashing on her laptop screen. Her reflection stared back at her from the darkened screen-a calm face hiding the storm inside.

But deep down, she knew one thing. Tonight's dinner would not be ordinary.

..... Dressed in a sky-blue dinner gown that shimmered faintly under the evening lights, Julia adjusted the folds of the fabric with steady hands. The gown was simple but elegant, chosen not to impress, but to present herself with quiet dignity. After settling Maya at Clara's place and kissing her daughter's forehead, she stepped out into the cool night air and hailed a cab.

The ride was quiet, almost too quiet, each turn of the wheels carrying her closer to the house she hadn't set foot in for six long years. When the cab finally slowed to a stop, the Sinclair estate stretched before her, unchanged and imposing as ever.

The sprawling lawn rolled out in perfect symmetry, the grass manicured so precisely it resembled green velvet beneath the soft glow of garden lamps. White stone statues stood guard along the path, and the faint perfume of roses drifted through the air, a reminder of the household's wealth and taste.

The mansion itself gleamed in pristine white, towering in its old-world splendor. Its tall arched windows glowed with warm light, framed by heavy drapes, while the fountain at the center of the driveway sparkled as though mocking her with its serenity.

Her chest tightened as she stepped out of the cab, the click of her heels sharp against the polished stone. Six years had passed, but nothing had changed-not the house, not its grandeur, and certainly not the suffocating weight it carried in her heart.

Butler Ken was already waiting at the entrance, posture erect, his expression perfectly neutral. He bowed slightly. "Miss Julia," he greeted smoothly. "The Master and Madam are expecting you."

The maids clustered at the side of the hall, whispering behind their hands.

"The Eldest Miss is back..."

"She's so beautiful..."

Their hushed voices carried until Butler Ken's sharp glance cut through the air. They scattered at once, their nervous laughter dissolving as silence returned to the mansion.

Julia, calm and unhurried, strolled into the dining room. Her sky-blue gown swept elegantly against the polished floor as she approached the table where her parents were already seated.

"Dad. Mum," she greeted casually, her tone cool, as though she were a guest and not their blood.

Margaret's face darkened instantly. "Darn girl, you returned home and didn't even think to tell us?" she snapped, her voice sharp enough to slice through the quiet.

Richard said nothing, swirling his wine in the glass as his steady gaze studied Julia.

Margaret pressed on, her frustration bubbling over. "The minute you're back, you're already stirring trouble! Why can't you act right for once in your life?"

Julia's eyes lifted to her mother's, cool and filled with quiet contempt. She said nothing, but her silence stung more than words.

"That's enough," Richard finally broke in, his deep voice carrying authority. "Let's wait. Aria will be here soon."

Margaret closed her mouth reluctantly, though her eyes flashed with words she clearly wanted to spit out. The maids exchanged glances, murmuring softly as they slipped in and out of the dining room.

Just then, the front doors opened, and a cheerful voice rang through the hall.

"Mum, Dad-I'm home!"

Aria glided in, Damian at her side. She wore a glamorous white evening dress that cinched neatly at her waist, her every step radiating innocence and grace. The perfect picture of a daughter any parent would cherish.

Damian walked with quiet confidence, a gift box in hand. He clasped Richard's hand firmly. "Uncle. Auntie," he greeted politely.

The butler stepped forward at once to relieve them of their things, his expression smooth with practiced efficiency.

"Mum," Aria chirped sweetly, opening a velvet case to reveal a delicate pink jade necklace that shimmered under the chandelier's light. "I saw this and thought of you. I hope you'll like it."

Margaret's face lit up, her earlier sourness vanishing in an instant. "Oh, my baby... such a filial child!" she exclaimed, her voice warm with pride as she fastened the necklace around her neck. She turned her face this way and that, admiring the glow.

Julia watched quietly from her seat, the contrast between their receptions sharp enough to sting.

The family sat down together for dinner, but it felt less like a gathering and more like a silent war.

Aria played the role of the perfect, filial daughter, her smile sweet and gentle as she placed a piece of meat onto Margaret's plate. "Mum, you should try this," she said softly, her hand brushing Damian's arm now and then in a show of tender affection. Margaret's face glowed with satisfaction, clearly pleased by her "good child's" attentiveness.

Across the table, Julian sat quietly, her posture straight but her presence barely acknowledged. The delicious aroma of the meal filled the room, but every bite that touched her tongue tasted like ash. Her fork scraped softly against her plate, a brittle sound in the silence, as she toyed with the food more than she ate it.

Even after all these years, she should have been numb to the preference shown to Aria. Yet it still stung. She remembered once trying the same gestures-serving her mother, speaking with care-only to be brushed aside or scolded for being "pretentious." Now, Aria did the very same things and was praised as though she hung the moon.

The soft clink of cutlery and murmurs of approval from Margaret filled the silence, while Richard remained impassive, sipping his wine as if the imbalance before him didn't exist. To the others, Julian might as well have been invisible.

Still, she held her head high, refusing to let them see her falter.

⸻

The dinner ended in a subtle, almost suffocating silence. Julian laid her fork down gently, about to excuse herself when Richard's voice suddenly broke through.

"Since you're back, you should join the company."

The calm authority in his tone froze the room.

All heads turned toward him. Aria, who had just lifted the coffee pot to pour her mother a cup, faltered. The porcelain slipped in her grip, and steaming liquid spilled over her hand.

"Ouchhh!" she cried out, her voice sharp with pain as she flinched back.

Margaret shot to her feet, panic on her face. "Get me the first aid box!" she barked at the maids.

They scurried into action. Damian was already at Aria's side, holding her trembling hand with visible concern. When the box was brought, he carefully treated the burn himself, his expression tight with protectiveness.

Meanwhile, Julian sat utterly still, her pulse ticking in her throat. Richard's words replayed in her head. Join the company? The Sinclair company was never meant for her. She had long accepted that. So why now?

Richard leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady on her. "The company isn't doing well," he said in that calm, weighty tone of his. "And as part of this family, you should contribute. It's time."

Julian's lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing faintly, but she gave no immediate reply.

"Follow me to the study," Richard added, standing smoothly and walking upstairs without waiting for her response. His figure disappeared beyond the staircase, leaving the dining room thick with tension.

Julian hesitated. Part of her wanted to laugh at the irony. They had ignored her for years, treated her as though she was an outsider, and now, suddenly, she was expected to "contribute." Still, after a moment, she rose and followed, her heels clicking softly against the marble.

As she passed Aria, she felt the weight of her sister's stare-burning, sharp, malicious.

Aria bit her lip, her eyes flicking to Margaret with feigned hurt. "Mum, why would Dad ask her to join the company?" Her voice trembled just enough to sound pitiful. "She's never contributed anything to the family, never to the business. I've been here all along. I even begged Dad to let me join before, but he refused."

Margaret cupped her daughter's face, brushing her damp hair back tenderly. "Baby, your father only wanted you to focus on your career. That's why he refused. The company will always be yours-it's only a matter of time."

"But why her?" Aria pressed, her lashes wet with unshed tears.

Margaret sighed, her voice lowering, reluctant but resigned. "Because the company is under fire. We need new investors. Your father already has an agreement in place... but it needs your sister's presence to go through."

Aria's eyes darkened for the briefest moment before she lowered her gaze again, hiding the venom in her chest. Her lips curved faintly in a smile that was anything but sweet.

⸻

Julian entered the study slowly, the familiar scent of sandalwood wrapping around her like an old, unwelcome memory. Her eyes swept over the room-the towering shelves lined with leather-bound books, the grandfather clock ticking steadily in the corner, the heavy oak desk that had always felt like a barrier between her and her father.

Behind it sat Richard, pouring himself another glass of wine. He didn't speak at first. Silence stretched, heavy, broken only by the faint clink of glass against wood.

Finally, his gaze lifted. "Sit."

Julian lowered herself into the chair opposite him, her expression calm but guarded.

Richard studied her, eyes sharp. "You've been gone six years. In that time, this company has faced storms you know nothing about. Investors are restless, competitors are circling. We can't afford weakness."

Julian folded her hands neatly in her lap. "And suddenly, I'm the solution?"

Richard didn't answer right away. Instead, he opened a file, pulled out a crisp document, and slid it across the desk. "Read."

She glanced down, her brow furrowing as her eyes scanned the words. An arranged marriage contract.

Her head snapped up. "I don't understand. What does this have to do with me?"

Richard leaned back, swirling his wine with a detached calm. "Your marriage has been arranged with the Sterling family. They're prepared to invest heavily, but only with a contractual bond. This arrangement stabilizes the company and secures your future. It's a win-win."

Julian's breath caught, though her face remained composed. "So you're selling me to your investors in the name of marriage?"

Richard's lips tightened. "Selling? No. This is sacrifice-for the family. Mrs. Sterling agreed to invest only if there's a tie between us. And you, as my daughter, are the logical choice."

Julian laughed bitterly. "Daughter? Hearing that from you is almost funny. All my life, I've never been acknowledged as one. And now you fix an arranged marriage between me and a stranger just to save your company?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Aria-"

"Aria is already engaged," Richard cut her off coldly, his voice firm enough to silence her.

Julian blinked, her lips curving into a scoff. "Engaged to someone who was supposed to be mine?"

Richard's gaze sharpened. "You caused that yourself. If you were chaste enough not to get pregnant out of wedlock, Damian would still be yours. That marriage was about to be annulled-until you ruined everything."

Julian's jaw clenched, the sting of his words cutting deeper than she wanted to admit. She forced her voice to remain steady. "I'm not doing this. I won't marry a stranger just to patch up your failing company. Let your 'good daughter' make that sacrifice."

She pushed back her chair and stormed toward the door, her heels striking the floor sharply.

But as she yanked it open, a figure stumbled forward. Aria, who had clearly been listening outside, nearly lost her balance. Her face flickered with surprise, then settled quickly into a mask of wide-eyed innocence.

"Sis..." she whispered sweetly, though her eyes gleamed with malice. "Wait."