Rome woke up ruthless.
Screens everywhere screamed the same name.
ESTRELLA DAVID — PREGNANT AT 18.
THOMAS RAGGI INVOLVED.
THE FAMILY SILENT.
Aaliyah stood in front of the television, arms crossed, face unreadable. Not a single tear. Not a single crack. The world had already decided who she was supposed to be in this story—again.
A failed mother.
A reckless artist.
A woman who couldn't protect her daughter.
She turned the TV off.
"Enough."
Aaliyah vs. the Media
By noon, her legal team filled the living room. Phones rang nonstop. Offers. Threats. Interviews disguised as "concern."
They wanted Estrella.
They wanted her pain.
They wanted Thomas destroyed—or defended—depending on the outlet.
Aaliyah leaned forward, voice calm but lethal.
"No interviews about my daughter's body. No speculation about her choices. And if any outlet prints lies, we sue."
One lawyer hesitated.
"Aaliyah… the public wants answers."
She looked him dead in the eyes.
"They're not entitled to my child."
That afternoon, Aaliyah posted once—and only once.
"My daughter is loved.
She is protected.
And she owes the world nothing."
The internet exploded.
Damiano: Family vs. Fury
Damiano didn't post.
He paced.
Thomas hadn't answered his calls. The rage in his chest wasn't just anger—it was fear disguised as fury. Fear of history repeating. Fear of losing control. Fear that Estrella had stepped into a world that would never forgive her.
When Thomas finally arrived, Damiano didn't yell.
That was worse.
"You knew what this would do to her," Damiano said quietly.
Thomas swallowed. "I didn't plan this."
"No one ever does," Damiano snapped. "But now she's the one carrying everything. Not you. Not the press. Her."
Thomas didn't look away.
"I'm not running."
That silence afterward said everything.
Estrella's Choice
Estrella sat alone in her room, phone face down, hands resting on her stomach like she didn't recognize her own body anymore.
Everyone wanted her to be something:
• A victim
• A scandal
• A mistake
• A symbol
She stood and walked into the living room where Aaliyah was waiting.
"I know you're angry," Estrella said softly.
Aaliyah shook her head. "I'm terrified. That's different."
Estrella's voice broke. "I don't know what to do."
Aaliyah reached for her daughter's hands.
"Then we slow down. We don't let the world rush you into a decision that will follow you forever."
Estrella looked up. "What if I choose wrong?"
Aaliyah held her tighter.
"Then I'll still be here."
Legal and Career Consequences
By nightfall, reality hit hard.
• Contracts were being "reconsidered"
• Sponsors paused campaigns
• Thomas' band lawyers demanded boundaries
• Paparazzi camped outside the building
Victoria stepped in like a shield, coordinating statements, blocking leaks, controlling damage.
"This isn't just personal anymore," she said. "It's legal. It's reputational. It's long-term."
Damiano stared at the floor.
"And if she keeps the baby?"
Victoria didn't soften it.
"Then everything changes."
The Final Moment
Late that night, Estrella stood on the balcony, Rome glowing beneath her. Thomas stood a few feet away—not touching her, not pushing.
"I'll support whatever you decide," he said.
She nodded, eyes fixed on the city.
Behind the glass doors, Aaliyah and Damiano watched their daughter—no longer a child, not yet ready to be an adult—standing between two futures.
And for the first time, no one spoke.
Because this choice?
It belonged to Estrella alone.
Cliffhanger
Estrella turned back toward them, voice shaking—but steady.
"I've made a decision."
Cut to black.