Whispers of the Butterfly

Astra's eyes fluttered open after a blissful sleep-in. Swiftly, she sat up and glanced at her cell phone. Astra's lips curled into a smile upon seeing the notifications: 34 missed calls and 67 texts.

For now, she brushed aside the messages and focused on today's news. With an intrigued smile, she read through the headlines:

- "Astra Orion: Unveiling the Dark Realities Beyond Glamour"

- "Heiress of Orion Arch: Peeling Back the Layers of a Toxic Environment"

- "Bitter Truths of the Elite: Astra Orion's Struggle for Self-Worth"

Astra couldn't help but chuckle. The drama was even grander than she had anticipated. Just as she had hoped, the news had spread like wildfire.

The harsh messages from her supposed friends had been screenshotted, and someone had boldly shared their spiteful content alongside images of the perpetrators.

It took mere moments for netizens to track down their Stellarnet accounts, as Astra was still following them. Like Violet, Sophia, and Silas before them, they now faced a barrage of insults and threats.

The icing on the cake was that each of them faced a storm of negative reviews targeting their businesses. Thanks to Astra's connections, she had played a pivotal role in boosting their family's company.

However, she was ready to retract her support now. Predictably, her friends had reached out, pleading for her to intervene and explaining that they had apologized.

While Astra slept, they collectively decided to shift the blame onto Violet, claiming her lies and exaggerations had fueled the situation.

Ironically, a mere couple of days ago, they had forgiven Violet, attributing her behavior to jealousy over Astra's relationship with Silas because she had no father. Yet, now, the tides had turned against her.

Glancing at the list of missed calls, Astra noted that most were from Silas and Alexander. She decided to call her grandmother first.

Camilla answered on the first ring, her voice laced with concern, "Astra, my dear, are you alright?"

Astra responded reassuringly, "I'm excellent, Grandmother. Sorry, I worked late last night and decided to catch up on sleep today. What's been happening?"

Camilla's tone remained worried as she explained, "I saw the news and that video, Astra."

Astra clarified, "Grandma, it's not what it seems. When I entered the elevator, I recognized the woman as a reporter. I knew she was secretly recording. I used her to teach my disloyal friends a lesson and to give Alexander and Leon a taste of their own medicine."

Camilla's voice held a touch of relief, "I'm glad to hear that. You should've kept me in the loop. Remember, even a simple text would do."

Astra felt a pang of guilt, "You're absolutely right, and I'm sorry. I promise I'll keep you informed from now on."

Camilla's tone softened, "You're truly brilliant to have used the situation to your advantage. What's more, your followers are now rallying against her for breaking her promise not to reveal anything."

Astra's smile radiated her confidence, "I knew that would happen. It won't be long before Amy faces consequences due to the backlash."

Camila's voice dripped with disdain, "She deserves it. Who would stoop so low as to secretly record someone and profit from it?"

Astra concurred, "True, at least she served her purpose before her inevitable dismissal."

As Astra's phone vibrated, she commented, "Grandmother, I've got to take this. Zoe's calling me."

Camilla agreed, "Alright, but remember to update me on your progress. Take care, dear. I love you."

Astra reciprocated, "I won't forget. Love you too."

After ending the call, Astra addressed Zoe, who had shared her grandmother's concern. When Astra recounted the situation, Zoe burst into laughter, relieved that Astra's feelings for Alexander were indeed a thing of the past.

Zoe also revealed that both Silas and Alexander had reached out to inquire if Astra had spoken to her. After a bit more conversation, Astra ordered brunch and indulged in a refreshing shower.

Dressed in a simple ensemble of white shorts and a T-shirt, Astra descended the stairs with her tablet and stylus in hand, ready to immerse herself in work. Seated comfortably on the couch, she continued to craft her designs.

With her unique insight into the future, Astra possessed precise knowledge about companies' upcoming projects and their preferences. She quickly scheduled appointments with three major companies, one of which Orion Arch had been pursuing as a client for years.

Though the formal announcement hadn't been made yet, Astra confidently claimed she had been working on a project tailored to their tastes. Leveraging the status of Orion Arch and her parents' reputation, Astra secured the meetings she needed.

With a satisfied smile, she knew this was all it would take to seal the deal.

Astra's cell phone buzzed, prompting her to grab it. She read Alexander's text:

*Astra, please call me back. Or at least let me know you're alright; I'm worried.*

*What do you want?* she replied.

Almost instantly, her phone rang. Astra answered and queried, "What do you want, Silas?"

Silas's relief was palpable in his voice, despite Astra's evident annoyance. He explained, "I just wanted to check if you're okay."

"I'm perfectly fine."

Silas hurried to offer a solution, "Don't worry. I'll contact the PR firm to handle this situation. If you and Alexander issue a joint statement, people will stop dwelling on the video. We can even consider moving up the wedding if that eases the situation. That way, everyone will cease doubting your love, and it'll reassure the board of directors, too."

Astra's voice dripped with disappointment as she asked, "How did it take me this long to realize that you never truly cared about me?"

Silas's response caught in his throat, "What?"

Astra continued with a mixture of sadness and anger, "Any normal parent, or anyone who even remotely cares for their child, would've said, 'Let's cancel the wedding and sever our business ties with his family so you never have to face him again.' But you, Silas, are only concerned about how the board of directors perceives us and what society might gossip about. When I confided in Grandma that Alexander was cheating on me, her immediate response was to cancel everything, but I stopped her. Do you know why? Because she loves me just as much as I love her. Once again, you've clarified that your priority is yourself, your new family, and your business."

Silas was left momentarily speechless. He hadn't intended to make things worse. He simply assumed that Astra's evident distress in the video meant that she still had feelings for Alexander.

Moreover, her refusal to cancel when her mother suggested it seemed to affirm his assumption.

He finally responded, "I only wanted to ensure you're happy. Seeing you upset in the video, I made the assumption that despite everything, your feelings for him persisted. I intended to make sure he never hurt you again, to treat you the way you deserve so you could be happy."

Astra's voice held a mixture of frustration and sadness as she asserted, "You never bothered to ask how I felt about any of this. You simply make assumptions, just like you always do. It was the same with mother's passing. I couldn't grieve because I was too busy working tirelessly, while you stayed home for a week mourning her. You assumed my lack of visible grief meant I wasn't affected. And after getting married without me, you embarked on a vacation with Sophia and Violet, leaving me to manage the company alone, with no time for myself. Upon your return, because I didn't voice my discontent, you assumed I was content with the three of you frequently going on vacations without me. Your assumptions are a way for you to mask your indifference to my well-being and emotions. It's your selfish shield."

Silas's throat tightened, facing the truth Astra eloquently pointed out. Each time, he believed that he had caused her all the pain he could, she unearthed another layer of hurt.

He acknowledged, "You're absolutely right. I apologize."

Astra's silence left Silas's heart racing, fearing she might end the call abruptly. Anxiously, he continued, "I should've asked and genuinely listened to you. Tell me what you want, and we'll make it happen."

The tension hung in the air as time passed, and Silas's heart raced even faster. Finally, Astra broke her silence, revealing her plan, "There's no need for any drastic actions. Tonight, I'll be having dinner with Alexander. Once people see us together, smiling, they'll reconsider their narrative. After dinner, I'll share a post on Stellarnet as well."

Relief washed over Silas upon hearing her decision. He assured her earnestly, "I promise I'll ensure he behaves differently from now on."

Astra's voice was laced with skepticism, "Unless you plan to have him surveilled 24/7, I doubt you can prevent him from straying."

Silas's determination surged, "I will. I promise he won't betray your trust again. And if you ever decide to call off the wedding, we'll respect your choice. Okay?"

Astra's soft sobs resonated through the phone, and Silas felt a pang of sorrow deep within him. A mixture of pain and remorse welled up in him.

Emotion gripped Astra's voice, her words trembling as she whispered, "Okay."

Sophia and Violet, who had been observing Silas intently from the start of the conversation, were taken aback when they heard him plead, "Please, don't cry. Father will fix everything, I swear."

Sophia glanced downward, pondering the situation. After a moment, she leaned towards Silas and whispered, "Invite her to dinner tomorrow."

Her suggestion lingered in the air, a potential bridge toward mending the strained relationships.

Silas exchanged a glance with Sophia, feeling that a more intimate setting might encourage Astra to open up, given her current situation. With a hint of nervousness, he proposed, "Would you consider having dinner at home with us? It might allow us to have a more comfortable conversation."

Listening intently, Silas's nervousness intensified as Astra's sobs gradually subsided. After a brief pause, her response came in a fragile tone, "Okay."

Relief washed over Silas, prompting him to express his gratitude, "Thank you."

Astra's voice held a hint of urgency as she murmured, "I have to go."

Silas reassured her, "Alright, don't worry. I'll handle everything, okay?"

A soft affirmation, "En," reached his ears before Astra ended the call.

A smile unconsciously formed on Silas's lips. While he was glad Astra would join them, he couldn't shake the wish that circumstances were different. Astra rarely shed tears, yet in less than a week, she had cried twice.

Violet inquired, concern evident in her voice, "How is Astra holding up?"

Silas responded, his tone reflecting his understanding, "She's upset. Her situation has been in the news for the past few days, exposing the turmoil in her relationship. Now, I can grasp the significance of what she told Alexander on her birthday."

Curiosity prompted Sophia's question, "Does she know who Alexander cheated on her with?"

Silas's response showed determination, "Does that matter? What's important is that Alexander will never have a moment alone moving forward. If I see him with anyone, I'll ensure he faces dire consequences."

Violet's throat tightened, and she shifted her gaze toward her mother. The worry etched on her mother's face mirrored her own.

It was clear that Silas was compensating for the hurtful words Astra had spoken to him on her birthday.

Violet recognized the need to send one last message to Alexander before the storm subsided. The stakes were too high – if their secret liaisons were exposed, her reputation would be annihilated.

With the galaxy's animosity already directed at her due to Astra's situation and the betrayal of her former friends, Violet was acutely aware that the discovery of her affair with Astra's fiancé could be the ultimate downfall.