By noon, Velmora was in shambles. There was war between Maeve's fans and the shippers who were mad at the cheating scandal.
"I can't believe she ruined her perfect marriage after everything she did lmao."
"So typical Maeve. How can you chase a man publicly for years and when he finally gives you what you want, you cheat on him?"
Maeve ignored the news and got to Silver Crown hospital. Her health was more important than a cheating scandal.
She had just fucked a stranger, little did she know it was a billion dollar stranger.
When she reached, the doctor told her she couldn't test for any STDs yet, not until the window period passed. But he gave her little morning after pills to stop whatever pregnancy would come after.
Maeve left the clinic after, and headed for the studio.
In her past life, today was the exact day the thief was born. The day she had stolen Maeve's music and made it hers.
And worse, it was the day the world had branded Maeve a liar and plagiarist.
Now, in this life, the same storm was gathering.
The scandal from that morning was already everywhere. Headlines piled on top of each other, spitting her name like venom. Even though no one had proof, they still called her a cheater. A whore. They tore at her reputation before she could even catch her breath.
Her phone buzzed with endless calls from her manager and her publicist, but she ignored them all.
She knew it was only the beginning.
If the world found out Fred Orchard and she were over. If they discovered the truth of their divorce, the names they already called her would be nothing compared to the ones waiting just around the corner.
She called for her assistant to immediately retrieve the video tape from earlier, it would be wise to stop whatever has happened in the past. This time, she wouldn't let them steal from her ever again.
The moment Maeve stepped into the studio, she didn't even sit. She locked herself in, disconnected every possible device from the room, and made sure nothing was connected.
Because in her past life, she had never understood how the woman stole her music when they had never recorded together.
Maybe the problem had been her label. Maybe they had told the thief about her music. Maybe Fred had given it to them. But not anymore. She would never let them sell off her hard work again.
She recorded new songs, discarding the old ones. She wrote from the experience of the past, the pain she felt today, and everything she had endured.
She even cried mid-recording.
---
"Ashes of Me"
(Verse 1)
You held my hand, then let it burn,
Promised love but gave no return.
In your shadow, I lost my name,
Branded a liar, drowning in shame.
(Chorus)
But I won't break where you left me torn,
I'll rise from the night like a bitter dawn.
Your love was a blade, it cut me deep,
But out of the ashes, I'll learn to breathe...
---
Once she was done recording, Maeve grabbed her phone and called Mr. Margin, her manager, a man who loved her like his own child.
"What's going on, Maeve? Everyone is looking for you, where are you?"
"I just sent a track, Mr. Margin. Listen and tell me how you feel." She sent just the first verse and chorus so no one could steal it.
"Are you going to ignore the scandal you created? What is going on, Maeve?"
"Please listen to the song, Mr. Margin, and tell me what you think. Forget the media and what they have to say," she repeated, hearing him sigh.
"Alright, I'll get back to you."
After a few seconds, Margin called back. "What is this, Maeve? Are you trying to show me how fast you are at stealing people's music?" The new artist Rae just submitted her music a few minutes before Maeve called and had sang the same thing.
The song was super identical, the beat, lyrics, flow, everything freaking thing. It's obvious Maeve was the one who stole it because she submitted hers late.
"What do you mean?" Maeve asked wondering what he was talking about.
"It's okay if you have no inspiration after what happened. But stealing music from the newer artist we just signed is diabolical. The song is already released, Maeve. If you keep this up, we might drop you." He hung up.
It was the first time Mr. Margin had ever sounded so disappointed. Maeve quickly turned on her cellphone to check the new artist he was talking about, and there she was.
The birth of her arch-nemesis. The one person she had never met but who had stolen all her music. The woman hadn't just released the first verse and chorus on her new song, she had miraculously released the second verse and chorus too. But how?
She has only recorded the song just now...
---
(Verse 2)
Stolen songs, a voice not mine,
A thief wore my soul, called it divine.
They called me whore, they called me wrong,
But pain is the ink of my next song.
(Chorus)
No, I won't fall where the world believes,
I'll carve out the truth that no one sees.
Your lies tried to bury the heart in me,
But I'll turn this pain into melody.
---
This was Maeve's music, and she had stolen everything again. Maeve couldn't believe it.
Who the hell was this woman, and how did she get her music?