The first sign of trouble came when Aaliyah's phone wouldn't stop vibrating.
Damiano looked up from the kitchen.
Damiano: "Why is your phone going off like that?"
Aaliyah: "I don't know… someone probably posted something."
She opens a notification.
The screen fills with a video of an ex–bandmate from her old group giving an interview.
Interviewer: "Why did you stop working with Aaliyah?"
Ex-bandmate: faking sadness "Because… she wasn't well. She had episodes. We couldn't trust her."
Interviewer: "Episodes?"
Ex-bandmate: "Yes. She couldn't handle pressure. She was… unstable."
Aaliyah drops the phone. Damiano grabs it immediately.
Damiano: "WHAT IS THIS?"
Aaliyah: "I… I don't know why she's saying that."
Her phone vibrates again. Damiano unlocks it.
Headline: "Aaliyah: dangerous, emotionally unstable, problematic."
Damiano: "Who the hell posted this?"
Aaliyah: "Damiano, don't look at it…"
Damiano: "I can't NOT look!"
Another alert. And another.
Headline: "Damiano's new girlfriend might be using his fame."
Headline: "Anonymous sources confirm mental breakdown on her last tour."
The final blow comes with a shout from the street below.
Paparazzi: "Aaliyah! Did you ruin your old band?"
Paparazzi 2: "Damiano, are you sure the baby is yours?"
Paparazzi 3: "Aaliyah! Show the medical certificate!"
Damiano snaps. He throws the door open violently.
Damiano: "SHUT UP! Don't come near her!"
Paparazzi: "Is it true she's crazy?"
Damiano: "I said get the hell out."
The flashes intensify. A shove is heard.
A paparazzo falls.
Paparazzi: "HE HIT ME! I GOT IT ON VIDEO!"
Aaliyah rushes to him.
Aaliyah: "Damiano, come inside. Please. We need to go inside."
Inside the apartment, the tension doesn't drop.
Damiano: "This is insane. They can't just make all this up."
Aaliyah: "Damiano, they can. They did it before… they'll do it again."
Damiano: "Before? What do you mean 'again'?"
Aaliyah: silent
Damiano: "Aaliyah. What are you hiding?"
She closes her eyes. Finally says it.
Aaliyah: "In my band… I had a panic attack on stage. A serious one. They didn't want to admit it. They said it was drama. They blamed me."
Damiano: "…Why didn't you tell me this?"
Aaliyah: "Because I didn't want to be that person anymore. I wanted you to see me as someone strong."
This time, Damiano feels the hit.
Damiano: "Aaliyah… I wanted you to trust me."
Aaliyah: "How could I? You've been distant, fighting with your band, with the press… and now this?"
She starts breathing too fast. Her hand goes to her stomach.
Aaliyah: "Damiano… it hurts… I can't… breathe…"
He panics.
Damiano: "Aaliyah, look at me. LOOK at me! Breathe with me, okay?"
Aaliyah: "I can't… something feels wrong."
He lifts her into his arms and gets her into the car without thinking twice.
At the hospital:
Doctor: "What's happening?"
Damiano: "She's pregnant and… the press has been chasing her… she had an attack…"
Aaliyah: "My baby… please… just check my baby."
After examining her, the doctor returns.
Doctor: "The baby girl is fine for now. But the level of stress she's under is extremely dangerous. If this continues… there could be a loss."
Damiano's world collapses.
Damiano: "No… no, no, no… that can't happen."
Aaliyah: shaking "I'm sorry… it's my fault…"
Damiano: "NO. Don't say that."
The doctor sighs.
Doctor: "You both need to reduce the media pressure. She needs to stay calm. If not, the baby will not make it to term."
When the doctor leaves, Aaliyah breaks down crying.
Aaliyah: "Damiano… what are we going to do?"
Damiano: holding her hand tightly "We're going to fight. Against everyone if we have to. But we are NOT losing our daughter. I won't let the world destroy you."
Outside the hospital window, the paparazzi are still there—hundreds of flashes hitting the glass like a swarm.
And Damiano, staring at the media hell waiting for them, mutters:
Damiano: "This isn't a scandal anymore. It's a war."