diff --git a/app/Traits/HasTranslations.php b/app/Traits/HasTranslations.php
index 4a112b6..5caca95 100644
--- a/app/Traits/HasTranslations.php
+++ b/app/Traits/HasTranslations.php
@@ -42,33 +42,48 @@ trait HasTranslations
     {
         $languageCode = $languageCode ?? $this->getCurrentLanguageCode();
         
+        // 1. Try translations table
         $translation = $this->getTranslation($fieldName, $languageCode);
 
-        if ($translation) {
+        if ($translation && !empty($translation->field_value)) {
             return $translation->field_value;
         }
 
-        // Fallback to default language
+        // 2. Fallback to default language from translations table
         if ($fallback && $languageCode !== $this->getDefaultLanguageCode()) {
             $defaultTranslation = $this->getTranslation($fieldName, $this->getDefaultLanguageCode());
-            if ($defaultTranslation) {
+            if ($defaultTranslation && !empty($defaultTranslation->field_value)) {
                 return $defaultTranslation->field_value;
             }
         }
 
-        // Fallback to original field value
+        // 3. Fallback to original field value
         $originalValue = $this->{$fieldName} ?? null;
 
+        // Handle JSON string if not casted
+        if (is_string($originalValue) && (str_starts_with($originalValue, '{') || str_starts_with($originalValue, '['))) {
+            $decoded = json_decode($originalValue, true);
+            if (json_last_error() === JSON_ERROR_NONE) {
+                $originalValue = $decoded;
+            }
+        }
+
         // If the original value is an array (e.g. JSON cast), try to find translation inside it
         if (is_array($originalValue)) {
-            if (isset($originalValue[$languageCode])) {
+            if (isset($originalValue[$languageCode]) && !empty($originalValue[$languageCode])) {
                 return $originalValue[$languageCode];
             }
-            if ($fallback && isset($originalValue[$this->getDefaultLanguageCode()])) {
+            if ($fallback && isset($originalValue[$this->getDefaultLanguageCode()]) && !empty($originalValue[$this->getDefaultLanguageCode()])) {
                 return $originalValue[$this->getDefaultLanguageCode()];
             }
-            // Return first value if available, or empty string
-            return reset($originalValue) ?: '';
+            
+            // Return first non-empty value if available
+            foreach ($originalValue as $val) {
+                if (!empty($val)) {
+                    return $val;
+                }
+            }
+            return '';
         }
 
         return $originalValue;