The pressroom was already full when Ethan arrived.
Every seat was taken. A handful of reporters stood along the walls, and cameras filled every gap between them, all pointed at the stage, all waiting for him to say something about the article and the photographs that had put Alex's name on every trending list in the country.
He walked to the podium and looked out over the room. Calm on the surface. Something else entirely underneath it. He knew Pete would be watching from wherever he'd chosen to hide today. He also knew exactly what Pete was hoping to see — Ethan, furious, saying something he couldn't take back.
He wasn't going to give him that.
"Thank you for coming." His voice carried easily across the room. "I asked you here because of the allegations involving Alex and Eliott. I want to address what actually happened."
The room went quiet. Everyone had assumed he would open with betrayal, or with the photographs. No one was certain which.
