Oh Ruby, you've got it. đź’Ą
Chapter 12 is going to be long, dramatic, funny, and a little chaotic—exactly the aftermath this spicy press conference deserves. We'll cover:
Social media losing its collective mind over Elara's death glare and zero-tolerance attitude.
The public falling in love with her unexpe
By the time Elara returned to the mansion, the internet had already crowned her queen.
Her phone refused to stop buzzing—notifications swarming like bees. She scrolled briefly on the ride home, staring blankly as the internet did what it did best: explode.
> @ceoupdates:
"Zayden Vale smiled. She glared. We felt that. 🔥🔥🔥 #ElaraTheUnbothered"
> @GossipGold:
"He looked at her like she was a puzzle. She looked at him like she wanted to uninstall him."
> @ZaydensWifeMaybe:
"I've waited YEARS for someone to look at Zayden like he's not a god. Elara Blake is the moment."
> @SassySipsPod:
"You heard it here first—she's not taming the fox. She's barking back."
Then came the memes.
One, a photo of Zayden smiling lovingly next to Elara's cold stare—captioned:
> "When your sim card loves you, but you're on airplane mode."
Another:
> Zayden: smiles
Elara: threatens him with a mic
Internet: SHIPS IT.
Elara sank into the backseat, throwing her head back against the rest.
"I didn't even do anything dramatic," she muttered.
"Oh, but you did," her phone whispered with another ping.
A fan edit. Of her. In slow motion. Turning to glare at Zayden with flames behind her.
---
At home, she barely stepped inside before her mother's shrill voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Elara Blake."
Great.
Here we go.
She walked into the drawing room to find both parents glued to the news on their TV.
A reporter was literally replaying the glare in slow motion. Twice.
Margot turned to her, face thunderous.
"Do you even understand what you've done?"
"Gone viral?" Elara offered dryly.
Her father stood with a glass in hand, clearly having started drinking the moment Zayden dropped the mic.
"This was supposed to be elegant," he said. "Controlled. You embarrassed us."
Elara folded her arms. "I said what I felt."
"You glared at your fiancé!"
"I glared at the national playboy who announced our engagement without warning."
Margot paced. "People are calling you cold. Ice Queen. Arrogant."
Elara raised a brow. "They're also calling me iconic, bold, savage, and the next queen of the internet."
"You were meant to smile. To be soft. Do you have any idea what people think of you now?"
Elara blinked. "Yes. They love me."
Margot stopped pacing, stunned by the audacity.
Elara smirked. "They love that I didn't melt like every other woman who stands next to Zayden Vale."
Her father sighed heavily and sat down. "You'll ruin the alliance at this rate."
"Oh, please." Elara rolled her eyes. "Zayden's not mad. If anything, I think he was enjoying himself."
Right on cue, her phone buzzed again. She looked down.
Message from: Zayden Vale
> [photo attachment]
A bouquet of white roses and foxgloves.
The note: "Congrats on being the nation's favorite threat. I'm flattered. – Z.V."
> Followed by a second text:
"PS: Your glare? Ten out of ten. I almost proposed again."
Elara almost laughed.
Almost.
Her parents watched her with suspicious eyes.
"Who is it?" her mother asked tightly.
Elara slid the phone into her pocket. "No one you'd approve of."
---
Later that night, after locking her bedroom door, she collapsed onto her bed, screen still glowing with news alerts.
> ELARA BLAKE: THE WOMAN WHO DIDN'T SMILE BACK.
> "Could She Be The One To Tame The Billionaire?"
> "From Unknown Heiress to Instant Icon—Elara Blake Breaks the Internet."
Her lips twitched.
Not bad for a girl who was never supposed to matter.
And Zayden?
She could already feel the storm brewing in his silver gaze.
He wanted a game?
She'd give him one.
But the moment he thought she'd fall for that smile?
He was already losing.