Serena woke to her phone buzzing relentlessly. At first, she thought it was just Mia sending another stream of morning texts. But when she finally reached for the device, the screen was filled with notifications—calls, messages, and news alerts.
Her stomach tightened. She tapped the first link.
Billionaire Elias Moreau's Whirlwind Marriage Raises Questions — Is It All for Show?
Her own face stared back at her from a grainy photo, taken at the gala. One shot showed Elias's hand at her waist, another caught their kiss at the charity auction. The article speculated wildly—claiming insiders suspected a "business deal" rather than romance.
Serena sat frozen until Elias appeared in her doorway, a tablet in hand, the same headline splashed across it.
"I assume you've seen it," he said.
She nodded. "It's everywhere."
"They're fishing," he said, his tone cool but edged with irritation. "The problem is, if we ignore it, it'll grow. If we overreact, we'll confirm suspicion."
Her heart pounded. "So what's the plan?"
He stepped into the room, his presence filling the space. "We give them what they want—proof. Enough to shut down the story before it gets teeth."
"And by 'proof' you mean…?"
"A public display that leaves no doubt." His gaze locked on hers. "We'll do an interview. At our home. Let them see us together, natural, unshakable."
Serena frowned. "Natural? We've known each other for less than a month."
"Then we'll learn quickly," he said, his voice like a challenge.
The interview was scheduled for the following afternoon. A well-known society magazine sent a photographer and a journalist, both all smiles as they set up in the living room. Serena sat beside Elias on the leather sofa, aware of every camera click, every curious glance.
The questions started light—how they met, their favorite shared memories. Elias's answers were smooth, his hand resting easily over hers, his smile practiced but convincing.
Then came the question Serena dreaded: "And what made you fall in love?"
Elias didn't miss a beat. He turned to her, eyes softening in a way that almost looked real. "She saw me," he said simply. "Not the company, not the name. Just me."
The words weren't in any script, and for a second, Serena forgot to breathe.
When the interview wrapped, the photographer asked for one last shot—something intimate. Elias leaned in, his forehead resting against hers, their hands intertwined. The shutter clicked, but neither of them moved right away.
The journalist left with enough material to spin a fairytale, not a scandal. But long after the front door closed, Serena still felt the echo of Elias's words, wondering if there was truth hidden in them.