The tense atmosphere in their living room was suddenly shattered by the piercing ring of David's phone. David, still standing in a threatening pose before the frozen Elara, didn't break his gaze from his wife's pale face as he answered the call.
"Yes?" his voice was flat, but Elara could see a vein pulsing at his temple.
The voice on the other end spoke rapidly, panicked. David's face, initially cold, grew darker with every word he heard. Elara caught the words "data leak," "social media," and "scandal," which made her heart feel like it stopped.
"The headline?" David asked abruptly, his voice like steel.
He listened for a moment, then his cold eyes bore into Elara with an intensity that made her want to disappear.
"'Davina, The Cheating Socialite Wife'," David stated, repeating the impending news headline in a flat tone that concealed explosive anger. "With clear photos showing your face and... his."
Elara let out a soft scream, her hand flying to her mouth. This was worse than she had imagined. Clara wasn't playing games.
"How long?" David barked into the phone.
The answer made his jaw clench. "Twenty minutes? Fine. Do this..."
David turned his back to Elara, but his loud, authoritative voice filled the room.
"I don't care what it costs! Shut down every access point! Contact every social media platform, every online news outlet. I want every link related to this SCRUBBED before anyone can see it!"
He listened for a moment, then his voice dropped, becoming more dangerous. "If even one media outlet dares to post this, I will destroy them. I have enough leverage to shut down every one of their companies for good."
"And find the source!" he snapped, finally losing his composure. "I want to know who dares to threaten my family!"
He ended the call violently and turned to face Elara. His face was flushed with anger, but his eyes remained cold and controlled.
"You hear that?" he hissed. "The whole world almost saw my wife humiliated. Saw YOU humiliated."
Elara trembled, unable to speak.
"But they will never see it," David said, stepping closer. "Because no matter what happens, anyone who tries to bring you down... they have to go through me first."
He grabbed his phone again and dialed a number with a decisive press of his finger.
"Frank," he said as the connection was made. "Activate Protocol Blackout. Now. Yes, for all platforms. And Frank..." his voice was low, full of threat, "don't let a single piece of that news get out. No matter what, she is my wife. My reputation... our FAMILY'S reputation is on the line here."
He ended the call and threw his phone onto the sofa. For the first time that night, Elara saw a slight slump in his usually rigid shoulders. But it was only for a moment.
"You see what you've caused, Elara?" he said, not looking at her. "You haven't just endangered our marriage. You've endangered everything we've built."
Outside, a secret rescue operation was underway. David's cyber team worked relentlessly, vast sums of money changed hands, veiled threats were sent to various news desks. Within fifteen minutes, Clara's entire blackmail scheme was dismantled at its roots.
But David's victory felt bitter. He had saved Elara from public scandal, but he could not save their marriage from the ruin that had begun from within.
When he finally looked at Elara, something in his eyes had extinguished.
"Our marriage counseling," he said with finality. "Starts tomorrow. And this time, you have no choice."
The door slammed shut as David walked out, leaving Elara alone with unbearable guilt and a single question: Had she just been saved, or imprisoned for life?