The garden, once serene with its blooming roses and trickling fountain, erupted into chaos. Reporters stormed through the gates like wolves scenting blood. Their cameras flashed in rapid bursts, microphones thrust forward as questions fired from every direction.
"Elena Carter, is it true you're Mr. King's secret mistress?"
"Mr. King! Did you dump Victoria Blake for your maid?"
"Elena, how much money are you being paid to stay quiet?"
Elena froze, her pulse hammering so loudly she thought she might faint. She had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Shame and fear wrapped around her chest like chains.
Adrian stepped forward, placing himself firmly between her and the mob. His arm encircled her waist, pulling her against his side with protective force. The cameras went wild at the sight, their lenses drinking in the scandal.
"That's enough," Adrian's voice boomed, calm yet commanding. "You're trespassing on private property."
"Mr. King!" one reporter shouted, ignoring his warning. "Are you confirming this relationship then?"
Adrian's lips curved into the faintest of smirks, though his eyes burned with steel. "I'm confirming that Miss Carter is under my protection. And anyone who dares to slander her will answer to me personally."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. The reporters erupted into frenzy, shouting over each other as flashes popped like fireworks. Elena's breath caught in her throat.
Protection. Not denial. Not dismissal.
Why had he said it like that?
Her fingers clutched his sleeve instinctively as the crowd pressed closer. Security guards finally swarmed the garden, shoving cameras back, blocking reporters with their broad shoulders. The butler barked orders, herding the staff away from the spectacle.
Adrian never let go of her. He guided her firmly toward the house, shielding her with his body until the heavy doors slammed shut behind them. The muffled roar of the reporters remained outside, but inside the mansion, silence pressed down like a weight.
Elena pulled away at once, her heart still racing. "Why did you do that?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "Why didn't you just deny it? Tell them the truth!"
Adrian turned, loosening his tie with deliberate calm. His eyes found hers, grey and unyielding. "Because the truth doesn't matter to them, Elena. Denial only fuels the fire. They don't want facts—they want blood."
Her throat tightened. "So you gave them exactly what they wanted," she whispered bitterly. "Now they'll believe it more than ever."
His jaw flexed. "I don't care what they believe. I care that they know you're not prey they can devour without consequence."
Elena staggered back, torn between gratitude and panic. His words warmed something deep inside her, but at the same time, they terrified her. Every gesture of protection, every display of power—it only pulled her deeper into his world. A world she didn't belong to.
Before she could argue further, the head of Adrian's PR team rushed in, tablet in hand. "Mr. King, the media storm is already trending worldwide. We need a statement drafted immediately. If we don't control the narrative—"
Adrian's glare silenced him mid-sentence. "Then control it. That's your job. Mine is keeping her safe."
The man swallowed, nodding quickly before retreating.
Elena stood frozen, her heart thudding. The way Adrian had said her—it was too personal, too dangerous.
She stumbled back toward the stairs. "I—I need to be alone."
"Elena." His voice stopped her halfway up, low and commanding. "Don't make the mistake of thinking you're in this alone."
She didn't answer. Couldn't. If she turned back, she was afraid of what she might see in his eyes.
---
Later that night, the mansion felt suffocating. Every corner seemed alive with whispers—maids huddled in twos and threes, staff glancing at her with thinly veiled judgment.
"She's ruined everything," she overheard one say. "Mr. King's reputation, the Blake deal, all because of her."
"Watch," another muttered, "she'll end up rich from this. They always do."
Elena bit her lip so hard it nearly bled as she hurried past. If only they knew the truth. She didn't want his money, his fame, his power. All she had ever wanted was enough to keep Liam safe, to keep a roof over their heads.
But fate had never been kind to her.
---
In his study, Adrian stood at the window, scotch in hand, the city lights glowing beyond the glass. His phone buzzed relentlessly, but he ignored it until the butler entered.
"Sir," the older man said gravely. "Miss Blake's family has threatened legal action. They claim Miss Carter's involvement breaches your engagement contract."
Adrian's hand tightened around his glass until the crystal nearly cracked. "That contract was a business arrangement, nothing more."
"Perhaps," the butler said delicately. "But the public… they don't see it that way."
Adrian's gaze darkened. "Then I'll make them see."
---
Elena couldn't sleep. She paced her small room, wringing her hands until she couldn't bear the silence anymore.
She slipped out into the garden again, seeking the only place that still felt untouched by the chaos. The moon painted the roses silver, the fountain's whisper a fragile lullaby.
"Elena."
Her breath hitched. Adrian was there, waiting by the fountain as though he'd known she'd come.
"You shouldn't be out here," she said softly, her voice raw.
"Neither should you." He stepped closer, his expression softer than she'd ever seen it. "But somehow, we both are."
She wanted to run, to hide, but his presence rooted her in place.
"Why me?" she burst out suddenly, pain lacing every word. "Out of all the women in your world, why me? Don't you see what this is doing to me? To Liam? I can't survive this, Adrian."
He stopped in front of her, his gaze searching hers. For once, there was no cold CEO mask, no walls of steel. Just a man.
"Because when I look at you," he said quietly, "I see the one person who isn't afraid to see me. Not the billionaire. Not the headlines. Just me."
Her throat closed, her eyes burning. "That's not enough to survive them," she whispered.
He lifted a hand, brushing a strand of hair from her face with unbearable tenderness. She didn't pull away this time.
"Then let me be enough for you," he murmured.
Her heart thudded violently, torn between fear and longing. The world around them stilled, as if the universe held its breath.
But before either could move closer, Adrian's phone buzzed. He glanced at it, his expression darkening.
"It's Victoria," he said, his voice clipped. "She's filed a formal lawsuit. Tomorrow, they'll drag your name into court."
Elena's blood ran cold. Court. Public records. Reporters. Liam's school. Her entire life laid bare for the world to mock.
Her knees weakened, and Adrian caught her before she could fall. His arm wrapped around her, firm and unyielding.
"Don't be afraid," he whispered against her hair. "If she wants war, she'll have it. But she won't have you."
For a moment, Elena let herself lean into him, drawing strength from his words.
But deep inside, fear whispered cruelly: What if protecting her cost Adrian everything?
To be continued....