Chapter 46 – Fake Breakup Rumor
The morning light slanted through the large windows of the mansion, brushing across polished floors and casting long shadows across the chaos that had erupted overnight. Alexis sat at the edge of her bed, legs curled beneath her, staring at her phone like it might spontaneously explode with the next scandalous headline. Her thumb hovered over the screen, frozen, as if hesitation could somehow make the news vanish.
"Fake breakup?" she muttered under her breath, disbelief threading through the exhaustion in her voice. "Seriously?"
The headline blared back at her, practically screaming: "Alexis Harper and Dante Chase Split?! Exclusive Insider Claims Romance is Over!" Her heart sank, a hollow thud reverberating in her chest. Her pulse raced, a mix of fury, embarrassment, and an unbidden twist of panic. The article was carefully crafted, quoting "anonymous sources" and insinuating all sorts of tensions and betrayals that had never existed. And yet, somewhere deep down, she knew the rumor had come from one of the contestants—the rival who thrived on drama, the one who couldn't bear to see her happy even for a moment.
Dante appeared in the doorway, still in a rumpled T-shirt and jeans, a cup of steaming coffee in one hand, the other resting casually against the doorframe. He raised an eyebrow, surveying the stormy expression on Alexis's face. "You've seen it?" he asked, the familiar lilt of amusement undercutting the tension, but his eyes betrayed concern.
"Seen it?" she repeated, voice tight. "Dante, it's all over every feed, every gossip page, every… I can't even—" Her words dissolved into a frustrated groan.
He stepped closer, the scent of coffee and warmth wrapping around her like armor. He handed her the mug silently, a small gesture that was somehow more grounding than any pep talk. "You're overreacting," he said lightly, but when he saw her incredulous look, he added softly, "I mean… not really. I get why you're upset."
Alexis took the mug, holding it like a lifeline. She could feel the heat of it through her fingers, grounding her slightly, though it did little to calm the storm raging in her chest. "I don't know if it's overreacting," she admitted. "People are going to believe it. They already are. And… part of me wonders… do you even care what they think?" The words came out sharper than she intended, guilt prickling immediately afterward.
Dante's expression softened, the protective layer peeling back to reveal genuine concern. "Of course I care," he said, voice low and earnest. "But I also know that whatever they're saying? It doesn't change how I feel about you. Or how this—us—really is."
Alexis's breath caught, the combination of relief and lingering jealousy knotting inside her. She wanted to believe him, to let the tension dissolve, but the seed of doubt had been planted, skillfully nurtured by the manipulative rival. Every time she caught a glance at Dante, she remembered the articles, the whispers, the cameras that seemed to capture every nuance of their interactions. Could she trust him fully in this environment, or would the rumor mill always undermine her sense of security?
Her internal dialogue collided violently with her growing attraction. Don't overthink it. Just… trust him. But… what if it's all a lie? What if he's just humoring me? The conflicting emotions made her head spin, and she found herself gripping the mug tighter than necessary, knuckles whitening.
Dante's gaze followed her movements with a mixture of patience and curiosity. "Alexis," he said, gently touching her hand. "Talk to me. Don't shut me out."
The touch sent an electric pulse through her chest, and for a moment, she let herself forget the rumor, the cameras, the scheming rivals. It was just him, just her, just this quiet, intimate moment in the otherwise chaotic reality show world.
"I… I don't know," she whispered finally, voice trembling with vulnerability. "I hate that I even doubt you. I hate feeling like… like the entire world is against us. And maybe part of me wonders if you really care… or if I'm just part of the show."
Dante's eyes darkened slightly, but the expression was protective, not angry. "Alexis, listen. I know how this environment is. I know how manipulative people can be. And yes, there are cameras, and yes, it's a show—but you and I? That's not a game. That's not a performance. I'm here. I'm real. You're real. And anyone trying to convince you otherwise? They're just background noise."
Her lips trembled with the effort to hold back tears, a mixture of frustration, relief, and longing. The storm inside her, though not fully settled, had been softened by his words, by his steady presence, by the sincerity in his voice that she could feel in her chest.
They sat together in silence, the mug warming her hands, Dante's steady presence at her side, both of them staring out at the city lights like conspirators in a world that refused to understand their bond. Each flicker of neon, each distant car horn, seemed to punctuate the quiet intensity of the moment.
Alexis finally let herself lean slightly into him, just a fraction, enough to feel the curve of his shoulder against hers. The gesture was small, tentative, but it spoke volumes: trust, longing, acknowledgment that despite the rumor, despite the chaos, there was something undeniably theirs.
Dante shifted slightly, matching her movement, wrapping an arm around her shoulders in a protective, grounding hold. "See? Nothing's going to break this," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. "Not rumors. Not rivals. Not cameras. Not anyone."
Alexis exhaled, letting some of the tension drain from her body, though her mind still raced. "I want to believe that," she whispered, heart still hammering. "I want to trust that this… us… it's real."
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, light, fleeting, but laden with meaning. "It is real," he assured her. "And we'll deal with everything else together. I promise."
For the first time that day, Alexis allowed herself to truly relax against him, to let the private reassurance outweigh the public scrutiny. She could still hear the echo of gossip and rumor in her mind, the ever-present threat of public opinion, but the warmth of Dante's touch, the sincerity in his eyes, the quiet strength of his presence—it all reminded her that she didn't have to face it alone.
And in that moment, she realized that while the world might spin with lies and speculation, the truth between them was theirs, unshakable, and intensely, beautifully real.
As they leaned against each other in the quiet morning, a silent understanding passed between them: they would face the public storm, the rival schemes, and the relentless cameras together. Whatever came next, they were a team—and for Alexis, that knowledge was enough to make the world outside the mansion feel just a little less threatening.
The city below sparkled like a thousand tiny promises, and for once, Alexis could imagine hope amidst the chaos, laughter amidst the scrutiny, and love amidst the games.
⸻