Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Headline That Broke the Silence
The morning should have been peaceful. Sunlight streamed into the penthouse, spilling across the marble floor and gilded furniture. But peace was a fragile illusion, shattered by Cassandra storming into the living room, a tablet clutched in her manicured hand.
"You both need to see this," she said grimly.
Amara exchanged a wary glance with Ethan before taking the tablet. Her blood turned to ice the second her eyes locked on the screen.
"Hollywood's Golden Couple or Billion-Dollar Hoax? The Truth About Ethan Blackwood's Contract Bride."
The headline blazed in bold letters across a national news site.
Amara's hand trembled as she scrolled. Every detail was there—her past with Daniel, the lawsuit she thought was sealed away, her sudden marriage to Ethan. The words were crafted like poison, dripping with innuendo. Marcus Hale hadn't just written an article; he'd written a character assassination.
"'Anonymous sources claim Amara Blake's marriage is nothing more than a carefully orchestrated arrangement to salvage Ethan Blackwood's reputation…'" she read aloud, her throat tight. "'Her history of failed engagements and financial instability raises the question: is this a love story, or the most expensive publicity stunt in Hollywood history?'"
Her voice broke, and she lowered the tablet. "He knows everything."
Ethan's jaw tightened, his expression unreadable as he took the device from her. He scanned the article in silence, but Amara saw the storm brewing in his eyes—the fury, the betrayal, the promise of war.
"This is Daniel's doing," Cassandra spat. "He fed Hale the story, and Hale spun it into gold for clicks. They want to bury you both."
Amara sank onto the sofa, burying her face in her hands. "This will ruin you, Ethan. Your endorsements, your films—no one will believe this marriage was real now."
Ethan knelt in front of her, gently pulling her hands away. "Look at me."
Her tear-filled eyes met his steady gaze.
"I don't care what they write. I don't care about the headlines. The only thing that matters is what we know—what we feel. Do you trust me?"
The question caught her off guard. Her chest ached, but she whispered, "Yes."
"Then that's enough." His voice was steel wrapped in velvet. "We'll fight this. Together."
Cassandra crossed her arms, pacing. "Fighting is one thing, but perception is everything in this business. If people believe this marriage is fake, it could spiral fast. You need to control the narrative before Hale drives it further."
Ethan stood, his jaw set. "Then we give them a story they can't deny."
Amara frowned. "What do you mean?"
He turned, his eyes burning with determination. "A public declaration. An interview. A moment so raw, so undeniable, that no one will doubt us again. If they want to question our marriage, we'll show them what it really is."
Her heart raced at the intensity in his voice. A part of her longed to believe him, to believe love could silence the lies. But another part trembled with fear—because the closer she got to Ethan, the harder it was to remind herself that this marriage had begun as a contract.
And if the world discovered that truth, no declaration could save them.