Ethan Blake stared at the photographs on his laptop screen, his jaw slowly tightening.
The images were sharp. Clear enough that there was no mistaking the people in them.
Alessia Kane stood across from him in the center of the frame, her posture as elegant as ever. The lighting from the chandeliers of Imperial Galleria reflected softly against her skin, and the champagne glass in her hand made the moment look almost… intimate.
Anyone who didn't know the truth would easily assume they were sharing a private conversation.
Which, in a way, they were.
Ethan leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers slowly against the desk.
That night at the event had not gone the way he planned.
He had expected Alessia to soften when she saw him.
To at least listen to him.
Instead, she had looked at him with complete indifference, as if he were nothing more than a stranger trying to waste her time.
The memory still burned.
She had blocked his number.
Blocked his messages.
Even the security team at Kane Luxe Tower had thrown him out when he tried to visit.
For the first time since their breakup, Ethan realized something that made his stomach twist.
Alessia Kane was serious about cutting him out of her life.
And that was unacceptable.
Ethan leaned forward again, studying the photographs carefully.
To anyone else, they would look harmless.
Two people speaking at a crowded event.
But stories didn't need truth to spread.
They only needed suggestion.
He opened a messaging window and typed the name of the blogger he had contacted earlier that morning.
The man ran one of the most popular entertainment gossip pages in Kintara City. His website thrived on rumors about wealthy families, celebrities, and powerful executives.
Exactly the kind of audience Ethan needed.
A reply appeared almost immediately.
Blogger:
You got something interesting for me?
Ethan smirked slightly.
He attached three of the photographs.
A moment passed.
Then the typing indicator appeared again.
Blogger:
Is that Alessia Kane?
Ethan leaned back in his chair, satisfaction creeping into his expression.
Of course you recognize her, he thought.
Everyone in Kintara's elite circles knew the name Kane.
He typed slowly.
Ethan:
Photos from the Imperial Galleria charity event last night.
Another pause.
Then the blogger responded again.
Blogger:
Looks like you two were having a private moment.
Ethan's fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Perfect.
That was exactly the impression he wanted.
He began typing carefully.
Ethan:
You could say that. We had some… personal matters to discuss.
The blogger sent a laughing emoji.
Blogger:
You want me to post them?
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly as he considered the next step.
This was the moment.
Once the photos went online, people would start asking questions.
Investors.
Journalists.
Social media accounts that loved drama involving wealthy families.
Alessia hated attention on her personal life.
She had always been careful about keeping her relationships private.
Ethan knew that better than anyone.
And once the rumors started spreading…
She would have no choice but to address them.
Which meant she would have to talk to him.
He began typing the caption he wanted attached to the photos.
"Exclusive photos from the Imperial Galleria charity event. Alessia Kane spotted in a private conversation with her former partner Ethan Blake. Sources suggest the two may be reconnecting after a recent disagreement."
He read the sentence twice.
Not a lie.
But far from the truth.
Exactly the kind of story that could spread quickly.
Ethan clicked send.
The blogger's reply came seconds later.
Blogger:
This will get attention. Give me an hour.
Ethan closed the laptop slowly.
A satisfied smile spread across his face.
He stood and walked toward the window of his apartment.
Below him, the streets of Kintara City buzzed with the constant movement of traffic and people rushing through their day.
Somewhere in that massive city, Alessia Kane was probably sitting in her office at Kane Luxe Tower, completely unaware of what was about to happen.
Ethan slipped his hands into his pockets.
"Let's see how long you ignore me after this," he murmured.
---
Across the city, sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of Kane Luxe Tower, illuminating the executive floor with a soft golden glow.
Inside the spacious office, Alessia Kane sat behind her desk reviewing a stack of documents.
Her expression remained calm and focused.
Daniel Park, her executive assistant, stood beside the desk with a tablet in hand.
"The marketing department finalized the launch timeline for the new skincare line," Daniel said professionally. "They're requesting your final approval."
Alessia scanned the document quickly.
Her mind was completely absorbed in work.
Meetings.
Product development.
Investor calls.
All the things that kept Kane Luxe moving forward.
She signed the document and slid it back across the desk.
"Approve it," she said.
Daniel nodded and made a quick note on the tablet.
There was a brief pause before he spoke again.
"You also have a board meeting scheduled at three this afternoon."
"I remember," Alessia replied.
Her voice remained calm, controlled.
Anyone watching her would never guess that only a few days earlier she had discovered her boyfriend cheating on her.
But Alessia Kane had always been good at separating emotions from responsibilities.
Work came first.
Always.
Daniel hesitated slightly before leaving the office.
"Is there anything else you need, Miss Kane?"
Alessia shook her head.
"That will be all for now."
Daniel left quietly, closing the door behind him.
For a moment, the office became completely silent.
Alessia leaned back slightly in her chair and glanced toward the skyline beyond the glass wall.
The city looked peaceful from this height.
Orderly.
Predictable.
Exactly how she preferred things.
What she didn't know was that somewhere else in that same city, a story was already being prepared.
A story that would try to drag her name into a narrative she never agreed to.
And Ethan Blake was convinced of one thing.
Once the photos appeared online…
Alessia Kane would have no choice but to face him again.
---