For a few seconds, Aria simply stared at Ryan.
Or rather…
Rohan Malhotra.
Her brain struggled to process what Kabir had just shown her on the phone.
The headline glowed brightly on the screen:
"TOP ACTOR ROHAN MALHOTRA SECRETLY MARRIED?"
Aria blinked several times.
"This… this has to be some mistake," she said.
Kabir sighed. "I wish it was."
Aria slowly turned toward the man standing beside her.
"You're seriously telling me you're that Rohan Malhotra?"
The same actor whose movies dominated the box office.
The same celebrity whose face appeared on billboards, magazines, and advertisements across the country.
Ryan—no, Rohan—remained calm.
"Yes."
Aria took a step back.
"You lied to me."
"It wasn't a lie," he replied quietly. "It was a necessary secret."
Aria let out a frustrated laugh.
"You think there's a difference?"
Kabir quickly stepped between them before the argument could grow louder.
"Listen, we didn't plan for the news to break like this," he explained. "A paparazzi photographer must have followed Rohan yesterday."
Aria crossed her arms.
"So you're telling me I'm suddenly married to the biggest celebrity in the country?"
Kabir nodded.
"Pretty much."
Aria rubbed her temples.
"This is insane."
Rohan looked at her carefully.
"You can still walk away."
She looked up sharply.
"And what? Get divorced the same day we got married?"
Kabir shook his head.
"That would only make things worse. The media would go crazy."
Almost as if proving his point, Aria's phone suddenly started buzzing nonstop.
Notifications flooded the screen.
News alerts.
Social media posts.
Messages from unknown numbers.
Aria opened one of the articles.
Her own face stared back at her.
The headline read:
"WHO IS ROHAN MALHOTRA'S MYSTERY WIFE?"
Her heart skipped.
"They found my name," she whispered.
Kabir checked his tablet quickly.
"Yes… and they're already digging into your background."
Aria felt panic rising in her chest.
"This wasn't part of the contract!"
Rohan stepped closer, his voice calm but firm.
"Relax."
Aria glared at him.
"Relax?! My entire life is suddenly public news!"
For the first time, Rohan's expression softened slightly.
"I'll handle the media."
Aria shook her head.
"You better."
Kabir took a deep breath.
"There's only one solution now."
Both of them looked at him.
Kabir spoke carefully.
"You two need to appear in public together… as a happy married couple."
Aria's eyes widened.
"You're kidding."
Rohan shook his head.
"No. He's right."
Aria pointed at herself.
"I'm a struggling writer who just lost her job. I don't belong in celebrity drama!"
Rohan looked directly at her.
"But you signed the contract."
Aria opened her mouth to argue…
Then stopped.
He was right.
She had agreed to this.
Even if she had no idea it would involve cameras, reporters, and millions of curious fans.
Kabir checked his watch.
"There's already a press conference being planned for tomorrow."
Aria groaned.
"Of course there is."
Rohan turned toward her.
"From now on, everything we do in public must look real."
Aria raised an eyebrow.
"Meaning?"
Rohan glanced at the ring on her finger.
"Meaning people need to believe this marriage isn't fake."
Aria stared at him.
The weight of the ring suddenly felt heavier.
Her fake husband wasn't just a mysterious stranger anymore.
He was a secret celebrity whose life was constantly watched by millions.
And now…
So was hers.
Aria sighed.
"Fine," she muttered.
"But if I survive this madness…"
She pointed at him.
"You're buying me a lifetime supply of coffee."
For the first time, Rohan actually smiled.
"Deal."
But none of them noticed the black car parked across the street.
Inside, a man watched them carefully while scrolling through the news article.
He smirked.
"Well, well," he murmured.
"Looks like Rohan Malhotra finally made a mistake."
And he fully intended to use it.
End of Chapter 5
Next Chapter: Living Together