The tension between them grew so thick that even the people nearby stopped talking.
Aria could feel everyone watching.
Sonia Mehta crossed her arms, her sharp eyes still fixed on Aria.
"So?" Sonia said with a smirk. "You didn't answer my question."
Aria raised an eyebrow. "Which one?"
"The one about how much he paid you."
A few people nearby gasped softly.
Aria glanced at Rohan.
He looked calm… but his jaw was tight.
For a moment, Aria considered ignoring Sonia.
But something about the actress's arrogant tone irritated her.
So instead, she smiled politely.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Aria said sweetly. "Were you expecting a discount offer too?"
A few people nearby suddenly burst into quiet laughter.
Sonia's smile faded.
Rohan looked at Aria in surprise.
Sonia's eyes narrowed. "Careful, sweetheart. You clearly don't understand how this industry works."
Aria shrugged lightly. "And you clearly don't understand how basic manners work."
The air around them turned even colder.
Sonia stepped closer to Rohan.
"You're making a mistake," she said quietly.
Rohan's expression remained unreadable.
"My personal life isn't your concern anymore."
Sonia laughed softly.
"Oh, it absolutely is."
She glanced at Aria again.
"Because this little marriage story won't last long."
Aria frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Sonia didn't answer.
Instead, she simply smiled and walked away into the crowd.
For a few seconds, neither Aria nor Rohan spoke.
Then Aria exhaled slowly.
"Well… that was dramatic."
Rohan looked at her.
"You didn't have to provoke her."
Aria folded her arms.
"She started it."
"That's how Sonia works," he said quietly.
Aria studied his face carefully.
"You two dated."
It wasn't a question.
Rohan sighed.
"Yes."
Aria nodded slowly.
"That explains the hostility."
Before Rohan could reply, Kabir suddenly appeared beside them, looking slightly nervous.
"We may have another problem," he said.
Aria groaned. "Already?"
Kabir turned his tablet toward them.
A new article had just been published.
"ACTRESS SONIA MEHTA SAYS ROHAN MALHOTRA'S MARRIAGE IS FAKE."
Aria's eyes widened.
"She said what?!"
Kabir scrolled further down.
"She's claiming the marriage is just a publicity stunt."
Aria looked at Rohan.
"Well… technically she's not completely wrong."
Rohan shook his head.
"But if people start believing that, the media will dig deeper."
Kabir nodded.
"And if they find the contract…"
Aria finished the sentence quietly.
"The whole story explodes."
Silence fell between them.
Aria looked down at the ring on her finger.
The symbol of their fake marriage.
Then she looked up at Rohan.
"So what do we do now?"
Rohan met her eyes.
And for the first time since all this began, his voice carried a serious warning.
"We make everyone believe this marriage is real."
Aria frowned.
"And how exactly do we do that?"
Rohan stepped closer.
Close enough that the cameras across the room could clearly see them together.
Then he gently wrapped his arm around her waist.
Aria's heart skipped.
He leaned slightly toward her and whispered,
"By acting like a couple."
Across the room, cameras immediately started flashing.
And suddenly Aria realized something.
This fake marriage was becoming harder to pretend.
Because the closer Rohan stood…
The more real it started to feel.
End of Chapter 8
Next Chapter: The Dangerous Rival