CHAPTER 30 – "Clear It. Completely."
The response didn't take long.
It never did—
Not when Lucien Valtieri was involved.
By morning—
Every platform that had carried the rumor…
Was carrying something else.
A live broadcast.
Unscheduled.
Unavoidable.
Lucien stood at the center of it.
Sharp.
Composed.
Unshaken.
"This will be brief," he said.
The room—filled with press, investors, media—fell silent instantly.
"I don't entertain distractions," he continued calmly.
"A recent narrative has been circulating regarding Elena Marquez."
A pause.
His gaze didn't waver.
"It's false."Simple.Direct.Deadly.
But he didn't stop there.
"My only relationship—public or private—is with my wife."
The emphasis landed.
Hard.
"Zara Valtoria- Valtieri."
Silence followed.
Heavy.Absolute.
Then—
He added one final thing.
"And I don't repeat myself."
The broadcast ended.
Just like that.
No questions.
No room for speculation.
No weakness.
And within minutes—
The narrative shifted completely.
"LUCIEN VALTIERI SHUTS DOWN RUMORS."
"ONLY ONE WOMAN: ZARA."
"PUBLIC DECLARATION ENDS SPECULATION."
........
Zara watched it all from the living room of the mansion.
Seated elegantly, one leg crossed over the other, a glass of wine resting lightly in her hand.
Sienna stood nearby, impressed.
"…That was clean," she admitted.
Cassian nodded slightly.
"He didn't leave space for interpretation."
Zara didn't respond immediately.
Because she wasn't focused on the media.
She was focused on something else.
Patterns.
Lucien walked in minutes later.
Calm.
Like nothing had happened.
Zara didn't look at him right away.
"You handle damage well," she said finally.
Lucien stopped a few steps away.
"I don't create it," he replied.
Zara's gaze lifted slowly.
Sharp.
"That's not what I asked."
Silence.
Lucien held her stare.
Unshaken.
Zara set her glass down.
Then stood.
Slow.
Controlled.
And walked toward him.
"Why," she said quietly,
"are you always in a rumor with Elena?"
The question was calm.
Too calm.
But it wasn't casual.
Lucien didn't interrupt.
Didn't deflect.
Zara stopped right in front of him.
"Don't tell me it's nothing," she added.
A pause.
"Because it keeps happening."
Silence stretched.
Lucien exhaled once.
Controlled.
"She was around before you," he said.
Zara's expression didn't change.
"And?"
Lucien's voice remained steady.
"She stayed longer than she should have."
A pause.
"But I never chose her."
Zara's eyes held his.
Searching.
Measuring.
"And yet," she said softly,
"she's still relevant enough to cause noise."
Lucien stepped closer.
"Not to me."
Zara tilted her head slightly.
"That's not how relevance works," she replied.
Silence.
Then—
She turned away.
Walking toward the glass wall overlooking the city.
Her reflection stared back at her.
Untouched.
Unbothered.
Perfect.
"You know," she said lightly,
"it's not like I don't have options."
Lucien's gaze sharpened.
Zara didn't turn.
"There are people," she continued,
"who wouldn't come with… complications."
A pause.
"People who wouldn't be in rumors."
That landed.
Exactly how she intended.
Lucien moved closer.
Stopping just behind her.
"But you didn't choose them," he said quietly.
Zara's lips curved faintly.
"No," she admitted.
A pause.
"I chose you."
Silence.
Lucien's voice dropped slightly.
"Then stop looking for reasons to regret it."
That—
That hit.
Zara turned slowly.
Facing him again.
"I don't regret decisions," she said.
A pause.
"I replace them."
Silence.
Lucien held her gaze.
Unmoved.
"You won't replace me."
Zara smiled.
Dangerous.
"Don't test that."
......
The tension lingered.
Heavy.Sharp.
But something beneath it—
Had changed.
They weren't just challenging each other anymore.
They were… adjusting.
Lucien stepped back slightly.
Breaking the intensity.
"We're leaving tomorrow," he said.
Zara blinked once.
"For what?"
Lucien's expression remained calm.
"Honeymoon."
Silence.
Zara studied him.
Carefully.
"You already planned it?"
Lucien's lips curved slightly.
"I don't delay important things."
Zara crossed her arms slowly.
"And where exactly are you taking me?"
Lucien didn't answer immediately.
Because of course—
He wouldn't make it simple.
"Somewhere worthy of you," he said.
Zara's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That's a risk," she replied.
Lucien stepped closer again.
"I don't take risks I can't win."
Silence.
Zara held his gaze.
Long.Deep.
Then—
Her lips curved slowly.
"Good," she said.
A pause.
"Because if it's not impressive…"
Her voice dropped slightly.
"I'll come back early."
Lucien didn't hesitate.
"You won't."
And just like that—
A new chapter began.
Not war.Not strategy.
Something else.
Something far more dangerous.
Time.
Alone.
Together.