The next morning, Elena wakes to find a scandalous headline:
"Elena Carter's Secret Ex-Fiancé: The Love Triangle That Could Ruin the Blackwood Deal!"
Her blood runs cold.
Because the man in the photo?
The one who could destroy everything before the wedding even begins?
Was the one person she thought was gone forever.
The headline stared back at Elena like a slap to the face.
"Elena Carter's Secret Ex-Fiancé: The Love Triangle That Could Ruin the Blackwood Deal!"
Her fingers tightened around her phone as she scrolled through the article. It was everywhere-business websites, gossip blogs, even major news outlets.
And right there, beneath the bold letters, was a picture of Liam Weston.
Her ex.
The man she had left behind three years ago.
Elena's pulse pounded as she read through the article. The press had dug up everything-how she and Liam had once been engaged, how they had broken things off mysteriously.
Speculation ran wild, with some claiming Liam still had feelings for her, others suggesting she had never truly gotten over him. And worst of all, it questioned whether her marriage to Adrian was nothing more than a cover-up.
Damn it.
Elena shut her eyes, forcing herself to breathe. This wasn't just a minor inconvenience. This was a disaster.
Her contract with Adrian depended on the world believing in their love. If people thought there was another man in the picture, if they started doubting their story-the entire deal could collapse.
And if Adrian's deal fell through?
So would her chance to reclaim her family's company.
A sharp knock at the door made her jump. Before she could respond, Adrian strode into the room, holding his own phone in one hand. His expression was unreadable, but the tension rolling off him was unmistakable.
"So," he drawled, tossing his phone onto the bed beside her. "Want to tell me why the media thinks you're still in love with your ex?"
Elena forced herself to meet his gaze.
"I don't know how this got out."
"That's not what I asked."
She exhaled sharply. "Liam and I were engaged three years ago. It ended, and we haven't spoken since."
Adrian studied her, his gray eyes unreadable. "And yet, here he is.
Conveniently making headlines the night before our wedding."
She clenched her jaw. "I had nothing to do with this, Adrian."
Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken tension.
Then, Adrian smirked-but there was nothing amused about it.
"Tell me, Elena." He leaned in slightly, his voice dangerously low. "Did you ever think about running back to him?"
Her stomach twisted. "No."
"Good." His expression remained calm, but the sharp edge in his voice told her he wasn't pleased. "Because if this marriage is going to work, the last thing we need is a ghost from your past screwing it up."
Elena wanted to argue, to tell him that she had no interest in Liam anymore.
But she also knew that with Adrian, words weren't enough. He didn't trust easily. And right now, he had every reason to doubt her.
"Do you want me to talk to the press?" she asked.
Adrian let out a low chuckle. "Oh, sweetheart. You don't fix something like this with an interview." He straightened, his smirk fading. "You
fix it by making them forget."
Elena frowned. "How?
He didn't answer. Instead, he pulled out his phone and sent a quick message. Seconds later, a reply flashed across his screen.
"It's handled," he said simply.
A chill ran down her spine. Adrian had resources-influence, money, power.
And he wasn't the type to sit back and let a problem spiral.
