Unshaken

The dining hall was bright with morning light, sunlight spreading across the long table. The air smelled of coffee and warm bread, filled with quiet chatter and the gentle murmur of conversation.

Adam walked in, calm after an early shift at the hospital. His father, Dr. Philip, sat at the head of the table, reading through his notes with a cup of black coffee. His mother, Sylvia, in a robe, scrolled through her tablet. Across from them lounged his younger brother, Andrew, tall, broad-shouldered, and already halfway through his breakfast.

Andrew grinned. "Early again, Adam? Do you ever sleep?"

Adam reached for the coffee pot. "Do you?"

"Of course," Andrew said, shrugging. "Some of us know how to enjoy life after the hospital."

Philip didn’t look up, though a small twitch of his mouth betrayed amusement.

Sylvia lowered her tablet, eyes narrowing. "Enjoy life, or enjoy the company of women, Andrew?"

Andrew leaned back, grin widening. "Both. Can you blame them, Mother? A doctor, tall, charming, single. I'm practically doing the world a service."

Philip shook his head quietly. "One of these days, you'll need more than charm to carry you."

"I'll worry about that when I'm Adam's age," Andrew teased, glancing at Adam.

Adam raised a brow but said nothing, coffee in hand. His silence was answer enough.

Sylvia cut in. "Speaking of age, Adam, your name is in the news this morning. Yours… and Alina's."

The table went still. Philip set down his pen, thoughtful. Adam’s face remained calm, though his hand tightened slightly around his cup.

Andrew seized the opening, smirk tugging at his lips. "Finally paired up, huh? She’s brilliant, beautiful, and everyone knows you’ve been at her side for years. Honestly, it makes sense."

Sylvia shot him a warning look. Andrew shrugged, taking a bite of toast.

"This isn’t just gossip," Sylvia said firmly. "They’re twisting her work, making it sound like she's leaning on someone else. That’s unfair."

Philip folded his hands. "Alina doesn’t need defending. She’s capable. But she should know this family supports her. She’s earned that."

Adam spoke finally, steady. "She’ll handle it. She always has."

Andrew leaned forward. "Or maybe she'll finally realize you're the better choice. Better than the Vaughn mess, anyway."

Adam’s silence cut sharper than words. His parents exchanged glances, letting it pass.

Sylvia softened. "Still, call her. Even the strongest need to know they’re not alone."

Adam nodded slightly, pushed his chair back. Plate untouched, coffee half-drunk. Quietly, decisively, he rose.

Andrew called after him. "Tell her good morning! She’s better off with you!"

Philip sighed, Sylvia allowed a small smile.

By the time Adam closed the door, his phone was already dialing Alina.

At her hotel, her phone buzzed. Adam’s name lit the screen.

She answered on the second ring. "Adam." Calm, precise, steady.

"You’ve seen it," he said.

"I have," she said, looking at the skyline. "It’s made to seem real. Vague enough to spread, sharp enough to hurt."

Adam was quiet for a moment, listening to the calm edge in her voice as she broke down the smear.

"They’ll push this hard," he said finally. "It won’t fade."

"I know," she said, voice thinning to steel. "Someone wants me cornered. Fine… I’ll play."

"Not alone," Adam said firmly.

Her lips curved faintly. "I never have. I’ve always had me."

He paused, he knew better than to argue, she was right. Still, he tried. "Then let me stand with you. You know what this looks like, what they want it to look like."

Alina’s gaze flicked to her half-packed suitcase. "As long as they don’t touch my twins. As long as they stay hidden, everything else I can handle."

Adam’s jaw tightened. "They won’t. I’ll make sure."

She allowed a small nod. "I believe you."

After a quiet pause, he said, "Your flight’s in three hours. I’ll come by to drive you to the airport."

She turned from the window. "The press will be waiting."

"I know." His tone didn’t waver. "Let them take their pictures."

A small flicker softened her brow. "You don’t care?"

"No," his voice was steady. "Not if it keeps you safe."

Her eyes warmed faintly for the first time that morning. "Then I don’t care either."

Twenty minutes later, a knock. Adam stood at the door in his dark suit, calm and steady.

She slipped on her coat, lifted her suitcase, and met his gaze. "Shall we?"

He inclined his head, arm ready. "We shall."

They moved in silence, the elevator humming around them. When the doors opened, the lobby was full of press. Cameras flashed, voices shouted questions.

Adam stayed at her side, steady, letting her face the storm.

"Dr. Hart, did Dr. Evert fund your research?"

"Are you and Dr. Evert together?"

"Do you deny the accusations?"

Questions hit like stones, fast, unrelenting. Cameras flashed.

Alina’s pace never faltered. Chin up, gaze forward, unbroken.

A microphone shoved too close. She stopped just long enough to cut it down with three calm words.

"Step back. Now."

The reporter recoiled. Adam almost smiled.

They reached the car. The driver opened the door, and they slid inside in one smooth motion. The door closed, and silence fell, broken only by their breathing.

Alina let out a quiet breath. "They wanted a picture. Well, they have it."

Adam leaned back, watching her with quiet resolve. "They got more than that."

The car moved away, the press shrinking in the rearview mirror, their noise fading.

Inside, the quiet felt heavy but not uncomfortable. Alina leaned her head against the seat, eyes on the blur outside. The flashes still burned behind her eyelids, but they didn’t linger. Let them talk, let them twist it. The truth always outlasted the noise.

Her thoughts shifted instead to what waited in Marlowe. The quiet of her home. Two small voices calling for her when she walk through the door.

Her twins. The only ones untouched by the storms of Atheria. As long as that remained, nothing else could break her.