Chapter 10 – Shadows and Headlines

By morning, the world had chosen its side — or at least, it thought it had.

Headlines screamed across every glossy page and glowing screen:

> “The Woman in White: Ava Hale Steals the Spotlight.”

“Power Couple or Perfect Cover-Up?”

“Inside the Hale Marriage: Love, Lies, and a Billion-Dollar Empire.”

Ava scrolled through the articles with her coffee untouched. Each word was both cruel and fascinated — like the press couldn’t decide whether to crown her or crucify her.

She sighed and set the tablet aside. Her reflection in the window looked calm, but inside, her heart was running a marathon.

The door opened quietly behind her. Ethan stepped in, dressed in black slacks and a crisp shirt, sleeves rolled up. The world outside was chaos, but he looked composed — the kind of calm that came after surviving a storm.

“Morning,” he said.

Ava didn’t turn. “You should read what they’re saying about us.”

“I already did.”

“And you’re that calm?”

He moved closer, resting one hand on the back of the sofa. “If I reacted to every headline, I wouldn’t have a company left.”

Ava turned to face him. “It’s not just about your company anymore. It’s about us. They’re calling our marriage a strategy — a performance.”

He studied her for a moment. “Isn’t that how it started?”

She froze. “You don’t still believe that.”

He exhaled slowly. “I’m trying not to.”

A beat of silence. Outside, traffic hummed like distant applause.

Finally, Ethan spoke again, his voice quieter. “Last night, when you walked into that ballroom alone… I’ve never been more furious and more proud in my life. You didn’t just stand up for yourself — you stood up for me, for everything I’ve built.”

Ava looked down, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. “You don’t have to thank me.”

“I’m not,” he said gently. “I’m apologizing — for treating you like a shield when you were always my strength.”

She blinked, caught off guard. “Ethan…”

He took another step closer. “You didn’t just silence Lydia. You reminded me what loyalty actually looks like. I don’t know how to repay that.”

“You don’t,” she whispered. “You just… don’t push me away again.”

He reached out, brushing his fingers against hers — tentative, like testing fragile ground. “I’m done pretending this doesn’t matter.”

Their eyes locked. The air between them felt alive, almost electric. Then, just as he started to lean closer, the door buzzed sharply.

Ethan straightened, his expression darkening. “Of course.” He crossed to the security screen and pressed a button.

“Mr. Hale,” said his assistant’s voice. “We have a problem. Lydia Raine’s team just released footage from three years ago — a private meeting at her company. They’re claiming it proves you falsified numbers to block her merger.”

Ava’s stomach twisted. “That’s impossible.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “It’s not real. But if the footage spreads, perception becomes reality.”

He grabbed his jacket. Ava stood immediately. “You’re going to face her?”

“I’m going to stop her before she burns down everything we built.”

“We,” she repeated softly. “Then you’re not going alone.”

Ethan turned toward her, conflict flashing in his eyes. “Ava, the press will be there. It’ll get ugly.”

“Then let it,” she said. “If they’re going to watch, I want them to see what loyalty looks like up close.”

For a second, he looked like he wanted to argue. Then he gave a faint, resigned smile. “You’re impossible.”

“And you like that about me,” she replied, already reaching for her coat.

---

The press swarm outside the Hale Industries tower was a storm of flashing lights and shouting questions. Ethan’s security tried to clear a path, but the crowd pressed in, hungry for chaos.

Ava slipped her arm through Ethan’s, her chin lifted, her smile calm but unyielding. The gesture wasn’t for show — it was solidarity.

Reporters shouted:

“Mr. Hale, did you falsify company records?”

“Mrs. Hale, are you aware your husband is under investigation?”

“Is this why you staged the marriage?”

Ethan ignored them, but Ava’s voice cut through the noise — soft yet firm. “No one stages love,” she said clearly, just loud enough for the nearest microphones to catch.

The questions faltered. Cameras froze. Ethan looked down at her, surprise flickering across his face.

Inside the building, Lydia was waiting in the main lobby, dressed in crimson — bold, defiant. “I was wondering when you’d show,” she said smoothly. “The world’s already watching. Shall we give them a finale?”

Ethan’s voice was ice. “You doctored that footage.”

She smiled. “You can’t prove that.”

Ava stepped forward before Ethan could respond. “You’re right. But we can prove motive.”

Lydia blinked. “Excuse me?”

Ava pulled out her phone, tapping the screen. “Last night’s gala had security cameras everywhere. I’m sure they caught your little conversation with Ethan — the one where you admitted to the leak.”

Lydia’s confidence faltered, just slightly.

“You overplayed your hand,” Ava continued calmly. “And you forgot — in a world obsessed with lies, the truth doesn’t need to scream. It just needs to stand.”

Ethan stared at her, both stunned and impressed. Lydia’s smirk vanished completely now. “You think this ends with a video?”

“No,” Ava said softly. “It ends with you realizing you can’t win against people who refuse to fight dirty.”

Lydia’s facade cracked. “You’ll regret this.”

“Maybe,” Ava said, turning toward Ethan. “But not today.”

Together, they walked past her, the flash of cameras following them to the elevator. The doors closed, sealing them in silence.

Ethan turned to her slowly. “You had that footage ready?”

She smiled faintly. “Let’s just say I learned from the best.”

He shook his head in disbelief, a low laugh escaping. “You’re dangerous.”

Ava looked up at him, her voice soft but steady. “Only when it comes to protecting what I care about.”

For a long moment, he said nothing — just studied her, his expression unreadable. Then, finally, he reached out and took her hand.

“Then I hope,” he said quietly, “I’m one of those things.”

Her heart fluttered. “You already are.”

The elevator chimed, doors opening to the top floor — sunlight spilling through like a promise.

For the first time in weeks, Ethan smiled without restraint. “Then let’s face the rest together.”

And as they stepped forward — hand in hand — the storm outside no longer felt like the end.

It felt like a beginning.