Sensing the storm of emotions swirling within her, he could feel her tense up, like she was barely keeping it together. Without saying a word, he pulled her just a little closer, his arm firm but gentle around her waist. His touch wasn’t forceful—just firm enough to remind her that he is by her side.
She glanced up at him, he t her eyes with a calm, assuring smile. Sothing about it was reassuring, like a quiet promise that she wasn’t alone and everything would be okay. And to her own surprise, it worked. The fear that had been threatening to consu her just seconds ago slowly ebbed away, like the tide pulling back from the shore.
It wasn’t that the fear disappeared completely, but it lost its grip. Just a little. Like it didn’t seem as loud all of a sudden.
She took a deep breath, then another—slower this ti—steadying herself. Yes, she’d been betrayed, possibly used, set up. And not by strangers, but by the very people she had trusted the most. But she wasn’t alone.
Even though the man standing beside her was a stranger—absurdly handso, unnad, and still sothing of a mystery—she could feel it in her gut: he was different. He had that kind of calm, otherworldly aura, like this world was a ga to him and he already had a complete plan to conquer it. And in his presence, she could almost believe that nothing could touch her.
Besides, she reminded herself, she wasn’t so naïve, helpless girl, helpless rookie fresh off the casting couch. She was one of the hottest rising nas in the industry—a brand-new diva who’d clawed her way up past girls with ten tis the connections and none of the hunger. She’d survived catty co-stars, sleazy producers, backroom deals, jealous rivals, image assassinations, social dia witch hunts, PR disasters, and vicious gossip columns.
Hell, she’d once been sabotaged mid-performance and still got a standing ovation. She’d dodged sabotage, outplayed fake friends, and smiled through backhanded complints from insecure veterans. She’d made it this far by being sharp, ruthless when needed, and damn good at pretending nothing could shake her.
But still... betrayal from the ones closest to her? That hit differently.
Still, she called upon the full force of her acting talent—the kind that had made critics call her a "natural"—and forced her body to relax. She smoothed out her features, buried the chaos beneath a flawless mask, and t Rex’s eyes with a bright smile. It was convincing, too—almost radiant. Almost. Only the slight tremble in her fingers betrayed the truth.
"Let’s keep going," she said, voice a little hoarse, but steady enough to pass.
Rex held her gaze for a mont longer. He didn’t say anything, just gave her a quiet understanding nod, and together they walked forward, still arm in arm.
Even though it felt like a whole emotional rollercoaster had just played out, in reality, only a few seconds had passed. To the crowd, it looked like she’d simply lost her balance for a mont, and the absurdly handso guy next to her caught her just in ti—then the two of them locked eyes like sothing straight out of a movie. Just a cute little mont between a glamorous couple, then walked off hand in hand. Nothing more. No one suspected the storm brewing just beneath that perfect smile.
They walked side by side, her fingers still wrapped around Rex’s like a lifeline.
It was hard to breathe properly. Her chest felt tight, like soone had tied invisible cords around her lungs. Everything he just told her—about the setup, the trap, the betrayal—it played on repeat in her head. Her CEO, the one who scouted her from obscurity, who used to talk about her like a proud father at every press conference... and her manager, who’d once cried with her after her first big role. Sold her out.
An invisible storm cloud trailing just above her shoulder. Soone powerful was after her. This whole event, this sparkling party filled with lights and champagne, was a setup. A trap.
She didn’t even have ti to cry about it. Not here. Not now. Not when God knows how many eyes were still watching her every move.
So she smiled. The sa smile she’d used in front of flashing caras and nosy journalists. The one she wore in interviews when her costar was getting all the credit. The one that said: "I’m fine. Everything’s fine."
The betrayal still throbbed like an open bruise.
She kept her head high, her smile practiced, but her fingers trembled slightly where they rested in Rex’s.
Rex noticed, of course.
And after a mont, as they approached the entrance to the grand ballroom, where the real vultures probably waited, he tried to ease the heavy air just a little. Not erase it. Just let her breathe again.
"Hey," he said lightly, nudging her shoulder with his. "I know it’s a lot. But if we’re going to fake-date our way through this danger zone, you should at least know the na of your absurdly handso fake boyfriend."
She blinked, surprised at the sudden shift in tone, then let out a soft exhale, almost a laugh, as the corner of her mouth twitched upward, the barest hint of a smile breaking through the storm behind her eyes.
Right. Now wasn’t the ti to spiral. Not the ti to brood or crumble. If anything, this was the mont to look even more poised — to lift her chin, square her shoulders, and show the ones who thought she’d break that they’d chosen the wrong person.
Let them watch. Let them wonder. She wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her fall apart.
So, she looked at him and went on with his antics. "Depends," she said, her lips twitched despite herself. "Are you always this shaless?"
"Only when it works," he said with a wink."
She rolled her eyes, but the tension in her shoulders eased a little more. "Fine. Hit with it."
Rex," he said smoothly, then leaned in just a bit and lowered his voice like he was sharing a secret, Rex Aeric. Rember it—it’s the na of the guy who swooped in before things went full horror show tonight."
She exhaled slowly. Not quite a laugh. But her grip on his hand steadied.
"Monica," she replied, her voice still a little hoarse. "Though you already knew that."
"Of course. I’m not so amateur stalker." he said, still walking at an easy pace beside her. I always do my howork,"
She gave him a look. "Don’t joke like that."
He raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright."
(End of Chapter)
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