The silence lasted barely two seconds.
But in front of hundreds of cameras----
It felt dangerous.
Racheal's grip around his hand tightened slightly before her expression returned to normal.
Calm.
Perfect.
Untouchable.
She faced the reporters without hesitation.
"My personal life was never your business before," she said smoothly. "That hasn't changed now."
The crowd immediately exploded with more questions.
"Then why keep the marriage secret?
"When did you meet?"
"Is this connected to the company inheritance rumours?"
The last question caught his attention instantly.
Inheritance?
Before he could think deeper about it, Racheal started waking again, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.
Security quickly blocked the reporters as they entered the building.
The massive lobby finally swallowed the noise behind them.
But the tension remained.
He immediately turned towards her.
"Inheritance rumours?"
Racheal kept walking
"You talk too much."
"There it is again," he muttered. "Avoiding questions."
She stopped suddenly.
He almost walked into her.
Slowly, she turned to him; her expression remained calm, but her eyes were colder now.
"You agreed to this contract," she said quietly.
"Don't start acting curious about things that don't concern you."
His jaw tightened slightly.
This woman had a talent for making every conversation feel like a warning.
Before he could respond, several employees walking through the lobby suddenly bowed their heads respectfully.
"Good morning, Miss Racheal."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Everybody moved carefully around her.
Nobody looked directly at her for too long.
And for the first time----
He realized Rachael wasn't just rich.
She was feared.
Racheal continued toward the private elevator without waiting for him.
After a second, he followed.
The elevator doors closed behind them, cutting off the noise outside completely.
Silence filled the space again.
Then Racheal suddenly spoke.
"You did well outside."
He blinked slightly.
Was that... a compliment?
"You looked terrified," she added calmly.
Never mind.
He rolled his eyes lightly.
"You could've warned me about the army of reporters trying to blind me."
A faint smirk appeared on her lips for barely a second.
Gone almost immediately.
Still---
He noticed it.
And somehow, that tiny expression felt more shocking than everything else today.
The elevator doors opened again.
The top floor.
Luxury offices stretched ahead while employees instantly straightened the moment Racheal stepped out.
She walked past them effortlessly.
Then paused slightly beside him.
"Your room will be moved closer to mine tonight," she said.
His eyebrow lifted immediately.
"What?"
Racheal continued walking like she hadn't said something insane.
"The media will be watching us closely now. We need to look believable.
Believable.
Right.
Because apparently fake marriages came with upgraded room arrangements.
As he stared at her, confused and irritated--- a television screen inside the lobby suddenly caught his attention.
Breaking News flashed across the screen.
Beside Racheal's picture... was his face.
And somewhere else in the city---
Someone was watching too.
A young man slowly lowered the glass in his hand as his eyes locked on the screen.
Shock spread across his face.
"No way..." he whispered.
The screen showed Racheal standing beside the man he once thought he had destroyed.
Alive.
Successful.
And now connected to one of the most powerful women in the city.
The glass in his hands cracked slightly under the pressure of his grip.
Because for the first time---
fear started creeping into his chest.