Aria knew this question was coming.
In fact, she had spent hours meticulously preparing for it.
She needed a narrative that was sweet but chaotic, dramatic but believable, and most importantly, it had to make sense given Damien's notoriously terrifying public persona. A classic, clumsy rom-com meet-cute was never going to fly. She needed just a tiny speck of truth to anchor the lie.
Aria let out a soft, theatrical sigh, leaning back into the plush white armchair. She looked out at the sea of eager faces in the studio audience, instantly slipping into her element.
"Well, Savannah," Aria began, her voice projecting with the effortless, captivating cadence of a seasoned storyteller. "It definitely wasn't a fairy tale. Actually, it started on one of the worst days of my life."
The audience instantly went dead quiet, leaning forward in their seats.
