Éclat Beauty was everywhere. By the time the event ended, it had climbed to the top of trending lists on both Twitter and TikTok, holding its position long after everything was over.

Exactly as planned.

Once everything was settled, I instructed the team to head home early.

The promotional phase was officially over. The next step was the product launch.

There was still no room for error.

As I stepped out of the studio, my phone buzzed.

A message from Alexander.

I’m waiting for you in the underground garage.

My steps slowed slightly as I read it.

I raised an eyebrow slightly.

So he hadn’t left.

I hadn’t seen him after the event ended. I’d assumed he had already left—with Lilian.

I lowered my gaze, the faintest hint of a smile touching my lips—but there was no warmth in it.

I already knew.

He wouldn’t be pleased with what I had done today.

The questions.

The games.

The deliberate arrangement of every moment that pushed him, Lilian... and the narrative I wanted the world to see.

None of it had been accidental.

And Alexander—

He had seen through it.

That brief look on his face during the event hadn’t been subtle to me.

It had been restraint.

Now he was waiting.

Not as the composed CEO standing under the spotlight—

But as someone who intended to settle things.

I tightened my grip on my phone slightly before slipping it back into my bag.

Among the wealthy heirs, Alexander had always been the more low-key type.

Despite having countless admirers, he didn’t even maintain a personal Twitter account.

When netizens accused him of infidelity, he never responded. He simply let them talk. His private life was not something he felt obligated to explain.

But today...

Today was different.

The event had placed him under the spotlight like a celebrity, pushing him into interactive games more suited for variety shows than a corporate launch.

That alone was already pushing his limits.

Once might have been tolerable.

But twice—

And with two different rumored partners?

That was something Alexander, CEO of Blackwood Dominion Enterprises, would never accept.

The fact that he had remained composed on stage, playing along without exposing his displeasure, was already a form of restraint.

A concession.

To me.

I lowered my gaze slightly.

I knew exactly how far I had pushed him today.

And I knew...

He hadn’t let it go.

Sooner or later, I would have to face him.

Without hesitation, I stepped into the elevator and made my way down to the underground garage, heading toward the spot he had mentioned.

Just as I turned the corner—

A familiar voice reached my ears.

Lilian.

My steps halted instantly.

"Alexander... would you have dinner with me tonight?" Lilian’s voice was soft, almost pleading. "We finally have some time, and I haven’t seen you in so long."

"You should go ahead," Alexander replied, his tone even. "There are reporters around tonight. It’s not convenient."

"But—"

"Lilian, listen." His voice lowered slightly, firmer this time. "I promised Nana I’d spend this time with Alicia. I can’t be seen with you too often, especially with reporters around. Nana’s health can’t handle the stress."

There was a pause.

When Lilian spoke again, her voice trembled. "I know you’re worried about Nana, but... Alexander, I’m scared."

She hesitated, as if the words themselves were difficult to say.

"What if one day... you really fall in love with Alicia?"

Silence followed.

"What if you stop loving me?" she continued, her voice breaking. "I can’t bear to lose you."

Alexander didn’t answer immediately.

When he finally spoke, his tone was calm—too calm.

"Lilian, haven’t you always felt guilty toward Alicia?" he said. "Didn’t you think it was wrong to come back?"

He paused, then added, almost matter-of-factly—

"If that day ever comes, I’ll arrange for you to go abroad. You’ll live comfortably. You won’t have to worry about anything."

For a moment, everything went still.

Even from where I stood, I could imagine the look on Lilian’s face.

And then, I almost laughed.

So this was it.

The gentle, fragile woman she had always portrayed in front of him—

She had just dug herself into a corner.

But Lilian wasn’t done.

"Alexander... I really can’t live without you," she said, her voice turning desperate. "Don’t abandon me. I know I’ve wronged Alicia, but I just... I just can’t let you go."

Her breathing grew uneven.

"Every night, I dream..."

She choked on her words.

"I dream of being dragged into an old van... thrown into a small, dark room... they—"

Before she could finish, her body gave way.

She collapsed into Alexander’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

Alexander caught her immediately.

"It’s over," he said, his voice softening in an instant. "Don’t think about it anymore."

His tone was completely different now—gentle, reassuring.

"I’ll call Kendra. She’ll take you to see a doctor."

I frowned slightly.

It’s over.

Those words lingered in my mind.

They weren’t vague.

They weren’t dismissive.

They sounded... certain.

Which meant—

It had really happened.

Could it be... that Lilian’s so-called illness had really been caused by this?

"No... I can’t... I can’t."

Her voice cracked, sobs wracking her body. Each sound tore at me, heart-wrenching and raw.

"Every time I close my eyes, I see that scene. I can’t forget it. I kept calling your name, hoping... hoping more than anything that you’d come to save me..."

Alexander didn’t respond.

I stayed in the corner, too afraid to step forward.

Then—a loud bang echoed through the garage, followed by the slam of a car door, cutting off her cries.

I clenched my hands together, tightening my grip, and glanced toward the exit. A black Porsche was speeding out of the underground garage.

I stared at my phone, letting out a long, quiet sigh. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

The dust had finally settled.

I had expected Alexander to give in to Lilian.

I wasn’t disappointed—after all, I hadn’t hoped for much—but a strange, melancholic emptiness settled over me.

It felt inevitable.

I loved him.

But I no longer dared to expect anything from him.

The elevator carried me down to the first floor, and I grabbed a taxi home.

On the ride, Alexander’s message popped up:

"Sorry, Alicia. I’ve got something to take care of and need to leave early."

"Mm. I’ll head home on my own," I replied.

"Wait for me for dinner when I get back."

"Got it."

I acknowledged the message, though I didn’t take it seriously.

Thinking back...

How many times had Lilian called him away, only for him to stay out all night?

If he came back before dinner, it would truly be a miracle.

And yet...

This time, it could only mean one thing: Lilian’s influence had finally faded.

<<<>>>>>

After several exhausting days, I felt the fatigue settle deep into my bones. The moment I got home, I went straight upstairs and ran a bath.

As I soaked in the warm water, I picked up my phone and scrolled through Twitter and other platforms.

As expected, the press conference was everywhere.

The biggest topic, of course, was still Alexander and Lilian.

In the eyes of the public, their relationship already seemed all but confirmed.

Fans, haters, casual viewers, and OTP shippers all crowded the comment sections, arguing endlessly. Every video, every post was filled with speculation and debate.

Amid all that noise, my own reputation had taken a different turn.

It had been... "cleared.".....