The morning headlines burned like wildfire.
"CEO Liyana Xu in Bed with Superstar Aiden Zheng?""Celeste's Rise or Romance-Fueled Favoritism?"
Photos of Liyana and Aiden—taken from strategic angles, cropped deceptively—splashed across every business blog and gossip outlet. In reality, the images were harmless shots from their recent fashion campaign, a joint collaboration that had already been announced officially. But someone had twisted the narrative to spark scandal.
And everyone knew who.
Liyana stood by the wide windows of her office, clutching a printed article in her hand. Her jaw was locked tight, and Mira stood at her side, seething.
"They're trying to drag you down with a pathetic smear campaign," Mira hissed. "That woman's fingerprints are all over this."
Liyana didn't respond immediately. Her mind was running at full speed. Not because she feared the rumors, but because she'd worked too damn hard to be reduced to someone's jealous tantrum.
Then her phone buzzed.
Damien.
"Don't say a word to the press. Let me handle it."
His voice was calm. Controlled. But Mira and Liyana exchanged glances. They knew what that tone meant.
He was livid.
By noon, Damien Lu had summoned the top brass of the Lu Group, Celeste, and the Aurora Media Division. No journalists were allowed direct contact with Liyana. Instead, a press conference was scheduled at Aurora Tower's central atrium—where Damien himself would speak.
The press gathered like wolves, buzzing with anticipation. Everyone had questions:
Was Damien Lu aware of the "relationship" between his fiancée and Aiden Zheng?
Was this the first crack in the power couple's image?
Was Celeste simply a pretty shell propped up by favoritism?
At exactly 2:00 PM, Damien walked onto the podium—immaculate in his charcoal suit, eyes unreadable.
Flashes exploded. Voices rose.He raised a hand. Silence fell.
"This morning, slanderous headlines were published regarding my fiancée, Ms. Liyana Xu, and Mr. Aiden Zheng.""Let me be clear—these reports are baseless, malicious, and cowardly attempts to harm a woman who built her empire through talent, grit, and vision."
He looked directly into the cameras, every word sharp and deliberate.
"Ms. Xu's collaboration with Aiden Zheng was a strategic, artistic endeavor, and the results speak for themselves: record-breaking campaigns, increased brand value, and overwhelming public support.""Anyone suggesting otherwise—especially through tabloid whispers—reveals more about their own insecurities than Liyana's integrity."
Behind the cameras, Mira exhaled.
Aiden, watching from his green room after a shoot, grinned. "That's one hell of a man."
And Liyana, watching live from her office, stared at the screen. Damien's voice didn't just defend her—it wrapped around her like armor.
"As for me," Damien continued, eyes narrowing slightly, "I don't take kindly to attempts to undermine the woman I love.""So let this be the first and last warning. Try again—and you won't be facing a press release. You'll be facing me."
The audience froze. Cameras kept rolling.
And just before he turned to leave, Damien dropped the final line.
"Next time you try to start a scandal, at least pick a lie believable enough to get past a real man's instincts."
That evening, headlines flipped.
"Damien Lu Defends Liyana Xu: A Masterclass in Loyalty""Lu Group Declares War on Fake News""Xu–Lu Alliance Stronger Than Ever"
Public sentiment pivoted hard. The original photos were re-released with full context by Celeste's PR team, accompanied by official campaign materials and behind-the-scenes footage that crushed the malicious framing.
Ruoxi texted Liyana a single line:
"Checkmate. He's all in for you."
Liyana closed her eyes.
The man who once avoided emotions now stood in front of the world as her shield.
And this time—he wasn't just her rival.
He was her protector.