At the civil registry office, Amaris Mason arrived to find Emiliano Mason already there with his assistant. As always, their conversation crackled with sarcasm right off the bat.

"I never imagined you'd actually agree to Grandfather's terms. Let's just get this over with—my schedule's packed," Amaris said, her tone as cool as ice.

"Oh, big house, money, power, and a cheating husband who’s never around? Sounds like exactly the dream life I signed up for," Emiliano shot back, the sting in her words unmistakable.

"Is this how it's going to be between us from now on?" he asked, barely keeping his annoyance in check.

"I'll keep the personal and professional separate, Mr. Mason," she replied curtly.

The receptionist, picking up on the tension, completely misread the room and gestured to a sign. "Divorces? Please take a number over there."

Amaris froze, for a moment at a complete loss.

Emiliano adjusted his shirt collar and fixed the receptionist with a steady look. "We're here for a marriage license," he said flatly.

A stunned silence hung in the air.

Emiliano's reputation was the stuff of scandal—so bad that, for all his money, no woman of respectable standing would even entertain the idea of marrying him. That left him surrounded by only the most superficial admirers.

Amaris had first met Emiliano when she was seventeen, falling hard for his magnetic charm and what she'd believed was genuine sincerity. But his infidelity left wounds that never fully healed. She still remembered, with painful clarity, the time he'd whispered "Sophia" during a feverish delirium. And it hadn't been her name.

That year, she had loved him with everything she had, and he had shattered her. Seven years after their breakup, she kept hearing about his exploits through every channel. At first, it was almost bearable, but in recent years, the constant parade of women through his life had trashed his reputation and worried his grandfather sick.

His notoriety had spread to the point that families of equal status flat-out refused to involve their daughters, and women from ordinary backgrounds steered as far clear of him as they could.

Amaris couldn't quite pin down what she felt for him now—love was off the table, and hate felt way too strong. She never would have gone near a notorious cheater again if it weren't for the desperate pleas of her aunt and uncle, the ones who'd raised her, begging her to save their company. So, having come this far, she decided to view him as nothing more than a boss and this marriage as a stepping stone to financial security and her own freedom.

Just as they stepped outside with their marriage certificate, Noah, Emiliano's assistant, rushed over, expression urgent, phone in hand. "Mr. Mason, we've got a situation. Chloe Jones is live streaming, threatening to drown herself. The media's losing it."

Emiliano took the phone right as Chloe's voice came through, tearful and hopeless. "I know he doesn't love me, but I love him so much… I'm just lying to myself… I've let down my parents, the company, every single person who stood by me unconditionally. I'm so sorry…"

The comments below were absolutely tearing Emiliano apart.

"Go to hell, you heartless jerk."

"Chloe, don't hurt yourself over a loser like him."

"Live streaming a suicide attempt? Someone call 911!"

"Is that a comment from Emiliano's PR team? If anything happens to our Chloe, we're tearing the Mason building down!"

What a nightmare.

Still holding the fresh marriage certificate, Amaris smirked at Emiliano's furrowed brow. "What a unique wedding gift. I'm truly touched," she mocked.

"I have nothing to do with her," Emiliano ground out, his handsome features tight with frustration.

Amaris wasn't buying it. "Didn't pay her off well enough, huh? Not only are you a cheater, you're a cheapskate, too!"

"......"

Emiliano's expression went darker than a storm cloud. Trying to claim he was being set up would sound as ridiculous as saying the sun rises in the west—people would just laugh in his face.

Noah, risking even more fury, cut in, "Chairman Mason just called. He's livid. He said everything should prioritize… Mrs. Mason's feelings." Noah glanced nervously at Amaris.

After all, the one woman finally willing to marry into the family—they couldn't afford to scare her off.

Facing an emergency, the three of them hurried back to the company.

On the way, the Mason Group's PR department hastily fired off a statement distancing Emiliano from the incident. It only poured gasoline on the fire, spurring more mockery and criticism, accusing him of not only lacking remorse but also kicking Chloe while she was down.

Inside the executive office, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Crisis management staff filled the room, every one of them keeping their heads low, barely daring to breathe.

No one had ever seen Mr. Mason this furious.

For the past three years, Emiliano had bounced from one scandal to another, the PR department forever cleaning up his mess, only for him to get tangled with yet another woman right after. Usually, the heat came down from the old Chairman, not from Emiliano himself.

But this time was different.

Today defied all logic.

"Whose brilliant idea was it to drop a statement right now? You basically confirmed the rumors yourselves!" he thundered. "Mason Group pays you top dollar to sit around playing games at your desks?"

The rumors had started after he and Chloe got photographed together at a charity event. Gossip surfaced practically overnight, detailed enough that it was like someone had been spying on him directly.

Chloe, loving the spotlight, had initially denied them to little effect—if anything, her star power only grew. Back then, given his reputation, Emiliano couldn't have cared less. But of all the days, it had to blow up on his wedding day.

"If you can't see through cheap publicity stunts like these, you might as well eat dirt!" Emiliano shouted.

Noah once again risked speaking up. "Mr. Mason, Chloe's been rescued."

That was a given.

Emiliano's voice cracked through the room like thunder. "If you don't fix this today, you're all out of a job!!!"

Outside, the executive secretary's desk had already been set up—Amaris's new station. She'd been appointed directly by the Chairman as chief secretary, her first day starting now.

Seeing the stormy atmosphere inside, she quietly cracked the door open and beckoned Noah over.

Noah hurried to her, and she whispered a few words, showing him her phone.

His eyes lit right up as he rushed back to Emiliano. "Mr. Mason, we found Chloe's secret account. There's a video—just give me a second."

He pressed play on a WhatsApp video.

The footage was blurry, but it showed the essentials: a man and a woman who looked a whole lot like Chloe walking into a hospital together. The man had his arm around her as they entered the obstetrics and gynecology department.

The gynecology department—a taboo for any female celebrity.

They checked the anonymous social media account linked to her. No verifications, no description, just private couple photos. Even with faces hidden, the distinctive details matched Chloe perfectly, and the man in the photos was the same one who'd accompanied her to the hospital.

The crisis management team let out a collective breath, like they'd just dodged a bullet.

"Leak it anonymously," Emiliano ordered. "I want a clean break. No fallout."

"Understood, sir," they answered, and scurried out of the executive office.

Noah discreetly handed Emiliano a cup of coffee. "Mr. Mason, take it easy."

Emiliano turned, his gaze zeroing in on Noah's left ear.

Gideon Willis scratched his ear, looking puzzled. "Wait... what's going on? Is there something on my ear?"

Emiliano Mason's voice dropped to a tone that sent a chill down the spine. "Did Mrs. Mason touch your ear earlier?"

"Huh?"

After a beat, Gideon's eyes went wide as he caught on. He shook his head so hard it nearly gave him whiplash, his hand flying up to cover his ear. "No, no—she was just talking to me, I swear. Didn't lay a damn finger on me. She just stood close."

"Good. You just saved your ear."

"..."

Gideon's mind was reeling. Had the boss really been shoved into this marriage?

As soon as that video and the secret social media account hit the internet, public opinion did a complete one-eighty. The crowd that had been roasting Emiliano Mason suddenly swarmed Laylah Vasquez.

— "That guy in the vid is so obviously not Emiliano. Poor Emiliano—what the hell is Laylah trying to pull? I almost broke up with my boyfriend over this mess."

— "Emiliano may have a rep for dating around, but he's not the type to string girls along."

— "Hollywood could never compete with this drama. Chill, Emiliano, your girlfriends got your back."

— "Let's boycott anything with Laylah in it from now on."

— "Emiliano, flex that CEO muscle and blacklist Laylah."

For Laylah, it was a publicity stunt gone horribly, miserably wrong. Emiliano, on the other hand, was suddenly getting an image makeover for his long-running bad-boy rep.

By the time they got back to the family estate after work, Mr. Mason's anger had cooled. He glanced at their marriage certificate, the relief plain on his face.

"Good thing Amaris stepped in. Look at the mess you cooked up. Back in the day, nobody could rein in your reckless ass. Now that you're married, it's time to settle down."

Emiliano looked wounded, like a martyr for a cause nobody got. "It's all for clout, Grandfather. Those actresses will do anything for attention—even fake a damn 'drowning' on a livestream. See how it backfired? They tried to set me up and failed."

"Don't buy it? Ask Amaris."

He smoothly slid the spotlight onto her.

"Indeed, Mr. Mason. That video was shared by a friend at the agency. The whole scandal was a publicity ploy; the drowning act was part of it—they tried to use Emiliano's fame to launch Laylah," Amaris clarified, calm as ever. "This time, it genuinely had nothing to do with Emiliano."

Mr. Mason pounced on the key word. "This time it's unrelated. What about all those other times? Also unrelated? Where there's smoke, there's fire. Ever wonder why your name's always the one that pops up?"

Emiliano puffed out his chest, confident. "Handsome, fit, well-connected, talented, charming..."

He rattled it off easy as breathing, owning every bit of his image.

Mr. Mason let out an exasperated laugh and gave Emiliano a playful kick to the calf. The scolding dripped with affection. "You cheeky little devil!"

"Looks like sticking Amaris on your team was a smart call. She's not just helping you clean up messes—she's keeping a close eye on you. You can't beat my choices. Amaris, if he acts up, you go right ahead and report him to me. I'll straighten him out for you."

Amaris nodded. "Thank you, Grandfather. Helping Emiliano is my job."

"Still calling me Chairman? From now on, it's Grandfather to you."

Amaris hesitated just a second, then gave in. "Grandfather."

Mr. Mason was a respected elder. He'd looked after the Mason family after Amaris's parents passed. Right out of college, she'd joined the Mason Group, working right by his side as his secretary—learning from him, growing under his guidance.

In her heart, even without Emiliano in the picture, she'd long thought of Mr. Mason as a grandfather.

As for Emiliano, she still stuck to "Mr. Mason."

Mr. Mason's gaze slid between his grandson and granddaughter-in-law, reading the subtle tension. Amaris was proud—she clearly didn't approve of his grandson's wild ways. But since he'd already given them one push... why not give another?

"The Mason family already sent over your luggage. So, where's your marital home gonna be? Here at the estate, or...?"

Caught flat-footed, Amaris realized just how fast her uncle's family had moved—probably scared she'd flip-flop.

Emiliano barely shrugged, like he'd been ready for this all along. "My place is big enough and close to the office. I'd rather not uproot."

Mr. Mason didn't miss a beat. "And you're not gonna help your wife move in?"

"Depends if she's willing."

The conversation boomeranged right back to Amaris.

Her luggage was already delivered. Could she really say no?

She bit her lip and mumbled, "Fine."

Mr. Mason sealed it. "No time like the present, then. Start moving today. You two figure out when to go public or throw the wedding. I won't rush you."

After a little more small talk, Mr. Mason shooed them off, not even inviting them to stay for dinner.

By the time they stepped off the estate, night had fallen. City lights twinkled against the darkening sky. Emiliano walked with a damn near bounce in his step, practically ready to burst into song.

He loaded her luggage into the trunk with way too much enthusiasm and even popped open the passenger door for her, his grin just barely reined in. "Wanna grab a bite first, or head straight home?"

No one else was around, so Amaris dropped the act. "Go ahead without me."

Emiliano's protest about not being busy died on his lips when she cut in flatly. "I'm meeting someone. I'll catch up."

Her blunt shutdown sucked every ounce of enthusiasm right out of him. He stood there, speechless.

Under the streetlights, he watched her walk right past his car and flag down a taxi like he wasn't even there. She seemed warmer to the random stranger behind the wheel than she'd ever been to him.

Tch. As if I'm actually into her anyway.

——

Inside a private room at the Starlight Lounge, Amaris cozied up with three of her closest friends. The table was loaded with grilled snacks and cold beer.

She'd just been bumped up from one of the Chairman's secretaries to executive secretary, and they were toasting her promotion.

Serenity Carter, a team lead at the nightclub, was still rocking her work uniform, squeezing in a quick hangout between shifts.

Hazel Wilson, an agent, was the one who'd fed Amaris all the dirt on Laylah.

And then there was Calum Jordan—everyone's favorite guy friend, though exactly what he did for a living was a damn mystery. He just showed up when it mattered.

Their friendship ran deep, back to childhood. They'd survived a few years of being scattered, but distance never dimmed a thing.

Without parents, they'd become each other's family.

Hazel piped up, "Say what you want, but Emiliano is something else. Handsome and oozing masculine energy. Half the actresses in town are dying to get close to him. Clout-chasing aside, who doesn't love a hot guy? I swear I catch myself swooning over his photos all the damn time."

Serenity teased, "Want me to hook you two up?"

Hazel shook her head so fast. "Hell no, I'm not as dumb as Laylah. Emiliano is trouble with a capital T. Admiring from a safe distance is plenty."

— "She got shoved at the airport. It was total chaos, people stepping on her on purpose. She couldn't walk, so I scooped her up and got her the hell out. Was that wrong? She was already injured then, plastering on a brave face through filming. During the whole scandal, she kept trying to clear the air, but Kareem shut down every attempt. After driving back to the city late that night, I basically forced her to finally go to the hospital. She should've been resting, but she kept chasing justice, got hurt again, and ended up in surgery. That's what I saw with my own eyes. God knows how much more truth is buried under all the crap. And last thing—thank you, Hazel Wilson. For two years of sticking by me. I still want to face whatever's coming together. This statement is nothing but my apology and my gratitude. Nothing else matters."

Fans rallied hard behind Calum. Through all the noise, he stood his ground and spoke his truth—for Hazel and for himself.

Some diehard fans at the airport yesterday dumped another video from a clearer angle, finally shedding light on what really went down.

The clip showed it plain as day: Hazel getting deliberately shoved and then trampled.

Public opinion flipped—fast.

In the entertainment industry, secrets had been currency—and Hazel Wilson had had a treasure chest full of them.

"Laylah Vasquez flaunts a revolving door of boyfriends behind the scenes while playing all sweet and innocent. Her burner Instagram is packed with racy selfies, and now she’s dragging Emiliano Mason’s name through the mud. It’s a train wreck waiting to happen."

"Amaris, you came to the right girl today. I’ve got some piping hot tea on Laylah."

Amaris had clinked her glass with a grin. “Thanks to you, I made a real splash on my first day as executive secretary at Mason Group. Dinner’s on me tonight."

Hazel had jumped at the opening. "Well, don’t mind if I do. How about we tack on another order of roast beef?"

Amaris had paused, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face, before nodding with a tight smile.

The three women had buzzed with chatter, their words flowing in a lively mix of gossip and celebration, while Cal Jordan had played the loyal audience, watching with a warm smile and soft eyes, quiet but present.

Across the city, Emiliano Mason’s patience had frayed in his sprawling penthouse with its killer river views. As the clock had ticked toward eleven, his irritation had simmered. He had snatched up his phone and called his assistant.

"She’s still not back?"

Even through the line, Noah could feel the bite in his boss’s tone. "Mrs. Mason and her friends are still in the private room at Starlight Lounge. They haven’t left yet."

Emiliano had ended the call without another word and immediately dialed Martin Rose. "Martin, shut Starlight down."

Martin had been baffled. "What’s gotten into you?"

"Today. Now. I want it closed."

"Come on, Emiliano, my little bar isn’t exactly a threat to your empire."

"It’s messing with my mood."

The friendship between Martin Rose and Emiliano Mason had run deep. Both heirs to their family fortunes, they had understood each other inside and out, leaving little room for secrets. Martin had been one of the first to know about Emiliano and Amaris’s hushed-up romance back in the day—back when Amaris was barely seventeen, he had teased Emiliano for robbing the cradle.

Now, spotting Noah lingering outside Starlight Lounge to keep tabs on Amaris, Martin couldn’t resist a playful dig when Emiliano called.

"You swear you’re over your ex, but your actions scream otherwise. It’s just your words that haven’t caught up yet."