WHEN THE WORLD TURNED
835 Words
CHAPTER 9 – WHEN THE WORLD TURNED
The headline broke before dawn.
BLACKWOOD EMPIRE ON SHAKY GROUND?
INSIDER TENSIONS, QUESTIONABLE LEADERSHIP
Sebastian read it twice.
Then a third time.
His expression didn’t change—but something dark settled behind his eyes.
The article was careful. Clever. It didn’t accuse. It implied. It planted doubt like a seed and let the public imagination do the rest.
And at the center of it all—
Elara.
Not named directly.
But referenced.
Sources close to the Blackwood household suggest internal disagreements may be influencing corporate decisions.
Sebastian’s phone rang continuously.
Board members. Investors. Legal.
He silenced it all.
“Elara,” he said into the empty study.
Elara learned about the article when her phone began vibrating nonstop on the bedside table.
Messages. Alerts. Missed calls.
She sat up, heart sinking as she read.
This wasn’t accidental.
This was targeted.
By the time she reached the dining room, staff were whispering openly. Conversations stopped when she entered.
Judgment had already begun.
Sebastian was standing near the window, jacket on, phone in hand.
“You should stay inside today,” he said without turning.
She stiffened. “Excuse me?”
“The media will be aggressive.”
“So?” she asked. “You think hiding me helps?”
He turned then, eyes sharp. “I think protecting you does.”
The words startled them both.
Elara recovered first. “I don’t need protection.”
“Yes,” he said quietly, “you do.”
The board meeting was chaos.
Accusations disguised as questions. Concern masquerading as curiosity.
Then—
“I think we should hear from Mr. Vale.”
The name cut through the room.
Sebastian’s spine stiffened.
Marcus Vale rose slowly from his seat, smiling like a man who knew exactly where to apply pressure.
“Sebastian,” Marcus said warmly. “It’s been too long.”
“Not long enough,” Sebastian replied.
Marcus’s gaze shifted—to Elara.
“And this must be your wife.”
The way he said it made Sebastian’s blood run cold.
“I’ve heard fascinating things,” Marcus continued. “About her influence.”
Elara met his gaze calmly. “Influence only frightens men who can’t control it.”
Marcus chuckled. “Sharp. I see why you married her.”
Sebastian stood abruptly. “You’re behind this.”
Marcus spread his hands innocently. “I merely asked questions the public deserves answered.”
The war had a face now.
The moment they stepped outside the building, cameras exploded.
“Elara Blackwood! Are you responsible for the leaked projections?”
“Is your marriage affecting corporate decisions?”
Sebastian moved instantly.
He stepped in front of her.
Shielding.
Blocking lenses.
“Step back,” he commanded.
Hands grabbed microphones. Voices shouted accusations.
Elara felt his hand press against her lower back—steady, protective.
She froze.
Sebastian didn’t release her until they were inside the car.
The silence afterward was heavy.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said quietly.
“Yes,” he replied. “I did.”
Back at the mansion, Sebastian’s control finally cracked.
He paced. She watched.
“This was deliberate,” he said. “Marcus Vale wants my seat.”
“And he’s using me to get it,” Elara said.
Sebastian stopped. “He will not touch you.”
Her voice softened. “You can’t stop him.”
“I can,” he said fiercely. “And I will.”
She searched his face. “Why does this matter so much to you?”
The question hung there—dangerous, unspoken.
Sebastian turned away. “Because you’re my responsibility.”
“That’s not the truth,” she said.
His jaw tightened. “Then stop asking.”
That evening, Sebastian called an emergency press conference.
Elara watched from the side as he spoke—controlled, commanding.
Then he did something no one expected.
“My wife is not a liability,” Sebastian said. “She is an asset. And any attempt to undermine her is an attempt to undermine me.”
Gasps. Murmurs.
Elara stared.
He didn’t look at her—but the statement was unmistakable.
Afterward, she confronted him privately.
“You tied yourself to me publicly.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
His voice was low. “Because I meant it.”
That night, they sat on opposite ends of the couch, exhaustion heavy between them.
“You didn’t have to trust me,” Elara said.
“I didn’t,” Sebastian replied. “I chose you.”
The admission sent a slow warmth through her chest.
Not love.
Not yet.
Something more dangerous.
Belief.
As Sebastian poured a drink, his phone buzzed.
A single message from an unknown number:
Your wife is the perfect weakness.
Let’s see how long you protect her.
Sebastian’s expression darkened.
Across the room, Elara watched him carefully.
And for the first time, she realized the truth:
This war wasn’t just about power anymore.
It was personal.
- Writer
