TITLE:BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND

Chapter 8: THE KISS WENT VIRAL

New York. 48 Hours Later.

The kiss was everywhere.

`#FakeKiss #BillionaireHusband #EthanAndAva`

5.2M views. 200k comments.

Victoria's original video.

Ethan deleting it.

Then 10 different angles from other people at the gala.

Everyone had an opinion.

"She's a gold digger."

"No, did you SEE how he looked at her?"

"That was NOT acting."

Ava scrolled through her phone in the Carter Tower elevator.

Her hands were shaking.

The doors opened.

Ethan was waiting.

Black suit. No tie. Jaw tight.

He looked like he hadn't slept.

"Come with me," he said. No greeting.

"Where?" Ava asked.

"My office. Now."

---

Ethan's office. 80th floor.

Glass walls. NYC skyline.

But Ava only saw the news playing on his TV.

`BREAKING: Ethan Carter Caught in Scandalous Affair?

Sources claim marriage to unknown woman is contractual.`

Ethan muted it.

"Did you see this?" He asked.

Ava nodded. "My mom saw it too.

The hospital nurses were asking her questions."

Ethan cursed. "I'm sorry."

Ava blinked. "You... you're apologizing?"

Ethan ran a hand through his hair.

"I was supposed to protect you.

Not drag you into this."

For 6 months he'd been cold. Distant.

Now he sounded... guilty?

"Why did you kiss me?" Ava asked.

The question she'd been holding in.

Ethan went still.

"Because she was hurting you," he said finally.

"Because I was angry. Because for 2 seconds I forgot it was fake."

Fake.

That word again.

Ava hugged herself. "So it meant nothing?"

Ethan looked at her. Really looked at her.

"I don't know," he said honestly. "That's the problem."

The intercom buzzed.

"Sir, Victoria Blake is here. She doesn't have an appointment."

Ethan's eyes darkened. "Send her in."

Victoria walked in like she owned the place.

Red dress. Again.

With 3 lawyers behind her.

"Ethan baby," she said. "We need to talk.

About our public image. And about your wife."

She said "wife" like it was poison.

Ethan stood. "What do you want Victoria?"

Victoria smiled. "I want the truth.

Was it real? Or was it staged?"

She looked at Ava. "Because if it's staged,

then you're in breach of contract.

And I can sue you for defamation."

Ava's stomach dropped.

Ethan stepped between them.

"You will not talk to her."

"Or what?" Victoria laughed. "You'll kiss her again?

For the cameras?"

Ethan grabbed Ava's hand.

"Come on."

"Where are we going?" Ava whispered.

"To fix this," Ethan said. "Our way."

---

Carter Tower Lobby. 2 PM.

Paparazzi everywhere.

100 cameras. 50 microphones.

"Ethan! Is the marriage real?"

"Ava! How much did he pay you?"

"Did you kiss for publicity?"

Ethan didn't stop walking.

He pulled Ava to the center.

Then he did what no CEO would ever do.

He grabbed a microphone.

"My name is Ethan Carter," his voice was calm. Cold.

"And this is my wife, Ava Carter."

Flash. Flash. Flash.

"The marriage is legal. The contract is private.

And anyone who spreads lies about my wife

will hear from my lawyers."

He turned to Ava.

Leaned down. Whispered: "Trust me."

Then he kissed her forehead.

Soft. Public. Protective.

Not passionate like Monaco.

But somehow... more real.

The crowd went WILD.

---

Back upstairs. 10 minutes later.

Ava was still processing.

Ethan was on the phone, yelling at someone.

He hung up. "Done.

Victoria's lawyers backed off.

The media posts are being taken down."

Ava sat down. "You just risked your company... for me?"

Ethan sat across from her.

For the first time, he looked tired. Human.

"Ava," he said. "The contract says 6 months.

No feelings. Remember?"

Ava nodded. Heart breaking.

Ethan sighed. "I'm breaking rule #1."

Ava frowned. "What?"

Ethan stood up. Walked to the window.

"I have feelings for you," he said. Quiet.

"And I don't know what to do about it."

Silence.

Ava's heart was racing.

"Then... what happens now?"

Ethan turned. "Now we survive the next 5 months.

Together. Publicly.

And we figure out if this is real

or if we were just playing pretend really well."

His phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

Text: `You think you won? This isn't over. -V`

Ethan deleted it.

He looked at Ava. "Come home with me.

Not as my contract wife.

As my wife."

Ava didn't answer.

Because how do you answer that

when your heart is screaming YES

and your brain is screaming RULE #1?

---

That night. Carter Penthouse.

Separate rooms. Again.

But at 2 AM, Ava heard footsteps.

Her door opened.

Ethan stood there. In a t-shirt and sweatpants.

Looking younger. Vulnerable.

"Can't sleep," he said.

Ava sat up. "Me neither."

Ethan hesitated. Then: "Can I...

Can I sit?"

Ava moved over.

They sat in silence. Looking at the city.

"That kiss in Monaco," Ethan said.

"It wasn't supposed to happen."

"I know," Ava whispered.

"But I don't regret it," Ethan said.

He turned to her. "Do you?"

Ava looked at his lips.

Then at his eyes.

"No," she whispered.

Ethan exhaled. Like he'd been holding his breath.

He reached out. Tucked hair behind her ear.

His fingers lingered.

"5 more months," he said.

"Let's see what happens."

He stood. Walked to the door.

Paused.

"Goodnight, Ava."

"Goodnight, Ethan."

But neither of them slept.

Outside, Victoria was watching the penthouse

from across the street.

And smiling.

Because she had a plan.

And it started tomorrow.