Chapter 8: Under the Spotlight
562 Words
The flashes from dozens of cameras blinded Isabella.
She instinctively raised a hand to shield her eyes.
Questions flew from every direction.
"Mr. Kingsley, when did you two start dating?"
"Miss Hart, are you from a wealthy family?"
"When is the wedding?"
"Is it true you're already living together?"
The reporters pushed closer, microphones stretched toward them.
Isabella had never experienced anything like this before. Her heart raced as panic crept in.
She glanced at Ethan, hoping he would say something.
Instead, he calmly slipped an arm around her waist.
She stiffened.
His touch was warm, firm, and completely unexpected.
Without looking at her, he whispered,
"Smile."
"What?"
"If you look frightened, they'll know something is wrong."
She forced a small smile.
It felt awkward.
One photographer shouted,
"Miss Hart, look this way!"
More camera flashes exploded.
Ethan faced the reporters.
"Thank you all for coming."
The room immediately became quiet.
"I know everyone has questions."
He looked at Isabella for a brief second before continuing.
"I'm pleased to announce my engagement to Isabella Hart."
Gasps filled the room.
One reporter raised her hand.
"Mr. Kingsley, you were engaged to Victoria Sterling. What happened?"
Ethan's expression didn't change.
"My private life is no longer open for discussion."
Another reporter asked,
"When is the wedding?"
Ethan answered without hesitation.
"In one month."
Isabella's eyes widened.
One month?
That wasn't in the contract.
She turned to look at him, but he kept smiling at the cameras as though everything had been planned.
From the back of the room, Victoria watched the announcement with burning anger.
Her perfectly manicured nails dug into her handbag.
"He replaced me... with her?"
She couldn't accept it.
Not after everything.
Not after all the years she'd spent building a place beside Ethan.
She leaned toward the man standing next to her.
"I want every detail about Isabella Hart."
The man nodded.
"Everything?"
Victoria's lips curved into a dangerous smile.
"Everything."
"If she has a secret..."
"I'll find it."
After the press conference ended, Ethan led Isabella into a private lounge.
The moment the door closed, she turned to him.
"You said the wedding is in one month!"
"It was necessary."
"You should have told me first."
He remained calm.
"The shorter the engagement, the fewer questions people will ask."
She crossed her arms.
"You make decisions without thinking about how they affect other people."
For the first time, Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at her carefully.
Then he said,
"I've spent my entire life making difficult decisions."
His voice carried a hint of weariness.
"But I admit..."
"I should have warned you."
It wasn't a full apology.
But it was the closest thing to one.
Before Isabella could respond, Ethan's assistant rushed into the room.
"Sir..."
He looked unusually nervous.
"We have a problem."
Ethan frowned.
"What is it?"
The assistant swallowed hard.
"Someone leaked Miss Hart's personal information online."
Isabella felt her stomach drop.
"My... personal information?"
The assistant nodded.
"Your home address."
"And the hospital where your brother is receiving treatment."
The color drained from Isabella's face.
If the media found Noah...
If Victoria was behind this...
Her family would no longer be safe.
She looked at Ethan, fear filling her eyes.
"What do we do now?"
Ethan's expression turned ice-cold.
He reached for his phone and said only four words.
"Bring the security team."
- Writer
