The Rumor That Changed Everything
1388 Words
CHAPTER ONE
"Lydia! Over here!"
"Miss Martinez, one picture, please!"
"Is it true you're getting married?"
The dazzling flashes of cameras illuminated the entrance of the Grand Sapphire Hotel as reporters struggled to get the perfect shot.
Luxury cars circled the driveway while celebrities, politicians, and influential business leaders disappeared through the hotel's golden doors. Tonight was the Annual Entertainment Excellence Awards—the biggest entertainment event of the year.
And everyone was waiting for one woman.
A sleek black Rolls-Royce Boat Tail came to a smooth stop before the red carpet.
The chauffeur quickly stepped out and opened the rear door.
A pair of diamond-studded silver heels touched the ground.
Then Lydia Martinez emerged.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Dressed in a midnight-blue couture gown embroidered with thousands of shimmering crystals, Lydia looked breathtaking. Her long black curls cascaded over one shoulder, and a sapphire necklace rested elegantly against her neck. Every graceful step she took drew another explosion of camera flashes.
She acknowledged the crowd with a warm smile before stopping beside a young girl holding out a notebook with trembling hands.
"I want to be just like you one day," the little girl whispered.
Lydia knelt until they were at eye level.
"No," she said gently.
"I want you to become someone even greater."
The little girl's face brightened instantly.
"I will!"
Lydia smiled, signed the notebook, and continued toward the entrance.
Just before she reached the doors...
"Miss Martinez!"
She turned.
A reporter pushed his microphone forward.
"Is it true you're secretly engaged to billionaire CEO Iris Logan?"
The smile disappeared from Lydia's face.
The noisy crowd suddenly fell silent.
She removed her sunglasses slowly.
"Excuse me?"
"The internet says you're preparing to marry the heir of the Logan family. Can you confirm the rumors?"
For a second...
Lydia honestly thought the reporter had mistaken her for someone else.
She laughed softly.
"I think you've got the wrong person."
"So the rumors are false?"
"They're completely ridiculous."
Without another word, she walked inside the hotel.
The moment the doors closed behind her, she looked at Aira.
"What engagement?"
Aira frowned.
"I have no idea, Ma'am."
Lydia immediately unlocked her phone.
Almost every major news outlet displayed the same headline.
NATION'S FAVORITE CELEBRITY LYDIA MARTINEZ REPORTEDLY SET TO MARRY MYSTERY BILLIONAIRE.
Her brows slowly knitted together.
"Who started this rumor?"
Before Aira could answer, Lydia's phone rang.
Mom Calling...
She answered immediately.
"Good evening, Mom."
Evelyn didn't waste a second.
"Where are you?"
"At the awards."
"Leave."
Lydia blinked.
"...What?"
"I said leave the event."
"Mom, I haven't even received my award."
"You don't need the award."
Something about her mother's voice immediately made Lydia sit up straighter.
"Mom... what's wrong?"
There was a long silence.
Then Evelyn finally spoke.
"In two days..."
"...you're coming home."
Lydia sighed.
"My schedule is already full."
"I'm not asking about your schedule."
"Mom—"
"You are coming."
There was no anger in Evelyn's voice.
Only certainty.
Before Lydia could respond...
The call disconnected.
She lowered the phone slowly.
For reasons she couldn't explain...
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
Somehow...
She knew this wasn't just another family visit.
She had no idea that within the next forty-eight hours...
Her entire life would be turned upside down.
At the headquarters of Logan International...
The atmosphere inside the executive boardroom was so quiet that even the sound of a pen tapping lightly against the polished mahogany table echoed across the room.
Every executive sat perfectly still.
At the head of the table sat Iris Logan.
Cold.
Composed.
Untouchable.
Months of negotiations had finally led to this moment.
One signature.
A single stroke of his pen would seal a multi-billion-dollar partnership and make business history.
Just as he reached for the contract...
His phone vibrated.
Ethan, his personal assistant, glanced at the screen before looking up.
"Boss..."
Iris didn't lift his eyes from the contract.
"What is it?"
"It's your mother."
The room instantly became quieter.
Everyone knew there were only two people capable of interrupting Iris Logan during a meeting.
The President...
Or Sophia Logan.
Without another word, Iris stood and stepped onto the private balcony.
"Hello, Mom."
"I need you to come home," Sophia said.
"I'm in the middle of a billion-dollar meeting."
"I know."
"I can't leave."
"You can."
Iris rubbed his forehead.
"You've never interrupted my work unless something was seriously wrong."
A brief silence followed.
Then Sophia said softly,
"Nothing is wrong."
"I simply think..."
"...it's finally time for you to get married."
Iris froze.
"...Married?"
"Yes."
"Mum, first you call me to cancel a billion-dollar meeting..."
"...and now you're telling me I'm getting married?"
"And that's not all."
Iris frowned.
"There is more?"
"Yes."
"In two days, you're going to the airport."
"...To pick up your future wife and her mother."
Silence.
For the first time in years...
The great Iris Logan was completely speechless.
He let out a slow sigh before looking toward the city skyline.
Somewhere out there...
A woman he had never met was apparently about to become his wife.
Little did he know...
That woman had reacted almost exactly the same way.
Neither of them wanted the marriage.
Neither of them believed in love.
But fate...
And two stubborn mothers...
Had already made the decision for them.
As the luxury sedan sped through the glittering city, Lydia remained unusually quiet.
Aira glanced at her from the passenger seat.
"Ma'am... are you alright?"
Lydia didn't answer.
Her phone vibrated.
A new message had arrived from the private investigator she had hired months ago.
Investigation Complete.
She frowned.
Curious, she opened the encrypted file.
The first photograph appeared.
Then another.
Then another.
Each swipe made her expression colder.
Hotel reservations.
Private dinners.
Luxury gifts.
Photographs of Adrian laughing intimately with another woman.
There were videos.
Bank transfers.
Phone records.
Enough evidence to destroy every lie he had ever told her.
The silence inside the car became almost unbearable.
Aira slowly turned around.
"Ma'am?"
Lydia locked the phone and stared out of the window.
For a long moment...
She said nothing.
Then a quiet laugh escaped her lips.
Not because she found anything funny.
But because she suddenly realized how foolish Adrian must have believed she was.
"What an asshole..."
Aira's eyes widened.
She had rarely heard Lydia swear.
"Should I call security?"
Lydia calmly shook her head.
"No."
"The police?"
"No."
"But he betrayed you."
Lydia finally looked at her.
"And?"
Aira froze.
"If I lose control now..."
"...what changes?"
Silence.
"Nothing."
She leaned back against the leather seat.
"Tell Daniel to drive to Martinez Global Headquarters."
"The office?"
"Yes."
"Aren't we going home?"
"Oh..."
Lydia smiled.
"I'll go home."
"But first..."
"...I'm going to make sure that lying bastard has absolutely no idea what's coming."
For the first time that night...
Real anger flashed through her beautiful hazel eyes.
Not loud.
Not emotional.
Cold.
Calculated.
Dangerous.
Fifteen minutes later, the car stopped beneath the towering glass headquarters of Martinez Global.
The building still glowed against the midnight sky.
Inside her executive office, Lydia stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
Without turning around, she spoke.
"Aira."
"Yes, Ma'am?"
"Call Mr. Raymond."
"Our legal adviser?"
"Immediately."
"And schedule the finance director for eight o'clock tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"I also want every account Adrian has access to frozen."
"Every document he has ever signed reviewed."
"And every contract connected to his name delivered to my desk before sunrise."
Aira silently nodded.
She had expected tears.
Instead...
Her boss was preparing for war.
Just then...
Lydia's phone rang.
The screen lit up.
My Love
Adrian.
The man who had just spent the evening pretending to be the perfect boyfriend.
Aira looked at the screen.
"Will you answer it?"
Lydia stared at the name for several seconds.
Then calmly pressed Decline.
Almost immediately...
Another message arrived.
«Baby, where are you? Dinner is getting cold. I miss you already. Drive safely.»
Lydia read it once.
Then smiled.
"So convincing..."
Without replying...
She deleted the message.
Then she whispered to herself,
"Keep pretending..."
"The higher you climb..."
"...the harder you're about to fall."
Outside...
Rain began falling softly over the sleeping city.
And somewhere else...
A man was still smiling...
Completely unaware...
That by this time tomorrow...
His entire world would come crashing down.
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