Maria:
The rumors were louder in the morning.
I knew that before I even unlocked my phone. It kept vibrating against the nightstand in short, irritated bursts like it had something personal against me.
When I finally picked it up, the screen lit up with notifications.
Lily: six messages.
Two missed calls from my mother.
A handful of gossip alerts I definitely never subscribed to.
I opened one of the links.
A photo filled the screen—Daniel stepping out of the car at the charity auction, my arm hooked through his. His hand rested lightly against my back, guiding me forward like we’d done that a thousand times before.
The camera had captured the moment perfectly.
Too perfectly.
The headline underneath read:
Walker Heiress and Rothfield CEO — A New Couple or Something More Strate
