By the time we pulled up to the restaurant, the night felt like an ambush dressed in diamonds. Cameras clicked like gunfire. Fans, paparazzi, influencers… every one of them waited to see whether the billionaire and his scandalized girlfriend would crumble or kiss. I wanted to turn back, crawl into bed, bury myself under a blanket of noodles and denial. But Teddy opened the car door like this was just another Tuesday, like the world wasn't burning around us.
He stepped out first. Perfect suit, perfect smile, perfect everything. Then he turned, offered me his hand. The flashes went wild, the noise deafening. "Smile," he murmured.
I did. But it felt like my teeth were made of glass.
We walked in together, fingers interlocked, the restaurant's marble foyer glowing with gold light. T
