MY FATED LOVE

THE SCANDAL AND THE SHIELD

Chapter 4: The Scandal and the Shield

The morning started like any other, but for Aries, the air felt different. After Julian’s apology the night before, she felt a tiny bit of peace. She sat at the kitchen island, sipping her coffee and watching the news on her tablet.

Suddenly, her heart stopped.

The headline on the screen was flashing in bright red letters: "CEO’S SECRET LOVE: JULIAN THORNE’S REAL LADY REVEALED."

Aries clicked the link with shaking fingers. There they were. Photos of Julian and Natasha. They were from a few months ago, but the article made it sound like they were taken yesterday. There were photos of them kissing in a car, walking into a hotel, and laughing at a private dinner. The article called Aries a "contract bride" and a "shield" to hide Julian's true relationship.

"No," Aries whispered. She felt a cold wave of humiliation wash over her. Even though she knew about the affair, seeing it shared with the whole world was a different kind of pain.

The Confrontation

The sound of footsteps came from the hallway. Julian walked in, already dressed for work. He saw Aries’ face and stopped.

"Aries? What’s wrong?"

Without saying a word, she turned the tablet toward him.

Julian’s face went pale. He scrolled through the photos, his eyes widening with every second. "These... these are old. This was before the wedding, Aries. I haven't seen her like this since we got married."

"It doesn't matter when they were taken, Julian!" Aries stood up, her voice trembling with anger. "The whole world is looking at these right now. My father is going to see this. Your grandfather is going to see this. I look like a fool. I look like a woman you bought just to hide your mistress."

"I’ll fix it," Julian said, his voice dropping an octave. He reached for his phone, but Aries stepped back.

"How? How will you fix it? You can't delete the internet, Julian. You told me you would handle Natasha. You told me she wouldn't be a problem. And now, she has embarrassed me in front of everyone I know."

"I didn't know she would go this far," Julian shouted, his frustration boiling over. "I thought she cared about me!"

"She cares about your money and your power," Aries snapped. "She doesn't care about you. If she did, she wouldn't be trying to ruin your life."

The Call from the Throne

Before Julian could respond, his phone started ringing. It was his grandfather, Arthur. Julian put it on speaker.

"Julian!" Arthur’s voice was like thunder. "Have you seen the news? Explain this to me right now!"

"Grandfather, the photos are old—"

"I don't care if they are from ten years ago!" Arthur yelled. "The Thorne Group’s stock is dropping. The board of directors is calling an emergency meeting. And more importantly, you have insulted your wife. Fix this, Julian. Fix it today, or I will remove you as CEO before the sun sets."

The line went dead.

Julian looked at Aries. For the first time, he looked truly scared. Not just of losing his job, but of losing the woman standing in front of him.

Julian’s Choice

Julian didn't go to the office. Instead, he called a press conference at the Thorne Plaza. He told Aries to stay home, but she refused.

"If we are in this together, I’m going," she said. "I’m not hiding like I did something wrong."

They arrived at the Plaza. There were hundreds of reporters with flashing cameras. As they walked toward the stage, the reporters shouted questions.

"Julian, is the marriage a lie?"

"Aries, did you know about Natasha?"

Julian took his place behind the microphone. He looked out at the crowd, then he looked at Aries. He reached out and took her hand. It wasn't for the cameras this time. He squeezed her hand, and she felt his palm was sweaty. He was nervous.

"I have a statement to make," Julian began. his voice was steady and strong. "The photos you saw today are from my past. I am not proud of the man I was before I met my wife. I made mistakes. But I want to be very clear: Aries is not a 'contract bride.' She is the woman I chose. She is the woman who has shown me what it means to be a better person."

The crowd gasped. Aries looked at Julian, her heart racing. Was he lying? Or did he mean it?

"As for Natasha," Julian continued, his eyes turning cold. "Our relationship is over. It has been over since the day I said 'I do.' I will be taking legal action against anyone who spreads lies about my marriage or tries to harass my wife. My focus is on my family and my company. That is all."

He didn't wait for questions. He turned and led Aries off the stage.

The Aftermath

Back in the car, the silence was heavy. Aries was still processing what had just happened. Julian had defended her in front of the whole world. He had publicly dumped Natasha and called Aries his choice.

"Did you mean it?" Aries asked quietly.

Julian looked at her. He didn't look like the cold CEO anymore. "Which part?"

"The part where you said I’m the woman you chose. That I made you a better person."

Julian sighed and rubbed his face. "I... I’m not good with feelings, Aries. You know that. But when I saw those photos, all I could think about was how much I didn't want to lose you. Not because of the company. But because I like coming home to someone who challenges me. Someone who isn't afraid of me."

Aries felt a tear slip down her cheek. "You really hurt me, Julian. Even if the photos were old, the fact that they exist hurts."

"I know," Julian said. He reached over and wiped the tear away with his thumb. It was the softest touch he had ever given her. "I’m going to spend the rest of this year—and maybe longer—proving to you that I’m worth it. If you’ll let me."

A New Enemy

While Julian and Aries were having their moment, Natasha was watching the press conference on her phone. She screamed in rage and threw her phone against the wall.

"He chose her?" she hissed. "He humiliated me for that... that girl?"

Her door opened, and a man walked in. It was Marcus—the rival billionaire who had been flirting with Aries at the gala.

"Well, that didn't go as planned, did it?" Marcus said with a dark smile.

"Julian destroyed me," Natasha cried.

"Not yet," Marcus said, sitting down across from her. "Julian thinks he won. But he just made a very big mistake. He showed the world his weakness. His weakness is Aries."

Natasha looked up, her eyes narrowing. "What are you saying?"

"I’m saying," Marcus leaned in, "that if we want to take down the Thorne Group, we don't attack Julian. We attack the thing he is starting to love. We destroy Aries."

Natasha smiled. It was a cruel, wicked smile. "Tell me your plan."

The First Date

Back at the penthouse, Julian did something he had never done before. He didn't go to his office to work late. He went to the kitchen and started looking through the cabinets.

"What are you doing?" Aries asked, walking in.

"I’m making dinner," Julian said. "Or, well, I’m trying to. I realized we’ve never had a real dinner that wasn't for business or family."

Aries leaned against the counter, watching him struggle to open a box of pasta. She started to laugh. "Julian, you’re a billionaire who can run a global empire, but you can't boil water?"

"Shut up," Julian said, though he was smiling. "I’m learning."

"Move over," Aries said, pushing him aside gently. "I’ll cook. You can chop the vegetables. But try not to cut your fingers off; I don't want to go to the hospital tonight."

They cooked together, talking and laughing for the first time without any pressure. For a few hours, they forgot about the scandal, the contract, and the cameras. They were just a man and a woman, making spaghetti in a quiet kitchen.

As they sat down to eat, Julian looked at Aries and realized something terrifying. He didn't just like her. He was starting to fall for her. And he knew that the road ahead would be full of people trying to pull them apart.