Outside the Meridian Gallery, the red carpet was still a chaotic sea of flashing lights and shouting voices. A sleek white sedan pulled up, and Alex stepped out, looking sharp in a tailored tuxedo.
He turned and offered his hand to Anna, who stepped out with a forced smile that had been perfected through years of social climbing. As they walked toward the entrance, Alex leaned in and pulled her closer, their hands interlaced for the cameras.
The paparazzi, sensing a new angle, went into a frenzy. "Alex! Anna! Is it true? Are you two engaged?" one photographer yelled, leaning over the velvet rope.
Alex beamed, giving a confident nod to the cameras. "We are very happy to share that we're looking forward to our future together," he said, his voice loud enough to be captured by the nearest microphones. The announcement sent the crowd into another wave of camera shutters. Alex felt a surge of pride, truly believing that this public display was cementing their bond.
