The moment the elevator doors opened, the noise hit them instantly.
Camera flashes exploded endlessly across the massive conference hall while reporters crowded behind security lines, microphones raised high toward the stage. The giant screens behind the podium displayed Ethan Devereaux's company logo beside Yuna's newly announced partnership announcement.
Voices echoed everywhere.
"Mr. Devereaux!"
"Yuna over here!"
"Look this side!"
The entire hall brightened repeatedly under the aggressive white flashes of cameras.
For a brief second, Yuna froze near the entrance.
The pressure felt overwhelming.
Hundreds of eyes watching her.
Judging her.
Waiting.
But then Ethan's hand tightened around hers.
Yuna looked toward him immediately.
His expression remained calm and unreadable as always, his posture straight and confident beneath the black tailored suit. He looked like someone completely built for rooms like this.
Powerful.
Untouchable.
And somehow, standing beside him made Yuna feel steadier too.
Together they walked toward the stage.
The moment they stepped fully into view, the reporters became louder instantly.
Questions started flying everywhere before they even reached the podium.
"Yuna! When did you decide to return to acting?"
"Mr. Devereaux, is this a business partnership or something personal?"
"How long have you two been together?"
"What happened to BK Group after Chairman Blackwood's death?"
"Is Luca Blackwood taking over the company?"
"Yuna, how are you emotionally after your father's passing?"
The flashing lights became almost blinding.
But Yuna kept walking calmly beside Ethan.
The confidence she wore today surprised even herself.
Maybe because Ethan remained beside her the entire time.
Maybe because after surviving everything else—
A press conference no longer felt terrifying enough to break her.
Finally they reached the center stage.
Ethan pulled the chair for her first before sitting beside her calmly.
The reporters immediately noticed that small gesture.
More whispers spread across the hall instantly.
"He's treating her differently…"
"Are they dating?"
"They look close…"
Yuna exhaled slowly before lifting the microphone carefully.
For one second—
Silence settled.
Then the questions began again properly.
"Miss Blackwood," one female reporter asked first, "after disappearing from the entertainment industry for so long, when exactly did you decide to resume your career?"
Yuna held the microphone carefully before answering calmly.
"A few weeks ago."
Camera flashes exploded again.
"I spent a long time away from work because of personal matters," she continued softly. "But acting was always something I loved deeply. I think… I finally reached a point where I wanted to stand on my own again."
Her answer immediately spread murmurs through the room.
Another reporter stood up quickly.
"Then why did you choose Mr. Devereaux's company specifically?"
Yuna glanced briefly toward Ethan beside her.
He remained completely calm while listening.
Then she smiled faintly before answering.
"Because I trust him."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The reporters practically leaned forward after hearing that.
Trust him.
Not business benefits.
Not opportunities.
Trust.
Another reporter immediately raised his voice.
"Miss Blackwood, what exactly is your relationship with Mr. Devereaux?"
The room became quieter immediately afterward.
Everyone waited.
Even Ethan's employees standing nearby looked toward the stage carefully.
Yuna's heartbeat sped up slightly.
She slowly looked toward Ethan beside her.
He met her gaze calmly.
No pressure.
No demand.
Just silent patience.
Then Yuna looked back toward the media and answered softly—
"He's someone important to me."
The room exploded into louder noise instantly.
Cameras flashed wildly.
Questions overlapped again.
"What does that mean exactly?"
"Are you dating?"
"How long have you been together?"
"Did your relationship begin before this partnership?"
Security struggled slightly to calm the growing chaos.
Meanwhile Ethan simply adjusted the microphone calmly before finally speaking himself for the first time.
And instantly—
The entire room went silent.
Because when Ethan Devereaux spoke, people listened.
"Our personal lives," he said evenly, "are not the main purpose of today's conference."
His voice remained coldly professional again now.
"But yes," he continued calmly, "Yuna will officially resume work under Devereaux Entertainment."
Reporters wrote frantically.
Ethan continued.
"She will continue both acting and modeling activities."
One reporter quickly interrupted again.
"Mr. Devereaux, what about BK Group? After Chairman Blackwood's death, who will inherit the company?"
The atmosphere shifted subtly.
Yuna felt it immediately.
Her father.
Even now the topic hurt.
But the world still didn't know the truth behind him.
To them—
He was only a dead businessman.
Nothing more.
Yuna slowly picked up the microphone again before Ethan could answer.
"My brother Luca," she said quietly, "will take responsibility for BK Group moving forward."
The reporters immediately scribbled notes rapidly.
"So Luca Blackwood is officially becoming the new president?"
Yuna nodded softly. "Yes."
Another reporter raised his voice quickly.
"Then what will happen to you, Miss Blackwood? Will you still remain connected to BK Group?"
A small silence followed.
Yuna's eyes lowered briefly before she answered honestly.
"I think… my life is moving in a different direction now."
There was sadness hidden beneath her calm answer.
Because despite everything—
BK Group was still connected to her childhood.
To her mother.
To memories before everything became ruined.
Even if her father destroyed the company's image secretly—
A part of Yuna still mourned what their family used to be.
Ethan noticed her expression immediately beside her.
His eyes softened almost invisibly.
Another reporter suddenly stood.
"Miss Blackwood, there are rumors saying Chairman Blackwood's death involved dangerous circumstances. Do you have any statement regarding that?"
The room became tense instantly.
Yuna's fingers tightened slightly around the microphone.
Because this question stood dangerously close to the truth.
Ethan immediately answered instead.
"Chairman Blackwood's death remains a private family matter."
His voice turned colder now.
"And speculation will not be tolerated."
The warning inside his tone became instantly clear.
The reporter immediately sat down quietly afterward.
Yuna glanced toward Ethan briefly.
He looked calm externally.
But she knew him well enough now.
He was protecting her again.
Protecting the truth.
Because if the world discovered what her father truly was—
A criminal.
A man involved in trafficking children and illegal crimes—
Everything would explode.
The media would destroy the Blackwood name completely.
And Yuna would suffer beside it.
So for now—
The truth remained hidden.
Another reporter carefully changed the topic.
"Miss Blackwood, many people are surprised seeing you return so suddenly after your father's passing. What gave you the strength to come back?"
Yuna went quiet briefly after hearing that.
Then slowly—
She looked toward Ethan again.
Everyone noticed immediately.
And for the first time during the conference, Ethan's expression changed visibly softer under the cameras.
Yuna smiled faintly before answering honestly.
"Someone reminded me that my life didn't end just because painful things happened."
The room fell quieter.
Her answer sounded simple.
But emotional.
Real.
Then another reporter suddenly asked loudly—
"Mr. Devereaux, are you planning to marry Miss Blackwood?"
The entire hall exploded instantly afterward.
Some reporters gasped.
Others practically stood from their seats.
Cameras flashed wildly toward both Ethan and Yuna now.
Yuna's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Even she hadn't expected such a direct question.
For the first time today—
The great Ethan Devereaux actually paused briefly.
Only for a second.
But Yuna noticed.
The room waited breathlessly.
Then Ethan slowly picked up the microphone again.
His expression remained calm.
Controlled.
But his eyes shifted toward Yuna before he answered.
"Yes."
The single word shattered the entire room into chaos.
Reporters began shouting over each other instantly.
"What?!"
"When?!"
"Was there already a proposal?"
"How long have you planned marriage?"
"Miss Blackwood is this true?!"
Yuna stared at Ethan in shock herself now.
Because he hadn't warned her about saying that.
Ethan looked completely calm beside her despite the explosion around them.
Then finally—
He added quietly into the microphone—
"I intend to marry her."
The atmosphere became absolute madness afterward.
Flashes exploded nonstop.
The news spread through the hall instantly.
Meanwhile Yuna could barely process what just happened.
Her heart pounded violently while staring at Ethan beside her.
He still looked calm.
Like he hadn't just publicly changed both their lives forever.
Then finally—
Slowly—
Ethan turned his head toward her.
And beneath the camera flashes, the screaming reporters, and the chaos of the world watching—
His expression softened only for her.
Just slightly.
But enough for Yuna to realize something terrifying.
He meant every single word.