Meanwhile, Lilian's fans were already spinning their own fairy tale online.
As the CEO of Blackwood Dominion Enterprises, Alexander was no stranger to media attention. He appeared frequently in financial headlines—young, powerful, impeccably dressed.
His striking features, tall stature, prestigious family background, and spotless public record had long made him a favorite among netizens. Many praised him as the ideal man—the definition of success.
Lilian was equally admired. Beautiful, accomplished, and internationally recognized, she carried herself with elegance and confidence. In the public's eyes, they were perfectly matched—talent and status, beauty and power.
The internet exploded with excitement.
Within days, fans created the hashtag #BlackwoodSummerLove, and it quickly gained traction. Their follower counts surged. Fanfiction writers crafted romantic backstories for them, artists designed matching profile pictures, and video editors pieced together clips from Lilian's old dramas with Alexander's business interviews—manufacturing a love story that felt almost real.
One username caught my eye: "Are CEO Hawthorne and Lilian Summer secretly married already?"
The comments were filled with speculation. People claimed that while Lilian was abroad, Alexander had remained single—no rumors, no scandals. To them, it meant only one thing: he had been waiting for her.
To outsiders, it was a beautiful story.
To me, it was unbearable.
Each comment felt like a blade carving into my chest. My fingers trembled around my phone, my throat tightening as if the air had thinned.
I was his wife.
So why did I feel like the outsider in his story?
I took a deep breath, forcing my emotions back under control. After switching off my phone, I stood and headed straight for the CEO's office.
I knocked lightly.
"Come in," Alexander's voice responded from inside.
I pushed the door open and stepped in. He looked up from his desk, his gaze settling on me.
"Do you need something?" he asked evenly.
"Yes." I met his eyes. "I don't think handing this matter over to CCPR was the right decision."
"And why is that?" His tone turned cool.
"Because this doesn't just affect the new product line—it impacts Éclat Beauty as a whole. You're the CEO. If the public believes you used your position to secure the ambassadorship for her, it won't end with this scandal. In the future, every time our brand is mentioned, her name will be dragged into it. That will damage both the product and the company's reputation."
A faint, cold smirk tugged at his lips. "Is that truly your concern? Or are you speaking out of personal motives?"
"Personal motives?" I frowned, genuinely taken aback. "Why would you say that?"
"Alicia," he said flatly, "you already leaked the information online. What explanation could you possibly give me now?"
"I leaked the information? Are you serious right now?"
"Who else could've done it?" Alexander shot back. "What's your next step—announce our marriage so Lilian gets labeled a homewrecker and her career is ruined?"
A hollow smile curved my lips. "Isn't that what you all think she is? And you truly see me that low? Why would I resort to such dirty tactics?"
"Then tell me, Alicia—who else has the influence, the access, the connections to pull this off? Lilian has nothing to do with the issues between us. Leave her out of it. She's innocent. If you were unhappy with our arrangement, you should've come to me directly, she doesn't even know about our marriage."
Innocent.