Things had gottenpletely out of hand.


    The scandal was far beyond damage control now.


    If things had unfolded the way everyone expected, Fleming would have eventually returned, apologized, they''d have quietly signed the marriage papers, and that would have been the end of it. Gossip about the runaway groom might have flickered briefly in their social set, but it would die down soon enough.


    Instead, Alexander''s bombshell of a proposal-if you could even call it a proposal; it felt more like hijacking the whole affair-had fanned the mes into a five-rm firestorm.


    Everyone knew Fleming was to me, and now the Mercer family was about to be society''s favorite cautionary tale.


    But times had changed. People cared less about rules and reputation; living for yourself wasn''t controversial anymore, and hardly anyone thought Esmeralda was in the wrong for moving on. If anything, her decision fueled waves of admiration, envy, and excitement—especially among the women in their world. It was a story people wanted to believe in.


    The room still buzzed, a maelstrom of spection and excited whispers.


    The actor who''d been hired to make an appearance stood frozen, speechless. What about him? Was his paycheck stilling?


    Elodie watched Alexander and Esmeralda make their exit. In the end, she just gave a wry, silent smile.


    Alexander had always been a force of nature-aggressive, brash, sometimes foolhardy, but more often than not, his wild gambles paid off. That was why, in her mind, the world did truly belong to the brave.


    Esmeralda was hardly aware of being bundled into the car. She was still reeling mentally stuck at the altar, unsure if she was even awake.


    Alexander slid in beside her, snapped her seatbelt into ce, and rapped her lightly on the forehead. "ID and driver license-anything official you got?"


    She stared at him nkly. "Yeah, in my bag."


    She always carried them. Years ago, she''d been that hopeless romantic who entertained the fantasy of Fleming showing up one day to sweep her off her feet, ready to marry at a moment''s notice. She''d always wanted to be prepared for him.


    Now...


    “Perfect. Buckle up." Alexander gunned the engine.


    "Wait-where are we even going?"


    "City Hall. We''re getting married."


    "What?" Esmeralda''s breath hitched in her throat.


    Alexander flicked her a side nce. "What, nning to dodge responsibility now?"


    She waved both hands frantically. "No, no, of course not!"


    "Good. That settles it."


    "But I thought we were... just pretending?" Esmeralda felt her brain threatening to short-circuit, overheated by the day''s chaos. "Wasn''t this just for show?"


    Alexander let out a dismissiveugh. "Do I look like the type to gamble my reputation for a bit of theater? Get over yourself."


    Esmeralda blinked, stunned. "What?"


    Alexander took one hand off the wheel to ruffle her hair-rough


    enough that she nearly yelped. "Who are you trying to fool with your little games? This has blown up


    avee


    everywhere, not just in Eldermere. The entire entertainment press probably has us sshed across their headlines. I just staked my whole future-and my reputation-going public with you, and now you want to back out? Do I look like I''m running a charity?"


    He wasn''t kidding.


    Every bit of this had been nned, orchestrated for maximum effect He''d made sure it was public, that there was no opting out With this he''d cut off every path-Fleming''s, and his own.


    There was no undoing it now. Fleming wouldn''t get so much as a sliver of opportunity. Alexander knew he could be ruthless, but that was fine; all that mattered was the oue he wanted.


    Besides, Fleming was never the right man for her. Even if he''d shown up, Alexander had been ready to risk everything.


    Esmeralda was left gasping, speechless.


    It dawned on her, bit by bit-Alexander was a respected scientist with a unique pedigree, and now he''d gone viral for the messiest, most human sort of scandal in the world.


    That, if anything, was going all in.


    But-


    "You..." The question burned in her throat, impossible to say, but impossible to ignore.


    Alexander didn''t even nce her way. "Yes, I love you."


    Esmeralda went dead silent.


    This time, her overtaxed brain just gave up.


    It was too much to process. After so many years of friendship-years of seeing each other at their most human and unmorous, all slouchy pajamas and bedhead— how could this be love?


    No wonder Alexander had stayed single for years, burying himself in his research, never looking twice at anyone else.


    She felt a prickle of panic, pressing her hands to her chest. "Oh my God. When did you start lusting after me?"


    Alexander let out an amused huff.


    "Probably that morning in college,


    when you pulled an all-nighter on your thesis. I came by early and saw the first light day on your face.. That was it."