Chapter 10: The Viral Storm
Chapter 10: The Viral Storm
The breaking point arrived at the annual Manhattan Harbor Charity Gala, an event Evan had to attend to secure funding for his embattled company. Leah wore a stunning emerald gown, but her smile was brittle. The edited audio clip haunted her every step.
Victoria was there, circling like a shark. Mid-way through the evening, a prominent society blogger published a "live update" that instantly went viral across social media. It featured a strategically angled photograph of Evan and Victoria standing in a secluded hallway of the venue. In the photo, Victoria’s hand was on Evan’s chest, and he was leaning in close. The caption read: “Old flames burning bright? Looks like duty can’t replace true love for this billionaire.”
Phones buzzed across the ballroom. Whispers erupted. Leah, standing near the ice sculpture, saw a group of women pointing at her, their eyes filled with pity and mockery.
Evan, who had actually been forcefully telling Victoria to stay away from his wife and daughter, saw the blogger’s post too late. He shoved past the crowd, his eyes scanning frantically for Leah. But when he found her, the look of utter devastation on her face stopped him dead.
"Leah, it’s a setup. That photo—"
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"I heard the audio, Evan," Leah interrupted, her voice shaking, tears shining in the chandeliers' light. "I heard you tell your father that we were a burden. That I forced your hand."
Before Evan could process what she was talking about, the flashing cameras of the paparazzi blinded them. Leah turned and fled through the heavy brass doors into the freezing New York rain, leaving Evan standing alone in a sea of prying eyes.
