Morning came with a softness Ava hadn't known in a long time.
No nightmares. No alarms. Just the warm press of sunlight against her closed eyelids and the gentle rhythm of a heartbeat beneath her cheek.
She blinked, startled to find herself curled in Ares's arms. He was still asleep, one arm possessively wrapped around her waist, the other flung over his brow like a Greek sculpture at rest. For a man who usually radiated intensity, he looked... peaceful.
And heartbreakingly human.
Ava didn't move.
Not because she didn't want to — but because this moment, this accidental vulnerability, was rare. The kind of rare you didn't disturb. The kind of rare you memorized.
But peace, like most good things in Ava's life, was short-lived.
A phone buzzed sharply on the nightstand. Ares stirred. His fingers twitched. His eyes fluttered open—and landed on her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then, with a sleepy rasp that did unspeakable things to her heart, he murmured, "Good morning... wife."
Ava tried to glare at him, but her lips betrayed her with a smile. "You're insufferable."
"I've been called worse."
He sat up, grabbing the phone. As he scanned the screen, his features shifted from soft to hard in a heartbeat.
Ava knew that look. War mode.
"What is it?" she asked, instantly alert.
Ares looked at her. "The media knows about Liam."
Her stomach dropped. "How? We were careful."
He tossed the phone to her. Headlines were already trending:
'Ava Knight's Dangerous Ex: Scandal in the Billionaire's Bedroom?'
'Fake Marriage or Real Obsession? Sources Claim Ares Knight Was Jealous Enough to Silence a Rival.'
Ava sat up straighter, fire igniting in her chest. "They're turning me into the scandal."
"That's what they do," Ares said, already typing a reply to his PR team. "But I won't let them control the narrative."
She studied him. "You look like you've been waiting for a fight."
He gave a thin smile. "I was. But now it's not just my company or reputation at stake. It's you. And I don't lose what's mine."
A flutter — unwanted but real — stirred in her chest at those words.
Still, her voice remained steady. "I can fight my own battles, Ares."
"I know you can," he said, looking at her. "But I'm choosing to stand beside you."
The sincerity in his gaze undid her. He wasn't performing. He wasn't playing a part. This was real.
And that terrified her more than Liam ever could.
---
Later That Day – Knight Enterprises Lobby
Ava had been to Ares's office a dozen times, but today felt different.
Everyone stared. Whispers followed her down the marble corridor. Paparazzi had been camped outside since dawn, and even the receptionist had done a double take.
"Mrs. Knight," the assistant said, rising. "He's waiting for you upstairs."
She stepped into the private elevator, heart pounding. Not because of the scandal — but because this marriage, this act, was unraveling.
And she wasn't sure she wanted to stop it.
When the doors opened, Ares was on the phone, pacing with the smooth, lethal grace of a tiger in a suit.
"Yes, I want a press conference. Today. No, no more statements — we're doing this live. I want them to see our faces."
He glanced at her as she entered, and something like relief crossed his features.
He ended the call. "You're okay?"
"I should be asking you that," she said. "You're risking your reputation for me."
Ares stepped closer. "I'd risk more than that."
Her breath caught. "Why?"
His jaw flexed. "Because somewhere along the line, this stopped being about a contract."
Ava backed up a step, suddenly needing space. "Ares—this wasn't supposed to be real."
"I know," he said quietly. "But it is now."
The elevator dinged. Harriet stepped out, holding a garment bag. "Ava, darling. You're trending worldwide. Time for you to dress like it."
Ava blinked. "What?"
"Press conference in two hours," Ares said. "We do this together."
Ava opened her mouth to argue, but then… she didn't.
Because maybe, just maybe, she wanted the world to see them together — not just as a headline, but as something more.
---
Two Hours Later – Press Conference Room
The cameras flashed the second they walked in.
Ares in a crisp black suit. Ava in a sleek cream ensemble that made her look like every editor-in-chief's dream. They looked like power. Like scandal. Like a fairy tale with blood on the crown.
Ares stepped to the mic.
"Good afternoon," he began. "I won't waste your time denying rumors. Instead, I'll tell you the truth."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"My wife, Ava, was recently approached and threatened by someone from her past. A man who committed several crimes against her trust and safety. That man is now in custody. The media may try to spin this into drama, but here's what you need to know: she is the bravest woman I know."
Ava's throat tightened.
"And if anyone thinks this story will end with her being reduced to clickbait — think again."
He stepped back. Ava hesitated — then stepped forward.
"My name is Ava Knight. I married Ares under circumstances that weren't conventional. But since then, I've learned that love doesn't always show up with flowers and sonnets. Sometimes, it shows up as someone willing to protect you even when it's messy. Even when it hurts. That's what Ares has done for me. And I'll do the same for him."
Flashbulbs exploded.
But all Ava saw was the man beside her — and the question burning in his eyes.
Is this still pretend?
She didn't answer it.
Not yet.