Silas's POV
My phone had been vibrating nonstop since dawn. Each buzz felt like a nail being hammered into my skull. I rolled over in bed, squinting at the relentless notifications flooding my screen. The red notification badges kept climbing higher.
Dozens of missed calls. Dozens of text messages. News alerts piling up faster than I could process them.
I sat up, running my hands through my hair, and grabbed the phone with growing dread. The first headline made my blood run cold.
*Silas VALERIUS'Empire Secret Affair Exposed*
*Mystery Woman at Elite Gala*
*VALERIUS'Empire Empire Rocked by Cheating Scandal*
My throat tightened as I clicked the first article. There it was - that grainy photograph from months ago at the business gala. The image showed me leaning against the balcony railing, my silhouette facing Bella in what looked like an intimate conversation. The photographer had captured us from just the right angle to make it appear romantic under those dim evening lights.
