The morning air in the city was sharp, biting at Ariel's cheeks as she stepped out of the car. The crowd outside the studio had already gathered, hundreds of screaming fans, flashes of cameras, and security guards forming lines to keep them at bay.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Every step toward the building felt like walking into a storm. Every whisper from the crowd, every flash of light, made her chest tighten, as if the world wanted to squeeze her out entirely.
Jaxon's hand brushed hers as they approached the entrance.
"Stay close," he murmured. "We move together. Always."
Ariel nodded, forcing herself to walk with confidence. But inside, her stomach churned.
Inside the studio, the air was colder, more controlled, but no less intimidating.
Cameras lined the walls. Reporters whispered into microphones. Stylists and assistants rushed past them, all while maintaining the illusion of ease.
And then she saw her.
Maya.
The rival who had made Ariel's life a living test since the day they first met. Maya leaned against a table, arms crossed, eyes sharp, lips curved into a smile that didn't reach them. She didn't even need to speak—her presence alone was enough to make Ariel's heart hammer.
The first confrontation was subtle.
As Ariel passed, Maya's eyes followed her.
"You're looking more comfortable than yesterday," Maya said sweetly, loud enough for Ariel to hear. "Or maybe you're just getting used to the cameras."
Ariel squared her shoulders. "I'm learning."
Maya's smile widened, almost predatory. "Careful. Comfort can be dangerous. Especially when it's borrowed."
Ariel's heart skipped. Borrowed. That was exactly what she was. A life, a name, a presence that didn't belong to her. Maya knew it. The cameras knew it. The world knew it.
And now, Ariel felt it too.
The press session began, and every question, every photo, every camera angle seemed designed to test her.
"Jaxon, what's it like being with someone so… unknown?"
Ariel's hands trembled slightly, but she forced herself to smile. "It's different. Challenging. But… good."
The words were true. But they were also dangerous.
Maya watched from the corner of the room, her eyes narrowing. Every whisper from her, every glance, was another threat Ariel had to navigate.
By mid-afternoon, the first real public confrontation occurred.
A reporter shouted from the back of the room:
"Jaxon! Fans are saying your new partner is just a stunt! How do you respond?"
Ariel froze. Her mind screamed at her to run, to hide, to disappear. But Jaxon's hand brushed hers, subtle, grounding.
"She's not a stunt," he said, voice low but firm. "She's with me. And that's all that matters."
The room went silent for a heartbeat, every camera on them. And Ariel realized… she had survived the first test.
But the storm was far from over.
Later, backstage, Ariel tried to catch her breath. Her hands shook as she held her phone, scrolling through the messages that never stopped.
Another warning had arrived:
They're watching. Every step. Every word. Don't get too close.
Ariel's chest tightened. She had expected challenges. She had expected scrutiny. But this… this was more than she had prepared for.
Jaxon appeared then, leaning against the doorframe, watching her silently.
"You can't stop them," he said. "But you don't have to face it alone."
Her hands trembled. "I don't want to be seen," she admitted quietly.
"And yet you are," he said, stepping closer. "And I won't let them take that from you."
The evening event pushed her further.
A gala for charity, lavish and glittering, with cameras capturing every movement. Ariel felt exposed, under the relentless scrutiny of both fans and press.
And then Maya appeared again, seated at a nearby table with a group of Jaxon's co-stars.
"You're lucky they didn't fire you yet," Maya said softly. "Most wouldn't survive this world."
Ariel's fingers tightened around her clutch. "I don't intend to fail."
"You already are," Maya replied, voice low. "Just by existing next to him."
A chill ran down Ariel's spine. She wanted to scream, to push back, but every eye in the room seemed to be on her, every camera trained, every flash recording her.
She realized then: she couldn't run. She couldn't hide. She had to survive, no matter what.
After dinner, they stepped out into the night. The city was alive with neon, with fans, with paparazzi. Cameras flashed, phones captured, messages flew across social media faster than she could comprehend.
Ariel clutched Jaxon's arm, her knuckles white.
"Are we going to make it?" she whispered.
He turned to her, expression unreadable, but his hand found hers. "We will. Together. Always."
Her heart raced. The intensity of being so close to him, the way the world's eyes seemed to pierce them both—it was terrifying. And thrilling.
She realized she didn't want to pull away. She wanted the closeness. She wanted to feel protected, wanted to feel… alive.
Back at the apartment, exhaustion finally caught her.
Jaxon sat beside her on the couch, his presence warm and grounding.
"They'll never stop," he said quietly.
"I know," she admitted. "And I'm… scared."
He reached over, brushing her hair back gently. "Then let me carry some of that fear. You don't have to do this alone."
Ariel's chest tightened. Every touch, every word, every quiet assurance made her heart beat faster than she wanted to admit.
And she realized something she hadn't allowed herself to feel before:
She cared.
More than she should.
That night, alone on the balcony, Ariel stared at the city. Her phone buzzed constantly, but she didn't touch it.
Jaxon joined her silently. They leaned against the railing, the lights of the city casting soft shadows across their faces.
"They're not going to stop," he said softly.
"No," she agreed. "But… I think I can face it now."
He glanced at her, intensity in his eyes. "Because?"
"Because…" Her voice faltered. "…you're here."
He smiled faintly, brushing his fingers against hers. "Always."
And for the first time, Ariel understood: the line between pretend and reality was fading. The bond between them was real. Dangerous. And impossible to ignore.
Outside, the city pulsed with life, indifferent to the struggles inside. But Ariel didn't care. She knew one thing:
She wasn't invisible anymore.
And she didn't want to be.