Paris woke up buzzing.
Lina Vale's name was trending.
Photos had leaked—blurry, suspiciously timed shots of her stepping out of Caden's car late at night. Headlines spun like vultures.
> "Mystery Heiress Sleeping Her Way Into French Cinema?"
> "Billionaire Kingmaker and His New Muse?"
> "The Real Reason Lina Landed the Role?"
She sat frozen on the edge of her bed, tablet in hand. Her fingers clenched.
"Why now?" she murmured, but deep down, she already knew.
Diane.
---
[System Notification: Crisis Triggered – Public Scandal Detected]
[Main Decision Node Initiated]
Choose Your Path:
A. Deny & Defend – Launch public statement, refute rumors.
Reward: +2000 Credits | Reputation +1 | Industry Integrity Badge
Risk: Media Hostility Increases | Fanbase Growth Slows
B. Stay Silent – Let rumors fuel curiosity. Play the mystery.
Reward: +4000 Credits | Popularity +2 | Intrigue Buff (Temporary)
Risk: Industry Distrust | Future Roles Become Controversial
C. Use It – Appear in public with Caden. Let them wonder.
Embrace the role of the untouchable muse.
Reward: +7000 Credits | Popularity +3 | Influence Tier Upgrade
Risk: Personal Vulnerability Exposed | Future Romance Complications
[AI Companion: What do you want more—respect or power?]
---
Lina didn't answer immediately.
She went to the balcony. Cold air rushed her cheeks, and Paris blinked under the morning sun.
This was the kind of moment that broke people. She could feel the old version of herself trembling inside—quiet, afraid, willing to disappear.
But then she remembered that same girl walking onto set in a torn dress.
And she remembered Caden's words.
> "Then fall into me."
---
She made her choice.
Option C. Use it.
---
An hour later, she was walking into the Louvre with Caden on her arm.
Not holding hands.
Not speaking.
Just present.
His presence beside her was like a storm held in a bottle—calm on the outside, chaos inside. Every eye turned. Every camera flashed.
Lina wore black.
Red lipstick. Cold gaze. Regal posture.
She didn't look like a scandal. She looked like someone who owned the world and simply got bored with it.
And Caden…
Well, he didn't look like he minded the attention. If anything, he looked proud.
Possessive.
---
[System Notification: Choice Registered – "Use It" Selected]
[Popularity +3 | Influence Tier: Global Rising Star]
[Scandal Immunity Buff – 3 Chapters]
[Caden Affection: +2]
[AI Companion: You didn't just survive. You turned the knife.]
---
Later, in the back of his car, Caden finally spoke.
"You didn't hesitate," he said, not a question, but a fact.
"I'm tired of hiding," Lina whispered.
He turned to her. His fingers brushed her jaw, slow, reverent. "Good. Because I don't plan to hide you either."
Her heart stuttered.
Then the System chimed in, as if it too had something to say.
---
[Bonus Reward: Emotional Growth Unlocked – Self-Perception +1]
[Lina Vale is no longer a Passive Protagonist.]
---
System Log: Lina Vale
Popularity: +3
Influence: Global Rising Star
Reputation: Controversial Elegance
Emotional Growth: +1
Relationship Deepening: Caden Raye
Threat Monitoring: Diane Moreau – Response Delayed
---
End of Chapter 32
---