Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3584

Marina didn't see the online firestorm until she got to work the next day. By then, Nocturne had already posted on Twitter, urging fans to stay calm, ignore the baseless rumors, and stop attacking Ashen.

But instead of backing down, most people simply comforted him. They praised him for being so magnanimous, continuing to defend Ashen even now, which only painted her as all the more heartless and selfish.

Someone had even doxxed Ashen's alma mater, and rabid fans were flooding the university's forums with vitriol.

Marina scrolled through the chaos, her brow furrowing deeply. She was just about to make a call to have the source of the leak investigated when her phone rang. It was Carson.

His voice was dark and icy. "Marina, did the gallery reach out to you recently?"

Marina took a deep breath. "My editor contacted me. I did turn them down."

She had completely washed her hands of any promotional or adaptation rights regarding the comic. When she stepped away, she had signed all intellectual property rights over to Nocturne. Her absence wouldn't hinder the exhibition in the slightest, which was why her refusal had been so absolute.

Carson went quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, the dangerous edge in his voice had melted into a low, amused purr. "Did you do it for me?"

Marina arched an eyebrow. "No. I did it for Mrs. Foster."

Carson chuckled softly, his tone dripping with affection. "Then you did it for me."

The boiling anger Marina had felt just moments prior instantly dissipated at his teasing. Lowering her gaze, she murmured, "I can handle this myself."

But Carson asked, "Do you want to attend?"

He paused, adding, "Tell me the truth."

A genuine smile touched Marina's lips. "Of course I do. Some of the artists I've idolized my entire life are going to be there. Exhibiting alongside them is a literal dream come true."

"Then go," Carson said simply.

"There's no need," Marina countered.

"Save the pleasantries. Just be a little sweeter to me when I take you to bed tonight," he teased.

A flush crawled up Marina's cheeks, but after enduring his shameless flirting for so long, she had built up some immunity. "We'll see if you actually manage to satisfy me."

Carson's voice dropped an octave, heavy with seductive intent. "When have I ever failed to satisfy you?"

Marina's breath hitched. Her eyes grew hazy, and her mind went entirely blank, leaving her unable to fire back a retort.

For several seconds, the line was silent, thick with a heavy, intoxicating tension.

Marina frantically scrambled to change the subject. "I'll call Wyndham."

"Hold on. Even if you're agreeing, you can't do it right now," Carson interjected, his tone turning sharp and calculating. "If you cave immediately, it looks like they successfully bullied you into submission. That puts you in a terrible position. Don't do a thing. Leave this to me and wait for my signal."

Without a shred of doubt, Marina nodded. "Okay."