You Had Me, You Lost Me, You'll Never Find Me novel Chapter 85

She had run away once before. She couldn't make the same mistake twice.

"I apologize, but that is my private life."

"I can assure you, however, that the child is not Ashton's."

"Besides, the Wyatt family is completely out of my league. I know my place."

Fighting through the agonizing cramps and the urge to vomit, she offered the cameras a playful, self-deprecating smile. "Please go easy on me, everyone. I really don't want to be linked to Ashton anymore. Can we focus on my career? The finale of The Mist airs tonight! Aren't you all dying to know who the mastermind is?"

This was the reality of being a female celebrity. The public idolized their glamour, but viciously craved their breakdowns. They wanted to feast on their vulnerability.

Ashton and Reina's engagement was the ultimate proof that Sylvia was the "loser" in this narrative.

The masses wanted her to snap. They wanted tears, hysteria, or even just a hint of exhaustion to ruthlessly dissect.

That was exactly why Sylvia refused to show an ounce of pain.

The worse she felt, the more effortlessly radiant she had to appear.

One reporter aggressively shoved a microphone closer. "Who is the father? Why won't you answer? Are you hiding something because you're guilty?"

A deep chill swept through Sylvia. Her stomach twisted violently, and she had nothing to hold onto for support.

"I'm sorry, I've already answered that," she forced out, her brilliant smile beginning to crack at the edges.

The mob pressed tighter, trapping her, demanding a name.

Just then, a steady, authoritative male voice sliced through the chaos. "I am the father. And Sylvia is my fiancée."

The reporters whipped around.

A tall, striking man stood behind them, dressed impeccably in dark trousers and a crisp white shirt. He radiated elegance and intellect.

His expression was polite, yet his presence carried an undeniable, predatory dominance that demanded absolute obedience. Unconsciously, the crowd parted for him.

Julian strode straight to Sylvia. He wrapped a protective arm around her waist, subtly taking her weight so she wouldn't collapse.

He turned back to the cameras, his voice smooth and commanding.

"We kept it private because the pregnancy is still in its early stages. Sylvia and I have been exclusively dating for quite some time. We will not tolerate any baseless slander, and I'd appreciate it if you stopped bringing up her ex."

The flashbulbs erupted with renewed frenzy. One reporter shouted, "How long have you been together? How did you meet? Is this a real relationship, or are you just a PR shield?"

They clearly doubted his legitimacy.

Julian stood tall, his handsome features exuding an unshakeable confidence. He smiled softly. "It's entirely real. In fact, I was planning to propose to her today."

Even knowing she was nothing to him, she had clung to him, pouring all her love into him, treating him as the brightest light in her ordinary life.

She had loved him so incredibly much.

A crystal-clear tear spilled over her lashes.

Sylvia extended her left hand. She watched as Julian gently slid the ring onto her finger.

A profound stillness settled over her heart.

It was okay.

It was really okay.

What he refused to give her, someone else would.

Julian's public proposal instantly exploded across every headline.

Even within Ashton's corporate headquarters, it was all anyone could talk about.

"She has a boyfriend, and he is gorgeous! Why would she ever go back to her ex? Those rumors were totally fake."

"I don't know, she looked really reluctant. She was crying. Maybe he forced her."