"A perfect shot."
The photographer lowered his camera, giving the couple an approving thumbs-up as he spoke with genuine admiration.
Emma Johnson felt heat creeping up her cheeks. She tried to slip out of Liam Williams' embrace, but he held her firmly, showing no intention of letting go just yet. She shot him an angry glare, which only deepened the smirk on his face.
After five wardrobe changes and countless romantic poses with Liam, Emma felt completely drained. Despite the compliments from the crew around her, all she wanted to do was complain. She couldn't help thinking how tough it must be to be a real celebrity.
Thankfully, she only had to do this once.
After hours of shooting, the session finally wrapped. The journalist invited Emma and Liam into a spacious room for a final interview.
Emma was confused. She thought the shoot was all that was required. She looked at Liam, her eyes asking, What's going on?
"Journalists sometimes make last-minute requests," he explained quietly.
"But I didn't agree to this," she whispered back, her voice laced with irritation.
Liam leaned in and murmured something in her ear. Emma had no choice but to relent, silently reminding herself that this interview was worth a hundred thousand dollars.
"Mr. Williams, I heard you and your wife met through a misunderstanding. Could you share the story of your first encounter?" the female reporter asked, maintaining a professional demeanor, though her eyes sparkled with unmistakable curiosity. After all, the sudden marriage of the city's most eligible bachelor had captured the public's imagination.
"I remember going to a coffee shop with a friend. My wife suddenly appeared in front of me, mistaking me for her blind date. Even though I realized the mistake, I fell for her at first sight. So I asked her out, and she agreed," Liam said smoothly.
Emma wanted to roll her eyes at his version of events. Ask her out? They had gone straight to get married that same day. If she told the real story, the reporter's jaw would hit the floor.
"I never expected you to fall in love at first sight, Mr. Williams. How romantic! And you, Mrs. Williams, did you also fall for your husband at first sight?" the reporter turned to Emma.
Emma wanted to say no, but she forced a happy smile and nodded. "Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn't be sitting here right now."
As she answered, she silently reassured herself that this was all for the sake of Pinnacle Corporation's stock stability and to clear her debt. None of it was real.
The reporter continued with a barrage of gossipy questions—how Liam had proposed, how they handled arguments after marriage. Emma was barely holding it together. Fortunately, Liam remained as steady as a rock, calmly deflecting each question with ease. Emma couldn't help but admire his composure.
Finally, after half a day of shooting, Emma and Liam said their goodbyes to the journalist. As Liam went to get the car, the female reporter looked at Emma with envy.
"Mrs. Williams, you are a very lucky woman."
Emma was taken aback by the comment. She saw Liam's Land Rover pulling up and smiled at the reporter before walking away. A lucky woman?
That was just an illusion. Once inside the car, she stared at Liam, lost in thought. Their marriage hadn't started with love—it was just a transaction.
How could such a marriage ever last?
A bitter smile tugged at her lips, but she shook her head, pushing the thought aside for now.
On the morning of Isabella Miller's press conference, Emma woke up early. She skipped breakfast and drove straight to Isabella's apartment. When she arrived, her aunt was cooking in the kitchen, and Isabella was sitting in the living room, looking visibly nervous.
Isabella looked surprised to see Emma so early. "Cousin, you're here."
Emma nodded and sat down beside her. "It's okay. If a reporter asks something you can't handle, my agent and I will step in for you."
Her reassurance seemed to calm Isabella down a little. After a while, her aunt finished breakfast. Emma and Isabella ate together before saying goodbye. Then Emma drove Isabella to the Grand Orchid Hotel, where the press conference would be held. Isabella's agent had already arrived and made all the arrangements. She was waiting for them at the entrance.
Seeing Emma and Isabella arrive together, the agent was visibly relieved. It would help dispel any doubts the journalists might have about the company's support for Isabella. She was still a valued artist.
Emma accompanied Isabella to the backstage green room. It wasn't time for the formal meeting yet, and Isabella needed to get her makeup done. Emma stayed with her until the reporters had all arrived. Then, she walked with a still-nervous Isabella out of the green room.
When they entered the hall, Emma saw that over a hundred media outlets had filled every seat. The flashes started going off the moment they spotted Isabella. The journalists were especially surprised to see Emma there.
Emma stood beside Isabella and her agent, watching her cousin sit in front of the reporters. Seeing that Isabella's face no longer looked so tense, Emma felt that she had managed to calm her nerves.
Perhaps out of respect for Isabella's recent loss of her fiancé, the reporters' questions were relatively gentle. Watching Isabella answer calmly, the agent, who had been on edge, finally relaxed. Emma felt the same way.
The nearly two-hour press conference finally came to an end. But when Isabella talked about Noah Taylor, she couldn't hold back her tears. When she came off the stage, her eyes were red and swollen.
Seeing this, Emma quickly stepped forward and, together with the agent, helped Isabella leave the hall.
Some reporters tried to follow Emma to ask more questions, but they were stopped by the bodyguards Liam had sent. Emma had initially objected to Liam sending so many guards, but now she realized he had been right to be cautious.