A few days later, Marie and Welder sat side by side in their living room, preparing to film a video statement that would be shared with the media and their employees. It had been a whirlwind of preparation, consulting with their PR team to craft the right message, but in the end, they decided that simplicity and honesty were the best approaches.
The camera crew had already set up, and Lorna stood nearby, ready to help if needed. But as the camera started rolling, it was just Marie and Welder, speaking directly to the audience they hoped to reach.
Marie took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she began. "We know that there have been rumors circulating about our marriage and the nature of our relationship. Today, we want to address those rumors head-on and share our story with you."
Welder continued, his tone calm and reassuring. "When we got married, it was part of a business decision to stabilize the company during a difficult merger. We knew that merging our families and businesses would send a strong message of unity, and we entered into this arrangement with the best intentions for the company in mind."
"But as time went on," Marie added, glancing at Welder, "something unexpected happened. What started as a partnership for the sake of the company turned into something real. We got to know each other in ways we hadn't anticipated, and somewhere along the way, we realized that this wasn't just a business arrangement anymore."
Welder smiled softly. "We're not perfect. We're still figuring things out, just like any couple. But the feelings we have for each other are real, and we want to be honest with all of you about that. We're not the same people we were when we entered into this arrangement, and neither is our relationship."
Marie could feel the emotion building in her chest as she looked directly at the camera. "We're not ashamed of how this started, and we're proud of the relationship we've built. We're committed to each other and to the company, and we hope you'll continue to support us as we move forward together."
When the camera stopped recording, Marie let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The room was quiet for a moment, and then Lorna gave them a small, approving nod. "That was perfect."
But the real test would come once the video was released. Would people accept their story, or would they see it as just another corporate cover-up?
That night, Marie and Welder sat together on the couch, waiting for the public's reaction. They had done everything they could to control the narrative, but now, it was out of their hands.
The first wave of responses trickled in—some supportive, others skeptical. The media picked up on the story quickly, dissecting their every word. Claire braced herself for the backlash, but surprisingly, the narrative began to shift in their favor. People seemed to appreciate their honesty, and soon, their story became less about the business deal and more about the unlikely romance that had grown from it.
As the days passed, the tension between Marie and Welder eased. They had faced the storm together, and though there were still challenges ahead, they knew they were stronger for it. Their relationship had been tested, and they had come out on the other side more united than ever.
One evening, as they sat on the balcony overlooking the city, Welder took Marie's hand and smiled. "We did it," he said softly.
Marie smiled back, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. "Yeah, we did."For the first time in a long while, the future felt bright. There were no more secrets, no more pretending. They had each other, and that was all they needed.
The city skyline glowed in the evening light, casting a warm hue over Marie and Welder as they sat together on the balcony. The turmoil of the past few weeks had finally begun to fade, but the reality of their relationship—the rawness of it—was still sinking in. Marie leaned back in her chair, feeling the weight of everything that had happened slowly lift, as if the tension they had both been holding onto was finally loosening its grip.
"I have to admit," Welder said, breaking the comfortable silence, "I didn't think we'd get through that without more fallout."
Marie chuckled softly, though the relief in her laugh was unmistakable. "Neither did I. But somehow, it worked. People actually believed us."
Welder turned toward her, his brown eyes softening in the dim light. "Because we were telling the truth."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The vulnerability of their situation had forced them into a space where they could no longer hide behind professional facades or carefully crafted plans. They had laid everything on the table—for the world, but more importantly, for each other.
"So… now what?" Marie asked, the question hanging between them like a thread.
Welder leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked out over the city. "Now we figure out what comes next. Not just for the company, but for us."
Marie's heart skipped a beat. The idea of "us" had always been tethered to the constraints of their agreement, but now it felt like they were standing at the edge of something much bigger—something real.
"You know," she began, hesitating slightly before continuing, "this whole time, I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Like, no matter what happened between us, there'd come a point where we'd have to face the fact that this was never supposed to be real."
Welder nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I felt the same way. Even when things started to change, when I realized how much you meant to me, I still thought… maybe it's just the circumstances. Maybe when all this is over, we'll go back to who we were before."
Marie turned toward him, her brow furrowing. "But do you really think that's possible? Going back?"
Welder smiled softly. "No. I don't think we can go back. And honestly, I don't want to."
His words hung in the air, resonating deeply with Marie. The idea of returning to her old life, of walking away from everything they'd built together, felt more impossible with each passing day. And for the first time, she didn't want to keep her feelings at arm's length. She was ready to let herself believe in this—believe in them.
Welder reached for her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. The familiar warmth of his touch was reassuring, grounding her in the present moment.
"We've been through so much already," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "We've navigated this whole crazy situation, and somehow, we've come out on the other side still wanting to be here—together. That has to mean something, right?"
Marie nodded, her heart swelling with the realization of how far they'd come. "It does mean something. It means that maybe we were meant to find each other in this mess."
Welder smiled, his thumb gently brushing the back of her hand. "So… where does that leave us now?"
Marie took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her emotions but also the lightness that came with finally accepting them. "I think it leaves us with a choice. We can either keep holding back, pretending like we're still figuring this out… or we can just admit that we're all in. No more 'what ifs,' no more doubts. We're in this—for real."
Welder's gaze softened, and he moved closer to her, his hand still holding hers. "I'm all in, Marie. I don't want to go back to pretending. This is real for me. You're real for me."
Marie felt a rush of emotion flood her chest. His words were exactly what she needed to hear—what she had been waiting for without even realizing it.
"I'm all in too," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't want to lose this. I don't want to lose you."
In that moment, all the walls they had carefully constructed between them came crashing down. The barriers of business, of fear, of uncertainty—they were gone. What remained was the undeniable connection they had fought so hard to deny, now fully in the open.
Welder leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that felt different from all the others. It wasn't born out of obligation or confusion—it was a kiss filled with promise, with understanding. It was a kiss that said everything they hadn't yet put into words.
When they finally pulled apart, Marie rested her forehead against his, her breath coming in soft, steady waves.
"I guess we're really doing this," she murmured, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Welder chuckled softly. "Yeah, we are."
They sat like that for a while, wrapped in each other's presence, the weight of their decision settling comfortably between them. The uncertainty that had once plagued them was gone, replaced by a quiet confidence that they were on the right path—together.