Sophie and Ethan did not waste a single minute of time to strategize against Damien's attack. The article had sparked a new wave of speculations, and the media frenzy was relentless. They decided to hold an emergency meeting with their PR teams the next morning.
Sophie arrived at the conference room early, her mind racing. Ethan joined her a few minutes later, his usual calm demeanor giving way to a rare display of agitation.
"This is personal for him," Ethan said, pacing the room. "He's not just trying to hurt you; he's trying to tear us both down."
Sophie nodded, her expression hardening. "And he's not going to win. We're going to make sure of that."
The PR teams filed in, armed with laptops and notepads. Clara, Sophie's lead publicist, took charge of the meeting.
"Here's where we stand," Clara began, projecting a series of charts and headlines onto the screen. "The interview helped humanize you both, but Damien's accusations have reignited doubts. Public sentiment is split—about 60% think this is a smear campaign, but the remaining 40% are either undecided or siding with Damien.
"What do we do to shift those numbers?" Ethan snapped, voice cutting.
Clara hesitated. "We must remind people that you are true to yourselves. Bring to life your work, your values, and your devotion to each other. But we will have to bring attention to Damian's accusations because not talking about them would give out the impression you are hiding something."
The Live Confrontation
Later that week, Sophie and Ethan sat with a popular morning host show, clearing the air of such controversy. With hosts famous for friendly, sharp-tongued questioning, these hosts did not beat around the bush in approaching the subject:
"Damien Cross has had some pretty high-stakes stuff to say regarding your relationship," started one host looking at both of them directly before speaking. "How do you feel about what has been said by him?
Sophie took a deep breath. "It is disappointing, but not surprising, actually. Damien and I broke up many years ago. And although I've moved on with my life, it seems that he hasn't. His words are baseless and say a lot more about him than about me.
Ethan leaned forward, his jaw tight. "Let me be clear: Sophie and I are in this together. We're not here to play games or prove anything to anyone. We care about each other, and no amount of mudslinging is going to change that."
The interview continued, with Sophie and Ethan presenting a united front. By the end, the audience applauded, and social media buzzed with support.
Damien's Countermove
As it seemed to quiet down, Damien took things a step further and leaked a batch of private e-mails from when they first got together, trying to spin them in a manner that made Sophie seem manipulative.
One e-mail read:
"Damien, we need to make this work—for both our sakes. Let's focus on what's important."
The media went wild, deeming the message proof that Sophie had a history of using relationships for personal gain.
When Sophie saw the headlines, her chest tightened. "He's painting me as a villain," she muttered, scrolling through the articles.
Ethan grabbed her hand, his expression fierce. "We'll fight this. Damien's only proving how desperate he is."
Turning the Tables
Sophie and Ethan took the initiative. With the assistance of their lawyers, they sent a cease-and-desist letter to Damien, threatening him with a lawsuit if he did not stop spreading lies.
Around the same time, Sophie wrote an op-ed for a major publication titled "Taking Control of My Story."
In it, she wrote:
"For years, I've let others define my narrative. I've stayed silent while rumors spread and assumptions were made. But today, I'm taking back my voice. My relationship with Ethan is real, and I refuse to let anyone undermine it or my integrity."
The op-ed went viral, with readers praising Sophie's courage and strength.
Mrs. Blake's Ultimatum
Amidst the chaos, Mrs. Blake made another appearance—this time, at Ethan's apartment.
"I told you," she said, her voice icy as she turned to Sophie. "The press is devouring you alive, and it's only going to get worse. If you care about my son, you'll end this now."
Ethan stepped forward, his voice firm. "Mom, stop. Sophie and I are in this together. If you can't accept that, then maybe you're the one who needs to step back.
Mrs. Blake looked at her son, hurt flashing in her eyes. But she said nothing more, turning and leaving without another word.
Sophie sank onto the couch, her hands trembling. "What if she's right?" she whispered.
Ethan knelt beside her, taking her face in his hands. "She's not. We've come this far, Sophie. We're not giving up now."
The Anonymous Tip
Just when they thought it was over, an anonymous email came to Sophie's inbox.
"If you want the truth about Damien Cross, meet me at the old Riverwalk Café tomorrow at 8 PM. Come alone."
Sophie gazed at the message, her heart pounding. It could be a trap-or it could be the breakthrough they needed to put an end to Damien's smear campaign once and for all.
She showed the email to Ethan, who immediately protested. "You're not going alone. It's too risky."
"But what if it's real?" Sophie countered. "What if this is our chance to finally clear my name?"
Ethan hesitated before nodding. "Fine. But I'm coming with you. We'll figure it out together."