Staring at the blazing headline, Adrian felt a primal roar build in his chest. “Secret love child exposed!” the tabloid screamed. His jaw tightened. Red blurred his vision. Eleanor had crossed a line, a flaming chasm of deceit. Immediately, his phone buzzed, a barrage of calls and messages. His merger deal, moments from finalization, hung by a thread. He knew he needed Elara. This wasn't just his reputation anymore. This involved his son, their family. Across the city, Elara’s world shattered the moment her assistant rushed in, tablet in hand. “Mrs. Adrian, you need to see this,” the assistant stammered, pale. Elara's gaze fixed on the screen. Her breath hitched. The picture of Adrian, blurry, with a child’s silhouette beside him, dominated the page. Her son. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Adrian's call came through. His voice, usually calm and measured, was a low growl of controlled fury. “Elara, we have a problem. A big one.” “I know,” she managed, her own anger a cold, steady flame. “Meet me at the office. Now. Bring Liam,” Adrian commanded, no room for argument. Setting the phone down, Elara grabbed her keys. Liam, sensing the sudden tension, gripped her hand tighter. They arrived at Crawford Tower, the atmosphere thick with dread. Adrian was already in the war room, his tie loosened, sleeves rolled up. His PR team looked grim. “Eleanor went for the jugular,” Adrian stated, his voice flat. Elara’s eyes, usually so calm, now held a fierce, protective glint. “She won’t win.” Adrian paced, his steps echoing in the hushed room. “We can’t deny Liam. That’s foolish. But we can’t let her paint him as some sordid secret.” Together, they brainstormed. The PR experts offered damage control, deflection. But Adrian shook his head. “No. We turn this.” His eyes met Elara’s. “We make this a celebration.” Her brow furrowed. “A celebration?” “A joyous reunion,” Adrian clarified, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “A family reunited. A father’s love, finally public.” She nodded slowly, understanding dawning. The audacity of it. To take Eleanor’s poison and turn it into nectar. “It’s risky,” his lead PR consultant warned. “It might appear disingenuous.” “It’s less risky than letting her narrative destroy everything,” Elara countered, her voice firm. Hours blurred into a tense haze of drafting, editing, and strategic planning. Liam, thankfully, was kept unaware, playing quietly in a separate office. Finally, the joint statement was ready. A carefully worded declaration, brimming with crafted emotion. It spoke of Adrian and Elara’s enduring bond, their journey back to each other, and the bittersweet joy of introducing their son, Liam, to the world. It framed the

Chapter 35: A United Front