Chapter 7

Amelia’s POV “Everett!” He looked up from his desk, his chiseled features as unreadable as ever. His eyes flicked to me, cold and distant, and he didn’t say a word. I walked over, trying to keep my tone soft and sweet. “Everett, Aunt Maria saw all those news articles online lately. She’s completely misunderstood the situation. I tried to explain, but she wouldn’t listen. Now she’s even talking about picking a date for our wedding.” I laughed nervously, twisting the hem of my dress. “I couldn’t talk her down… so I came to you.” He leaned back in his chair, raising an eyebrow with a disinterested expression. “That’s all?” he asked, voice flat. “If that’s the issue, I’ll talk to her myself. No need for you to stress over it.” The cold response hit harder than I expected. My smile froze. That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. Not at all. I steadied myself with a breath. “Actually… I also wanted to ask about all the buzz online. You have the power to shut those stories down easily, Everett. Why