Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Withdrawal
She smiled, placing food on his plate and chiding him for eating too little.
He chuckled and retorted that she ate too much, saying he had no intention of raising a little piggy.
Their relationship was just that—a sham.
In front of their families, they played the part of a sweet, happy couple. But as soon as they left home, they were no more than strangers.
Now, the act had gone on long enough. It was time for the final take.
He smirked mockingly. "Let’s go."
"Okay." She smiled and nodded, but her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
’This is the last time we’ll have to act,’ she thought. ’I have to play my part perfectly, help him find Maggie Monroe, and then disappear from his life for good.’
She stepped forward, looped her arm through his, and they walked out of the house together.
「At the press conference.」
Henry Archer sat on a stool, his head bobbing as he fought to stay awake.
He hadn’t gotten to sleep until almost three in the morning, and then he’d had to rush over to the company at six.
It was nearly seven o’clock now, but the boss still hadn’t shown up.
He was so tired of waiting he was about to fall asleep.
"Henry Archer, what’s going on? Wasn’t this supposed to start at seven? Why isn’t Tristan here yet?" Lily Shaw clicked down from the stage on her high heels, a worried look on her face.
Henry Archer impatiently pulled out his phone to check the time. "It’s not even seven yet, is it? Relax. The boss said seven, so it’ll be seven. He’s never late."
Speak of the devil. The words had barely left Henry Archer’s mouth when a female reporter started to cheer.
"He’s here! Tristan Grayson is here!"
"Yes, it’s Tristan!"...
Hearing this, Henry Archer snapped fully awake. He stood up, raised an eyebrow at Lily Shaw, and said smugly, "See? I told you the boss is never late."
"Yes, yes, you’re the best," Lily Shaw replied, nodding helplessly.
Mika Summers watched as a huge crowd of reporters swarmed them. She was terribly nervous, her hands clutching Tristan Grayson’s arm tightly.
Tristan Grayson sensed her fear. He glanced down at her, leaned in close to her ear, and his thin lips parted slightly. "Don’t be nervous. Just act like we’re at home."
Startled by his sudden words, she looked up at him in astonishment.
However, in the instant she turned her head, her lips happened to press against his.
His lips were cool to the touch, and for a moment, she couldn’t react.
"Oh my God, they’re kissing! Get the shot!" the reporters cried out in surprise.
What followed was the incessant flashing of cameras aimed right at them.
She pulled back in a panic, wanting to explain the misunderstanding to Tristan Grayson.
But Tristan Grayson suddenly wrapped a strong arm around her, pulling her entire body into his embrace.
Before she could react, Tristan Grayson gave a wicked smirk and announced to everyone present, "I’ve invited you all here today to announce something. This young lady beside me and I, Tristan Grayson, are already married."
"Married?"... The reporters’ shocked voices rose up once again.
Tristan Grayson completely ignored the reporters’ questions. He gave a cold smile and continued, "From this day forward, I will be retiring from the entertainment industry to live as an ordinary husband with the woman I love." With that, Tristan Grayson grabbed her hand and left.
It wasn’t just the reporters who were too stunned by Tristan Grayson’s words to react; even she couldn’t process what had just happened.
By the time the reporters snapped out of it, Henry Archer had already called security to block their path.
Lily Shaw, who was supposed to be the host, stood frozen on the stage, clutching the script she had prepared in advance.
’Their Tristan is actually quitting the entertainment industry???’