New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 429 Adrian Saint Laurent Headlines

ADRIAN SAINT LAURENT CAUGHT CHEATING?

WHO IS THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN IN THE PHOTO?

IS THAT NOT CLAIRE PETERSON BUT OTHER WOMAN?

Her heart broke a little, but Claire wasn't about to let Alexander or anyone else see that. Her face remained an icy mask as she handed the phone back to him.

"It's fake," she said flatly.

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "It's not."

Claire's glare could've melted steel. "Why are you so sure about it, huh? Are we here to work, or to gossip?" she snapped. "Because I have a mountain of actual work waiting for me back in London."

Alexander studied her face, probably hoping to catch a flicker of emotion. Too bad for him-Claire had perfected the art of poker face. She might've been crumbling inside, but she was practically unreadable on the outside. With a sigh, Alexander relented. "Fine. Let's get back to it."

"Please," Claire muttered, already moving toward the task at hand. She wasn't about to let some tabloid drama derail her day—at least, that's what she told herself. Inside, though? That headline was like a splinter under her skin.

Claire didn't say a word. She just turned and walked toward the desk, her heels clicking sharply on the floor. Inside, her mind was racing, but she wasn't going to give Alexander the satisfaction of seeing it. She wasn't going to let this fake tabloid story mess with her focus. At least, that's what she told herself.

But deep down? It was like a splinter under her skin. The image of Adrian's face, the other woman in the photo, and the way the headlines had slapped her across the face... it was hard to shake.

things that needed to be done, and yet, all she could think about was that blasted headline. She wanted to see the full set

herself she couldn't let it bother her. It wasn't worth it. But then there was that nagging thought in the back of her mind: the

dispel the fear that crept up, the one that whispered this is not your first time dealing with betrayal. Claire didn't want to go down that road again. She didn't want to feel that

this it? Was this the moment Adrian would break her

Alexander, who was still doing whatever it was he did, scribbling notes or whatever. She could feel his eyes flicking toward her every now and then, but she wasn't about

do? She was here to work, to push forward

flitted over to it. Her

Adrian Saint Laurent.

skipped a beat.

picked up

Adrian's voice crackled through the line, rich and familiar,

like he was trying to cover something up. "I saw

hit her harder than she'd expected, and her stomach dropped again. She could feel the

swirling together. But

She took a deep breath

remain steady.

said, her voice cold and controlled. "It's

feel better, to reassure her. But instead, he sighed. "Listen, I didn't know about any of this," he said quickly. "I don't know how those photos got out, but you've got to believe me, Claire. It's

didn't reply right away.

stuckin her throat. Instead, she just stared at the phone in her hand, feeling her fingers tighten around it. Her mind kept jumping back to the photo of the woman with him, the way Adrian had looked in the picture, and

she finally said, the