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.

all she could think about was that blasted headline. She wanted to

the back of her mind:

head, trying to 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 familiar ache

Was this the moment Adrian would break her heart, just like the

did, scribbling notes or whatever. She could feel his eyes flicking toward her every now and then, but she wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of knowing he'd caught her distracted. He probably thought she was upset, maybe even worried, but Claire wasn't about to show it. Not for him.

work, to push forward with the project, to be the professional she always was. The drama? The

over to it. Her breath caught when she saw

Adrian Saint Laurent.

heart skipped a beat.

picked up the

the line, rich and familiar, but there was

his voice a little too casual, like he was trying to cover something up. "I saw the headlines.

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

swirling together. But

took a deep

remain steady.

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

pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Claire thought maybe he was going to say something-something to make her 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

reply right

head, so many things she wanted to say, but the words got 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

you later." she finally said,