The scandal broke on a Wednesday.
Front page.
Anonymous tips.
A photo from Paris, zoomed in and twisted like a crime scene.
The story read:
"Heiress Caught in Scandal with Young Professor."
Smeared with the usual garbage—power imbalance, manipulation, rumors of grades exchanged for favors.
The press fed on it like wolves.
But Sid?
She'd already made her call.
---
Press Conference — Friday Morning
She stepped out of the car in white.
Not cream. Not beige.
White.
The color of innocence.
The power move no one expected.
Behind her?
An attorney.
A PR strategist flown in from Geneva.
And Theo—stone-faced, in a suit that made him look like he belonged on the cover of Time.
The cameras exploded.
Questions flew.
But Sid didn't flinch.
She stepped up to the mic.
"I know what you've heard," she began. "But let me give you a few facts."
She smiled.
Soft. Icy.
"I'm not a victim. I'm not a child. I'm a legal adult, a graduate-level candidate, and I have not received any academic benefit tied to Professor theo."
Pause. Let the silence settle.
"What we share is personal. Private. And yes—complicated. But it is not predatory, it is not unethical, and it is not your narrative to twist."
She turned to Theo for just a second.
Then back to the crowd.
"Coming from a position of power means people assume you're always in control. But today, I'm telling you—I chose him. I love him. And I will not apologize for it."
A heartbeat.
Then she dropped the last card.
"We'll be filing formal complaints against the media outlets responsible for defamation. Effective immediately, my legal team will be taking over. Thank you."
She walked off.
Cameras stunned.
Paparazzi silenced.
Because she didn't deny it.
She owned it.
---
Back in the car, Theo stared at her like he was seeing her for the first time.
"You just rewrote the whole story."
She leaned back, laced her fingers through his.
"No," she said softly.
"I just reminded them who they're dealing with."