The sun had barely set when the world seemed to close in on them.
Damian paced the penthouse like a caged beast. His empire was crumbling, his inheritance on the brink of being stripped away, and the woman he loved… was caught in the crossfire.
Selina stood by the window, her hands trembling as she watched the paparazzi swarm below like vultures circling their prey.
"This can't go on, Damian," she whispered, her voice barely holding together. "If we keep running, more people will get hurt. You… you'll lose everything."
Damian stopped dead in his tracks. "None of that matters if I lose you!"
Selina turned to face him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
"But what if staying together destroys you? Destroys both of us?"
A painful silence hung between them.
And then, with her heart breaking in every beat, she made the decision that would haunt her forever.
"Let's end this… publicly."
Damian's eyes darkened instantly. "What did you say?"
Selina swallowed hard, forcing the words through the knot in her throat.
"We'll fake a breakup. I'll hold a press conference. Deny everything. Say it was all a mistake—that I was just clinging to you to climb the social ladder."
A sharp, bitter laugh escaped Damian's lips. "You think I'll let you stand in front of the world and humiliate yourself like that?!"
Selina took a shaky step closer, her voice breaking.
"It's the only way to protect you… to protect us."
Before he could stop her, she pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his lips—one final, searing memory to hold onto.
"Goodbye, Damian."
She turned and walked away, never once looking back—because she knew if she did… she wouldn't be able to leave.
The Next Day – Global Press Conference
Selina stood under the harsh lights, every camera trained on her tear-streaked face.
Her voice cracked as she spoke into the microphone.
"Everything you saw… it was all a misunderstanding. I was foolish, thinking I could be worthy of a man like Damian Lu."
She forced a bitter smile, her heart shattering with every word.
"From today onward… we have no connection."
Behind the scenes, unseen by the cameras… Damian watched from the shadows, his fists clenched, his eyes burning with heartbreak and betrayal.
"If this is the game you want to play, Selina…" he growled under his breath. "…then I'll be the one to rewrite the ending."
Fade to black.