Evelyn's POV
The atmosphere inside the conference room changed so quickly that it almost felt unreal.
A few moments earlier, smiles had filled the room.
Contracts had been signed.
Hands had been shaken.
Photographs had been taken.
Everyone had been celebrating the beginning of a partnership that promised to reshape careers, markets, and international opportunities.
Now those same people were staring at their phones.
And at me.
The difference was impossible to ignore.
The warmth that had existed only minutes ago seemed to disappear little by little, replaced by confusion, curiosity, and something even more dangerous.
Doubt.
I remained seated while Liora stood frozen beside me.
Her phone was still in her hand.
The headline remained visible on the screen.
The photograph beneath it felt even worse.
Because it looked convincing.
A single image rarely told the truth.
Yet people rarely cared about truth when a more entertaining story existed.
