Three days later, Nicholas called a press conference at White Tower.
Emma stood behind the podium, Nicholas beside her, the flash of cameras blinding. The room was packed… journalists from every major outlet, entertainment reporters, gossip columnists who had made careers out of destroying women like her.
She was terrified, but she didn't show it.
"Thank you for coming," Nicholas said. "I have two announcements."
He looked at Emma. She nodded.
"First, as you all know, I'm engaged to Emma Rhodes. She's the woman I love. She's the woman I'm going to marry. And she's the woman who's going to take this industry by storm."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Emma stepped forward, her hands steady on the podium.
"I'm an actress," she said. "I've been acting my whole life… just not on camera. Haha. " Every laughed
" Well…" she got serious. "…I've played the role of the quiet stepdaughter, the invisible girl, the woman who doesn't take up space." She paused. "I'm done with those roles."
A reporter raised her hand. "Miss Rhodes, isn't it true that you have no formal training? No experience? That you're only getting this opportunity because of your relationship with Mr. White?"
Emma smiled. It was not a nice smile.
"I auditioned for the lead in Fractured Light three days ago. I got the role because I earned it. You can ask Daniel Cross yourself, he's in the third row."
The cameras swung toward Daniel, who raised his hand in acknowledgment.
"I've been in this business for twenty-five years," Daniel said. "I've worked with Oscar winners and first-time actors. Emma Rhodes is the real deal. She got the role because she was the best person for it. Period."
The room erupted. Questions flew. Emma answered them… calm, poised, unshakeable.
When the conference ended, Nicholas guided her away from the podium.
"You were magnificent," he murmured.
"I was terrified."
"You hid it well."
She looked back at the crowd of journalists, already typing their stories, already shaping the narrative. Tomorrow, the world would know her name.
"It's done," she said.
"It's just beginning." Nicholas's hand tightened on her back. "Are you ready?"
Emma looked up at him, at this man who had given her a chance to be seen.
"I've been ready my whole life."