Chapter 90 — The Announcement
The ring felt heavier the next morning.
Not physically.
Physically it was light — clean platinum, smooth edges, nothing dramatic.
But every time Amber moved her hand—
It caught the light.
And with it—
Reality.
She stared at it for a full thirty seconds while standing in front of the bathroom mirror.
Still there.
Still real.
Not a dream.
Not alcohol.
Not emotional insanity.
A ring.
On her finger.
From Alexander Wilson.
Her stomach flipped.
"…This is insane," she muttered to her reflection.
Her reflection didn't argue.
It just looked… softer.
And that annoyed her more than anything.
She splashed cold water on her face.
Focus.
Control.
You're Amber Gareth.
You don't get flustered over jewelry.
Except this wasn't jewelry.
It was a statement.
Ownership.
Commitment.
Danger.
And God help her—
She hadn't taken it off once since last night.
Not even to sleep.
Which was extremely suspicious behavior.
The bedroom door opened behind her.
She didn't turn.
Didn't need to.
She felt him.
Alex's presence had become unfairly recognizable.
Like her body had memorized him.
"You've been staring at it for five minutes," he said.
She jumped slightly. "Were you timing me?!"
"Yes."
"You're creepy."
"You're panicking."
"I am not panicking."
"You reorganized the bathroom shelf twice."
"…Shut up."
He stepped closer behind her.
Their eyes met in the mirror.
God.
That was dangerous.
Standing like this.
Domestic.
Quiet.
Normal.
Like they'd been doing this for years.
His tie hung loose around his neck.
Sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms.
Hair slightly messy.
Unfairly attractive.
Morning Alex should be illegal.
"Take it off if it bothers you," he said calmly.
Her hand instinctively curled into a fist.
Protective.
"I didn't say it bothered me."
"You're staring like it insulted you."
"I'm evaluating it."
"For five minutes."
"Maybe I'm thorough."
His hand brushed lightly against hers.
Warm.
Steady.
He looked down at the ring.
Then at her.
"If you ever feel trapped," he said quietly, "take it off."
Her chest tightened.
"I don't want you wearing anything you don't choose."
There it was again.
That stupid thing he did.
Making everything about choice.
About freedom.
About her.
Why couldn't he just be controlling like normal rich men?
It would've been easier to hate him.
"…You're really bad at being toxic," she muttered.
"I try."
She rolled her eyes.
But her hand didn't move.
Didn't even consider removing the ring.
Instead—
She intertwined their fingers.
Without thinking.
Without planning.
Just instinct.
Alex froze slightly.
Like the contact surprised him too.
Then his grip tightened.
Gentle.
Secure.
God.
This was dangerous territory.
Very dangerous.
Because this didn't feel like a contract.
It felt like home.
And home was something she'd never trusted herself to have.
His phone buzzed.
Reality crashed back.
He checked it.
Jaw tightening.
"Already?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Bad?"
"Media caught wind of the board meeting."
"Of course they did."
"They're calling for confirmation."
She groaned. "I hate journalists."
"You dated one once."
"That was a mistake fueled by poor life choices."
A pause.
"…He wrote that article about you, didn't he?"
Her smile faded slightly.
Yeah.
That one.
The betrayal.
The humiliation.
The public dissection of her life like she was gossip, not human.
The reason she stopped trusting anyone near her heart.
Alex noticed instantly.
He always did.
His thumb brushed her knuckles slowly.
Grounding.
"I'll handle it," he said.
She shook her head.
"No."
He frowned. "Amber—"
"I'm not hiding."
Her voice was firmer now.
Steel creeping back in.
"If we're doing this… we do it properly."
"You don't owe them anything."
"I'm not doing it for them."
She met his eyes.
"I'm doing it for us."
Silence.
Soft.
Heavy.
Real.
"I don't want whispers," she continued. "I don't want rumors. I don't want people saying you were forced or I trapped you."
Her chin lifted.
Confident.
Fearless.
"I want them to see that we chose each other."
God.
She had no idea what that did to him.
Alex's expression darkened slightly.
Not cold.
Not distant.
Something warmer.
Dangerously warmer.
"Then we make it official," he said.
"How?"
"Press conference. Noon."
Her eyes widened. "Today?!"
"Yes."
"Alex, normal people plan these things—"
"I don't like giving the media time to invent stories."
"…You're terrifyingly efficient."
"I've been told."
She sighed.
Then squared her shoulders.
"Fine."
"Fine?"
"Fine."
He studied her carefully. "You're sure?"
No hesitation this time.
"…Yeah."
Her fingers brushed the ring again.
Still there.
Still warm.
Still real.
"I'm tired of hiding," she admitted.
"Good."
"Also if anyone calls me a gold digger, I will physically fight them."
"I'll have security."
"Coward."
A faint smirk.
God, that smirk.
They moved together toward the elevator.
Side by side.
Shoulders almost touching.
Comfortable.
Natural.
Dangerously natural.
The car ride to headquarters was different this time.
Not quiet.
Not tense.
Just… settled.
Like something had clicked into place.
Like they'd crossed an invisible line neither of them could uncross.
When the building came into view—
Amber saw it.
Crowds.
Bigger than yesterday.
Way bigger.
News vans.
Cameras.
Drones.
Oh God.
"Are they filming a war?" she muttered.
"In a way," Alex replied.
The car stopped.
Security waiting.
Doors opening.
Noise exploding.
Flashes.
Shouting.
Questions overlapping.
"Is it true—?!"
"Are you engaged—?!"
"Miss Gareth show your hand—!"
She flinched instinctively.
Then—
Alex's hand slid into hers.
Firm.
Certain.
The same way as yesterday.
But this time—
She squeezed back first.
They stepped out together.
Cameras went feral.
The ring caught the light.
Gasps.
Actual gasps.
Someone shouted, "Zoom in on her hand!"
Amber almost laughed.
Animals.
Absolute animals.
Inside, the press hall was already packed.
Stage.
Podium.
Wilson Group logo behind it.
Too official.
Too real.
Her pulse thundered.
"You good?" Alex murmured.
"No."
"Same."
She blinked. "…You're nervous?"
"Yes."
That startled her more than the cameras.
"You?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
His voice dropped.
Quiet.
Honest.
"Because this is the first decision I've made that actually matters."
Her breath caught.
"…Alex."
He looked at her.
Not CEO.
Not president.
Not untouchable.
Just a man.
Scared of losing one person.
Her.
And suddenly—
Her fear shrank.
Because if he was risking everything too…
Then maybe she wasn't alone in this fall.
The host announced them.
Microphones live.
Cameras rolling.
Thousands watching.
Alex stepped up first.
Calm.
Commanding.
Untouchable.
But his hand never left hers.
"Thank you for coming," he began.
Room silent instantly.
"Rumors have circulated regarding my personal life."
Flashes.
Pens scribbling.
Voices hushed.
"I don't usually address private matters publicly."
He glanced sideways.
At her.
Softly.
"But some things deserve clarity."
Her heart pounded so hard she swore the mic could hear it.
Then—
He lifted their joined hands.
The ring caught the light.
The entire room gasped.
And Alex Wilson said clearly, steadily, without hesitation—
"Amber Gareth is not a rumor."
A pause.
"She's my fiancée."
The world exploded.
But Amber didn't hear any of it.
Because for the first time in her life—
Someone had chosen her.
Publicly.
Unapologetically.
Without fear.
And somehow…
That terrified her more than heartbreak ever had.
Because losing love hurt.
But having it?
Having it meant you finally had something worth protecting.