(Ethan's POV)
The invitation arrives when the noise is at its loudest.
It's not from a financial network or a crisis consultant, but from a relationship show.
Real Love Conversations with Lily.
I read the message twice before forwarding it to Mira.
The world thinks they know your story. We'd like to hear it from you.
I find her in the living room, scrolling without really seeing what's on her screen. "It's a trap," she says immediately after reading it. "It's a platform," I correct.
She looks at me like I've lost my mind. "You really think they won't twist it?"
"They might," I say calmly. "But at least this time the full version exists." She studies me carefully. "What exactly would we be doing, Ethan? Explaining ourselves?"
"No." I step closer. "Reclaiming the beginning."
That makes her pause. The café footage is still circulating. Slowed down. Zoomed in and treated like forensic evidence. They edited seconds, so we give them years.
