CHAPTER 259

The press conference had certainly done its job, and for a while, things calmed down. The tabloids moved on to new stories, and my scandal was reduced to old news. I focused on work, throwing myself into my upcoming projects and grateful that the movie’s production team had stayed behind me. It felt like things were finally slipping back into normalcy, though the idea of a “relationship” with William lingered in the background.

A week after the press conference, William and I agreed to meet at a quiet cafe to catch up and talk about our progress. Despite everything, William and I had managed to keep things comfortable. He was good company, and his calm presence was a relief. But I couldn’t deny that pretending to date him left a strange feeling that I couldn’t shake.

When I walked in, William was already at a corner table, sipping coffee and reading something on his phone. He looked up, smiling warmly as he saw me.

“Margarette, it’s good to see you. How’s everything on your end?”

“Bus