Chapter 281

Serena's POV

I watched as all the fury drained from Lucas's face, replaced by utter astonishment-no, pure joy. He transitioned from disbelief at what he'd heard to obvious elation.

"Are you serious?" His voice trembled with barely contained excitement.

I couldn't bear the intensity of his gaze and glanced away. "I just... I just want to give Stella a complete family..."

"I do," Lucas responded with sudden solemnity.

"What?" I looked at him, confused.

"Weren't you just proposing to me?" His eyes sparkled with mischief. "I'm answering-I do."

"..." This man really knew how to turn situations to his advantage.

"Come on," he tightened his grip on my hand. "Let's go show the world who we are to each other."

I couldn't help but smile. He was so eager to have our relationship made public.

Hand in hand, we walked toward the courthouse exit. The reporters below had grown impatient waiting for us, sending people several times to check if we'd somehow slipped away. Logically, there wasn't another exit route, unless the court had provided us with some secret backdoor.

The journalists had been waiting with increasing frustration when we suddenly appeared, fingers intertwined. I could read their expressions of delight, practically saying, "Thank goodness you didn't leave!" Our appearance instantly energized the crowd of reporters, who quickly surrounded us, leaving no space to maneuver.

My four security guards had been waiting outside the courthouse all along. They were perceptive enough not to interfere with the intimate moment between Lucas and me, keeping their distance. Now, seeing me encircled by journalists, they moved to intervene, but I signaled with my eyes for them to stand down.

Today, I actually wanted to speak with the press.

"Mr. Harrington, you and Ms. Sinclair emerged holding hands-does this mean what we think it means?"

"Mr. Harrington, that was a masterful performance in court. How are you feeling right now?"

"Mr. Harrington, what exactly is your relationship with Ms. Sinclair? Are you a couple? And what about Rachel Thorne?"

The journalists' voices overlapped in a cacophony, making it nearly impossible to distinguish individual questions. But it didn't matter-today I had made a clear decision. In front of the world, I was ready to acknowledge this man.

"One question at a time, please," I said firmly, surprising the reporters with my willingness to engage. Normally, I'd rush past with a tight smile or no expression at all.

A hush fell over the crowd. Lucas's hand tightened around mine, his thumb tracing small circles against my skin.

"Ms. Sinclair," one particularly bold reporter called out, "are you two officially together?"

I felt a moment of hesitation-not because I was uncertain of my feelings, but because once spoken, these words would ripple through our worlds. The StarRiver business interests, the Harrington empire, two children whose lives would forever change... so many complications from one simple truth.

I looked up at Lucas, finding his steel-gray eyes fixed on me. Not pressuring, simply waiting. He would accept whatever I chose to say.

"Yes," I finally answered, my voice stronger than I expected. "Lucas and I are together."

The explosion of camera flashes nearly blinded me. Lucas's arm slid protectively around my waist.

"What about the rumors connecting Mr. Harrington to Rachel Thorne?" someone shouted.

Before I could respond, Lucas stepped forward slightly. "Those rumors are completely unfounded. Rachel is the godmother to my children and nothing more. Serena is the woman I love, the only woman I've loved for a very long time."

My heart skipped at his public declaration. He'd never been so explicit about his feelings, especially not to a crowd of strangers with recording devices.

Lucas's POV

I stood before the swarm of reporters, my heart pounding against my chest as camera flashes burst like lightning around us. The moment I'd planned for years had finally arrived. Serena stood beside me, her presence giving me the strength I needed. Four security guards formed a protective barrier around us, but they couldn't shield us from the hunger in the reporters' eyes.

"Mr. Harrington, can you explain your relationship with Ms. Sinclair?" a reporter shouted over the chaos.

I looked directly into the cameras, letting my mask fall away completely. "I fell in love with Serena ten years ago."

The crowd erupted, microphones thrust forward as questions flew at me from every direction. I remained calm, my gaze steady. This chaos was exactly what I wanted - the truth deserved to be heard by everyone.

A female reporter with sharp eyes pushed to the front. "What about your engagement to Rachel Thorne? The wedding was scheduled for today."

I felt a flicker of anger but controlled it. The time for hiding was over.

"Let me be clear," I said, my voice dropping an octave, each word measured and deliberate. "Milo and Stella are Serena Sinclair's children."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Camera shutters clicked frantically. From the corner of my eye, I saw Serena's slight intake of breath, but she remained composed beside me, her chin lifted slightly.

I continued, "I won't explain the details. What matters is that we genuinely love each other." I turned toward Serena, my eyes softening as they met hers. "As for Rachel, it was purely a political arrangement I couldn't refuse."

The crowd's murmurs grew louder. A male reporter with glasses pushed forward.

"Mr. Harrington, don't you think your behavior is... undignified? Taking a family to court and publicly humiliating your fiancée on your wedding day?"

I felt heat rising in my chest. My voice remained controlled, but ice crept into my tone.

"Is your moral compass broken?" I asked, staring him down. "The Thornes are criminals. You think I should protect criminals? Shield someone who set me up to take the fall? Am I supposed to be a fool or a patsy?"

The reporter faltered under my gaze. I drove my point home.

"The Thornes used me from the beginning. I simply used their manipulation to achieve my own goals and protect my life and property." I straightened my tie, a habit when I'm containing my emotions. "This isn't about revenge. It's about justice."

A young woman with curly hair called out, "But weren't you using Rachel's feelings for you? That seems cruel."

I nearly laughed. The naivety of the question was almost endearing.

"You think Rachel didn't know her family used me as a scapegoat?" My voice carried effortlessly across the crowd. "When I was overseas, Rachel managed everything. She knew exactly what was happening."

I saw understanding dawn on some faces, confusion on others. Let them piece it together.

An older reporter raised his hand. "Mr. Harrington, your arrest caused quite a stir. The timing seems-"

"Calculated?" I smiled thinly. "It was."

I turned to Serena, my expression softening. "Do you know why I arranged to be arrested on my wedding day with Rachel?"

Serena's lips curved into a knowing smile that made my heart skip. "You needed a legitimate reason to postpone the wedding without raising suspicion. Being arrested for fraud - charges that would later be dropped - created the perfect distraction while you finalized the evidence against the Thornes."

Her intelligence never failed to amaze me. The ease with which she followed my thinking, anticipated my moves...

"Damn it," I said, unable to hide my admiration. "Is it good or bad having a wife this smart?"

A genuine laugh escaped her lips, and the sound warmed me more than the spring sunshine beating down on us.

The press conference continued, but the energy had shifted. What had begun as an ambush transformed into something else - the unveiling of a truth too long hidden.

As we concluded, I placed my hand lightly on the small of Serena's back, guiding her toward our waiting car. For the first time in public, I didn't have to hide my feelings for her.

"You okay?" I asked quietly as we walked away from the cameras.

"Better than okay," she whispered back. "Though I think you enjoyed that a little too much."

I smiled, not bothering to deny it. "Ten years, Serena. Ten years of waiting to tell the world you're mine."

The security team closed around us as we approached the car. The door opened, and I helped her inside before sliding in next to her. As the door closed, shutting out the shouted questions and camera flashes, I finally took her hand in mine.

"It's done," I said simply.

In her eyes, I saw the same relief I felt coursing through me. No more hiding. No more pretending. The truth was out there now, unavoidable and undeniable.