Under the Veil I Rule (Amara) novel Chapter 418

The questions started with the plot of the series, but the reporters quickly shifted their focus to Liliana’s personal life. It was to be expected. Their goal was to generate clicks and traffic, and the more explosive the story, the better. Liliana’s love life was far more sensational than any discussion about the script.

Liliana, ever the professional, deftly sidestepped each question. She handled the inquiries with a perfect balance of charm and ambiguity, neither confirming nor denying that she and Finnian were getting married, leaving plenty of room for speculation.

This, of course, was not what the reporters wanted. They wanted a definitive answer. They grew more aggressive, shouting over one another, throwing out increasingly pointed questions. The press conference was on the verge of becoming a one-woman show about Liliana’s private life. Cedric, the director, smilingly intervened, steering the conversation back to the series.

Just then, a reporter from a well-known national paper raised his hand. “Where is the head writer, Amarise? I see a seat for her. Is she late?”

There was indeed an empty chair on the stage. Since Amara was not only the writer of *Whispers of Winter* but also the ex-wife of its main investor, Mr. Everly, the gossip surrounding the three of them was a hot topic. Her absence was notable.

“Didn’t Amarise have some kind of accident?” a male reporter with glasses asked maliciously. “Weren’t there photos of her online? Maybe she’s too ugly to show her face, so she decided not to come.”

“Amarise is Mr. Everly’s ex-wife, right? And now he’s dating Ms. Porter. Is she just so jealous and ashamed that she couldn’t bear to be in the same room as Ms. Porter?”

Amara had been a screenwriter for several years. She was known for creating complex, morally gray characters and had a dedicated following, but also a fair number of detractors. She was a controversial figure on her own, and when you added in the mystery of her appearance and her past marriage to Finnian, she was a magnet for speculation. In her absence, she had become the main topic of conversation.

Keith, who was already on edge with worry, felt his anger boil over as he listened to the vicious attacks on her appearance. He had never cultivated a particular public persona, preferring to be himself. His natural charisma and easygoing nature had given him a reputation as a cool, independent, but generally mild-mannered star.