Although the photo was fuzzy, those who knew her could easily recognize her in the photo, trapped in an unintentional embrace. Did someone manage to get a photo of Andrew and her?

She texted back a simple “yes” to Emma, who immediately forwarded a news article to her.

The article was cunning, not naming names but painting a vivid picture of deceit and secret trysts. And the Internet detectives?

They were on it like sharks on chum. They didn't miss a beat connecting Lilah to the blurred scandal. But the man? Now that was a puzzle they chewed on with gusto, guessing him to be some young heartthrob from the silver screen.

It wasn't an unusual occurrence, it seemed. Some wealthy women enjoyed keeping younger men. But how could this be the case for Lilah who was already with someone like Gerard?

The whispers grew louder. Some pointed out Lilah's absence from Gerard's extravagant birthday bash.

“Maybe she's out of her league," they murmured. The chatter online ballooned into a full-blown inquisition, with every armchair critic piecing together Lilah's history as if it were a jigsaw puzzle.

The comments rolled in like waves. "Gerard's announcement of their relationship back then? It was probably just a PR stunt for Hualand.

A convenient cover-up, don't you think?"

"And Lilah, a top designer? Sure, but is that enough to sparkle in Mr. Harris' eyes?"

“Remember Ruby? Gerard was probably fed up with her chasing him, so he parades Lilah around as his ‘girlfriend.'"

"I'm with the first thought; it's a mismatch!"

"And let's not forget, Lilah wasn't even on the guest list for the party. No way they're an item."

"Could it be that Gerard's feelings have cooled off? Maybe the allure has worn thin for him. Lilah is a stunner, sure, but Gerard's eyes have wandered through a galaxy of beauties."

“Does it even matter? They're on different paths now, and look at the stir it's caused. Gerard's love life is making headlines for the first time. Lilah's already lucky enough," someone else commented.

Lilah shook her head; the Internet had turned into a circus. She fretted over whether Gerard would stumble upon these rumors and let them twist his perception of her.

Then, like a summer storm, Andrew's outrage broke the tension. "What are they calling me? A kept man, really?"

His discovery on social media had stoked the flames of his anger.

"You're keeping abreast of the trending topics," Lilah quipped, despite the situation.

“With charm and wealth in my corner, how can I be a kept man? These trolls are vile," Andrew grumbled, visibly irritated.

Lilah exhaled a weary sigh. "Is now the time to play the blame game?

Looks like we need to tread carefully from now on."

Andrew's remorse was as clear as day in his ocean-blue eyes. “I'm sorry for the mess," he admitted, genuinely troubled.

Before Lilah could reply, a knock on the door sliced through the tension. Her curiosity piqued, she wasn't ready for the person who would step through-Gerard, of all people, stood there.