Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 477: Please enjoy the film

Meanwhile, across the city in Ethan’s high-rise condo, the atmosphere felt entirely different from the roaring energy of the red carpet.

Muted.

Tense.

Kathrine stood near the floor-to-ceiling window, the city lights spilling across her silhouette. From this height, the world looked distant—almost manageable. But the tightness in her chest refused to ease.

Behind her, Ethan adjusted the cuffs of his suit, watching her reflection in the glass more than his own.

She hadn’t moved in five minutes.

"You’re overthinking again," he said lightly, though his eyes softened.

Kathrine let out a slow breath. "I’m not."

She turned to face him, fingers unconsciously twisting together.

"Why do you even want me to come, Ethan?" she asked quietly. "It’s your premiere. Your moment. I don’t want to ruin it."

The words tasted bitter even as she said them.

Things were already complicated for her. Public opinion was fragile. Her name still carried whispers of past mistakes and misunderstandings. The last thing she wanted was to drag Ethan into another round of gossip simply by standing beside him.

But the second she finished speaking, Ethan was already in front of her.

Towering.

Close enough that she had to tilt her head slightly to meet his gaze.

"And why wouldn’t I want you there?" he asked, his tone firm but not harsh. "It’s not like the world doesn’t know we’re dating, Kathrine."

There was no hesitation in his voice.

No embarrassment.

No fear.

The day Ethan decided he wasn’t going to hide anymore, he had made it clear. He had posted their pictures himself—laughing over coffee, walking hand in hand after a late dinner, her head resting on his shoulder in the car. No cryptic captions. No secrecy.

Just honesty.

If he hadn’t hesitated then, why was she doubting him now?

Kathrine swallowed. "It’s different tonight," she murmured. "The media... they’ll compare. They’ll twist things. You know how it is."

Ethan’s jaw flexed slightly.

"I know exactly how it is," he replied. "And I don’t care."

He reached out, gently cupping her face, forcing her to look at him fully.

"You don’t ruin things, Kathrine," he said quietly. "You don’t stain my image. You don’t embarrass me."

His thumb brushed against her cheek.

"You stand beside me because I want you there. Because you matter to me. That’s it."

Her defenses faltered at the certainty in his eyes.

"You think I’d risk my career for something I wasn’t sure about?" he added, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I chose this. I chose you."

The weight she’d been carrying since the invitation had arrived eased, just a little.

"And if they gossip?" she asked softly.

"Let them," Ethan said without missing a beat. "They always do."

He stepped back just enough to offer her his hand.

"Tonight isn’t just my day," he continued. "It’s ours. And I’m not walking that carpet alone."

Kathrine stared at his hand for a moment before placing hers in it.

Maybe the world would talk. Maybe they would speculate. But this time, she wouldn’t run from the spotlight.

And judging by the way Ethan looked at her— He wouldn’t let her face it alone either.

"Fine. I even want to see how my sister deals with the scandal" she agreed and soon the couple left heading to the venue.

***

Daniel guided Anna toward the podium set at the center of the carpet, his hand resting securely at the small of her back. Cameras flashed in relentless bursts, the sound of shutters overlapping like rapid gunfire.

"Over here!"

"Daniel! Anna!"

"Look this way!"

They paused, turned slightly, and allowed the photographers their moment. Anna’s expression remained composed—calm, almost luminous beneath the lights. Daniel stood steady beside her, shoulders squared, gaze cool and controlled.

When the photographers were finally waved aside, the reporters surged forward.

Microphones lifted.

Recorders angled.

The tone shifted instantly.

"Mr. Clafford, is it true that you both are married?" one reporter called out sharply.

Daniel didn’t hesitate. He glanced down at Anna briefly—just a flicker of reassurance—before looking back at the press.

"Yes."

The single word landed clean and firm.

A ripple tore through the crowd.

"Then why wasn’t it made official earlier?" another voice pressed. "Why allow speculation about your love life? There were strong rumors you were supposed to marry Miss Kathrine. She is now publicly involved with Ethan Helmsworth. Are both sisters attempting to salvage their reputations by associating themselves with influential names, especially while your family remains under scrutiny?"

The question cut through the air, sharp and deliberate.

Even the surrounding murmurs quieted.

Anna felt the weight of it—but she didn’t flinch.

Media was never gentle. Sensationalism fed ratings. Nuance didn’t trend.

Daniel’s arm tightened slightly around her waist—not possessive, but protective. His jaw hardened, eyes darkening in warning.

But before he could respond—

Anna stepped forward.

Just half a step.

Enough to signal she wasn’t hiding behind him.

The microphones shifted toward her immediately.

Her voice, when she spoke, was steady.

"First," she said calmly, "our marriage is not a publicity tool."

The crowd stilled.

"We didn’t announce it because it wasn’t the public’s decision to make. It was ours."

A few reporters exchanged looks.

"As for my sister," Anna continued evenly, "her relationship has nothing to do with mine. Reducing women to strategic attachments under ’renowned names’ says more about the question than it does about us."

A few audible murmurs broke out.

Daniel watched her, something unreadable flickering in his eyes—pride, perhaps.

Anna didn’t raise her voice. She didn’t bristle.

She simply held eye contact.

"Our family’s challenges," she added, "are being addressed through the appropriate channels. But my marriage is not damage control. It is not reputation management."

She turned slightly toward Daniel, their hands still intertwined.

"It is a choice."

Daniel finally spoke, his tone low but unmistakably firm.

"And if anyone believes Anna needs saving," he said, gaze sweeping across the press line, "you’ve clearly underestimated her."

A brief silence settled over the press line before another reporter leaned forward, voice sharper than the rest.

"Then what about the projects you’ve been landing?" he asked, barely disguising the accusation. "Those aren’t opportunities a newcomer typically receives. Didn’t you secure them through leverage?"

There it was.

The real question.

Not about marriage.

Not about scandal.

But about merit.

Anna felt Daniel’s grip tighten slightly at her waist, but she gave his hand a subtle squeeze—silent reassurance that she would handle this.

A slow smile curved on her lips.

Of course this was what had truly ignited the public—this narrative that she had climbed using Daniel’s name, that her success was borrowed, not earned.

"Regarding that," Anna began lightly, tilting her head just enough to appear amused rather than offended, "I don’t think my husband would mind helping boost my career."

A ripple of murmurs swept through the reporters.

She glanced up at Daniel, her eyes crescent-shaped with a teasing warmth.

"But we both know," she continued smoothly, "real satisfaction comes from working hard and earning the fruit of your own labor."

Her gaze sharpened—still polite, still smiling.

"So no, I didn’t use leverage."

She paused deliberately.

"But in the future? Who knows."

She turned toward Daniel with playful sweetness. "Yes, darling?"

Daniel didn’t miss a beat.

"Yes," he replied, voice steady and unbothered. "I can do anything for you."

A stunned blink passed across more than one reporter’s face.

They had expected defensiveness.

Denial.

Distance.

Instead, they were met with unity—and boldness.

Anna wasn’t shrinking from the accusation.

She was dismantling it with confidence.

Daniel stepped forward slightly, his tone shifting into composed authority.

"If that’s all," he said politely, "please enjoy the film."

His gaze swept across the crowd, calm yet commanding.

"I’m certain you’ll find your answer to why Anna earned the role."

Not received.

Earned.

The distinction hung in the air.

Without waiting for another question, Daniel guided Anna away from the podium. Cameras continued flashing, but the tone had changed. The hostility had dulled, replaced with reluctant intrigue.

They had come prepared to corner her.

Instead, they had been disarmed.

And as the couple walked toward the entrance—unhurried, unshaken—the message was unmistakable:

Anna hadn’t borrowed her place.

She had claimed it. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

While the crowd was still recovering from Anna and Daniel’s unapologetic exchange, the energy at the entrance shifted once again.

Another sleek car rolled up.

At first, the reporters barely reacted—still murmuring about Anna’s statement, replaying Daniel’s "I can do anything for you" in their heads.

But when the door opened—

Recognition spread quickly.

Ethan stepped out first.

The flashes reignited.

He looked effortlessly composed in a charcoal suit, expression calm, almost unreadable. But this time, unlike previous events where he might have walked alone or kept his personal life understated—

He turned.

And extended his hand.

Kathrine stepped out beside him.

The reaction was immediate—but noticeably different.

No sharp questions.

No aggressive accusations.

Just heightened curiosity.

She wore a soft champagne gown that flowed around her like light itself. There was no theatrical display, no provocative statement—just quiet elegance. She stood straight, chin lifted, but there was a softness to her that contrasted the storm that had just passed moments ago.

The media exchanged glances.

After witnessing Daniel and Anna shut down speculation with confidence, the reporters seemed... cautious.

No one wanted to be the one humiliated twice in the same night.