To Love A Villain-Chapter 197: Tell The World

>>Hael

"Is your decision final?" Mom and I sat across from each other in the lounge of our house. There was a tense atmosphere between us but that was expected because of how she found out about me and Amber

I smiled

But I loved it how Orenya said we were married. We are married, of course! But not publicly in this world.

"Yes," I replied, "And nothing will stop me," I told her, "Not even you," I said it so firmly, it caught her off guard. She stared at me in disbelief.

Well, I’m sure this was a shock to her. We never had an argument or an issue like this before.

Then let out a sigh, "Fine," She looked exhausted as she placed her hand on her forehead and rubbed her temples, "Then solve everything and do it right."

I smiled

"I will,"

***

>>Amber

I sat curled up on the couch, my knees drawn to my chest, trying to block out the conversation around me. My family was talking about Hael again. They’d been doing that a lot lately, ever since the rumors about him secretly being married started swirling around. It was impossible to escape it—Hael was everywhere, his name, his face, his presence. And every time they mentioned him, I felt a knot tighten in my stomach, a reminder of how close yet distant he really was.

The rumor must have spread because of me. When Hestia came into the makeup room, there was a lot of stuff behind her. I should have been careful but I was so angry and pissed off that in my feels I just blurted it out.

The staff must have talked about it and the word spread everywhere. Hael is a very big actor and model, the news was bound to spread like wildfire.

You open up social media and people are talking about him. So many people are speculating who he is married to. I guess the staff didn’t reveal my name or maybe they didn’t know, but the SNS is on fire.

"Do you really think he’s married?" My mom asked, her voice light but filled with curiosity. She was sitting beside me, her cup of tea steaming in her hands.

My dad grunted from his armchair, looking up from his newspaper. "If he is, it’s a PR nightmare. They’d never keep something like that under wraps for long. Especially not someone as famous as him."

My brother, who was scrolling through his phone, chimed in, "There’s no actual proof, though, right? Just rumors. I haven’t seen anything solid yet. No pictures, no official statements." He glanced over at me. I could feel her gaze, but I kept my eyes trained on the TV, even though I wasn’t really watching it.

"You’re his manager, aren’t you?" Ron said, "Do you know something?"

I didn’t say a word. What could I say? The truth was tangled up inside me, too heavy to share, too complicated to explain.

Hael... he wasn’t just a name in the news to me. He was more, so much more. But how could I even begin to unravel that to them? To anyone? If I tell them it’s me, I have to sit and explain it to them how I even know him.

I’ve barely worked for him for a few days and this happened. Will they believe me if I said it was love at first sight for both of us?

My heart thudded against my ribs, faster and faster, like a warning that something was about to go wrong. I could feel it, a strange sense of dread creeping up on me. I glanced at the TV, just in time to see the screen change.

Breaking News: International Star Hael Helio Makes a Shocking Confession.

The words blared across the screen, bright and bold, and immediately the room fell silent. Ron fumbled with the remote, turning up the volume as the news anchor’s voice took over.

"Moments ago, the world-renowned actor and musician Hael Helio released a statement that has stunned fans worldwide. Hael has come forward to tell the public that he is in love with someone."

My mouth hung open.

I felt my heart stop. For a split second, everything seemed to freeze—my thoughts, my breath, even the air in the room.

"He’s... what?" Ron gasped, his eyes wide with disbelief, "Wow,"

My mom clutched her tea, her mouth slightly open. "In love? With who?" She was just here for the tea, and not the one she was holding.

I gripped the couch cushion, my knuckles white, trying to keep myself grounded, trying not to let the panic rise in my chest. My dad leaned forward, his eyes narrowed. "He actually said that?"

The anchor kept speaking, oblivious to the chaos she was about to unleash in my life. "Hael released a video confession, which we are about to air now."

The world spun.

A video?

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. My body was glued to the couch, paralyzed by the fear of what was coming.

The screen changed again, and there he was. Hael. His face filled the TV, calm and serious, his silver hair shining under the lights. He looked composed, but his eyes—they held something deeper. A softness. An intimacy.

"Hello, everyone," He began, his voice smooth, "There have been rumors going around about my personal life, and I want to address them head-on." Oh No... He’s really going to do it, "I know so many rumors around idols are false and I’m sure many of you think that this one is too but in fact I would like to clarify that it isn’t., Yes, I’m in love." He smirked

No. No. No. I wanted to scream, but nothing came out. My throat was tight, my heart pounding against my ribs so hard it hurt. I gripped my knees tighter, curling into myself, praying that this wasn’t happening.

"There’s someone very special to me," Hael continued, his gaze softening. "She’s strong, intelligent, and she means everything to me. I don’t want to hide this part of my life anymore. I want to be with her, openly. And soon, I plan to propose to her."

Propose.

"The word is that we’re married already but that is not true. But we will be married soon."

The word sliced through me like a knife. I felt like I was falling, spiraling into a void I couldn’t escape from. I tried to steady my breathing, but it was no use. The room was closing in around me.

"Propose?!" My mother exclaimed, her voice high with shock. I could barely hear her. Everything felt distant, like I was watching it happen to someone else. My mom put her hand to her chest. "Oh my God. He’s going to propose? But who is it?"

I was barely holding it together. My mind was racing, spinning, unable to process what was happening. But then, the final blow came.

Hael smiled, just slightly, a soft curve of his lips that made my heart ache. And then he said it. The words that shattered everything.

"Amber, my love, I hope you’re ready."

?!?!??!?!

My entire world collapsed in that moment.

The video ended, the screen going back to the news anchor, but I didn’t hear anything else. My name... he had said my name. Hael had just told the entire world that he loved me. That he was going to propose to me.

Me.

"Oh... MY... God..." It felt unreal.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. My cheeks were burning, my entire body hot with shock, embarrassment, disbelief—everything all at once. I felt every set of eyes in the room on me, but I couldn’t move. I was frozen in place, my mind unable to catch up with what had just happened.

"Amber?" My mom’s voice was barely a whisper. She sounded so confused, so unsure.

My dad, on the other hand, was anything but. "Amber. What the hell is going on?" His voice was sharp, demanding.

I tried to speak, but nothing came out. My throat was tight, my pulse pounding in my ears. How could I explain this?

Shit

He should have told me he was going to do this!! I would have prepared an excuse!! Something!!!

"Amber?" Ron asked, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Did he just say your name? Is Hael Helio talking about you?" He straightened up, "No, he must be talking about you. You’re his manager after all." They all eyes me

I didn’t know what to say. What could I say? My heart was racing, and I felt like I was about to crumble under the weight of it all. My chest tightened, and my mind screamed at me to run, to get out, to escape this unbearable tension. But I couldn’t move.

I couldn’t do anything but sit there, my knees still drawn to my chest, my face flushed, my hands trembling slightly. I was in complete shock. The room around me seemed to blur, my family’s voices muffled, distant.

All I could think about was Hael. About his confession.

"Mom..." I finally let out, "Dad..." They froze, "Ron..." I let out a big sigh. Mom and Dad grabbed my shoulders from either side.

"It is you!" They both said, "Isn’t it?"

I pursed my lips, then nodded my head, "Yes,"