The ocean water was warm as the waves gently rolled onto the shore.
Aria laughed as a wave splashed against her legs.
"Okay, I admit it," she said, brushing wet hair away from her face. "This fake honeymoon idea isn't completely terrible."
Rohan stood a few steps away in the water, watching her with a faint smile.
"You complain a lot for someone who's enjoying herself."
Aria rolled her eyes.
"I'm enjoying the beach, not the chaos surrounding it."
She glanced toward the shore.
Several people were already whispering and secretly taking pictures.
"Looks like the paparazzi found us again," she muttered.
Rohan shrugged.
"That was inevitable."
Aria sighed.
"Well, since they're already watching…"
She suddenly grabbed his arm again.
"What now?" Rohan asked.
Aria pointed toward the cameras.
"Time to make the 'perfect couple' act convincing."
Before Rohan could react, she pulled him closer and wrapped her arms around him as if they were posing for a romantic photo.
The cameras immediately started flashing.
Rohan looked slightly surprised.
"You're getting good at this."
Aria smirked.
"Character development."
But then something unexpected happened.
As another wave rushed toward them, Aria slipped on the wet sand.
"Whoa—!"
She lost her balance.
Instinctively, Rohan caught her.
For a brief moment, she was pressed against him, his arm firmly around her waist.
They were suddenly very close.
Too close.
Aria looked up.
Their faces were only inches apart.
The noise of the beach seemed to disappear.
Neither of them moved.
Rohan's eyes softened slightly.
Aria's heart began racing in a way she didn't understand.
"This… is part of the act," she whispered awkwardly.
Rohan didn't answer.
For a second, it almost looked like he was about to kiss her.
But suddenly—
"Wow. This scene looks straight out of a movie."
The voice shattered the moment.
Aria immediately stepped back.
Dev Khanna was standing on the beach again, clapping slowly.
"You two are really selling the romance," he said with a smirk.
Aria groaned.
"Does this man ever leave?"
Dev laughed.
"Oh, I'm enjoying the show too much."
Rohan's expression darkened.
"Don't you have somewhere else to be?"
Dev tilted his head.
"Actually, I just came to give you a warning."
Aria frowned.
"What kind of warning?"
Dev looked at Rohan.
"The media is already digging deeper into your wife's life."
Aria stiffened.
"And when they start asking questions about your sudden marriage…"
Dev smiled slowly.
"…that contract photo might suddenly become very interesting."
Aria felt a knot form in her stomach.
Dev turned to leave again, clearly satisfied with himself.
But before he walked away, he said one last thing.
"Oh, and Rohan?"
Rohan didn't respond.
Dev's smile widened.
"You might want to figure out who betrayed you."
Then he disappeared down the beach.
Aria exhaled slowly.
"This guy is unbelievably annoying."
Rohan remained silent, staring toward the horizon.
Aria noticed something in his expression.
Something serious.
"Hey," she said softly.
"What?"
"You're thinking about what he said."
Rohan nodded.
"Someone close to us leaked the contract."
Aria crossed her arms.
"So we have a fake marriage, a celebrity enemy, paparazzi everywhere…"
She sighed.
"And now a mystery traitor."
Rohan looked at her.
"Welcome to my world."
Aria glanced down at the ring on her finger again.
The ring that started everything.
She had agreed to wear it for six months.
But suddenly she had the feeling that the secrets behind this marriage…
were much deeper than she thought.
End of Chapter 16
Next Chapter: The Hidden Past