Chapter 122 – Ivan POV
I wake up to the nonstop buzzing of my phone, vibrating like it's been possessed by the ghost of someone very dramatic with unlimited data.
I groan, burrow deeper into the pillows, and reach for Zander—only to find air. Cold sheets. No possessive arm.
Rude.
I crack an eye open and blindly slap at the bedside table until I find my phone. The screen glows like the Eye of Sauron, and the second I look at it, I wish I'd stayed asleep.
143 missed notifications
38 unread texts
11 voicemails
The top of the screen flashes a familiar horror:
#GoldDiggerOfTheCentury – TRENDING #1 WORLDWIDE
My face is splashed across every media feed.
Most of them have paired my best angles (thank you) with Zander's trademark brooding scowl—the one that makes him look like a billionaire villain plotting stock market homicide.
And the headlines… wow.
"ZANDER VALE'S OMEGA FIANCÉ: TRAGIC BACKSTORY OR WELL-PLANNED CON?" – BuzzCore Exclusive
"Model or Manipulator? The Mysterious Past of Ivan Moore" – NightGossipTV
"From Rags to Riches: The Omega Who Bagged a Billionaire" – The Daily Allure
"Body Count: Industry Insiders Speak Out on Ivan Moore's... Connections" – Obsidian Tabloid
"Expert Lip Reader Claims Ivan Said 'I'm In It for the Money' at Last Week's Gala" – ClickKween.com
"Zander's Omega Is Pregnant with Secrets!" – MoonlightChronicle (???)
"Ten Reasons Ivan Orlov Might Be a Government Experiment" – Blog by crystalwitch444
Absurd. All of it.
But the one that really gets me:
"BREAKING: Billionaire Zander Vale Engaged to 'Former Escort' Ivan Orlov – Public in Uproar"
Even if I was an escort—mind your business. At least I have a skill set. I mean from escort to billionaire that's something, I continue scrolling now these are beyond absurd.
"Gold-Digging Omega Who Ruined Fashion Week" – CelebGossip Daily
"He Slept His Way Through the Runway"—Former Stylist Tells All
(Who even is Tami Delane and why is she on morning TV sobbing into a glittery scarf?)
"My Night With Ivan Orlov" – An Anonymous Security Guard Speaks Out
#ScamMate Trending: Public Demands Zander 'Free Himself' from the 'Trophy Omega'
"Ivan Orlov: Street Rat Turned Schemer"
"Ivan Orlov: Raised in a Palace, Lying About Trauma for Clout"
"Is Ivan Orlov Even His Real Name?"
"Did Ivan Orlov Have an Affair with Dorian?"
"Is Ivan Orlov Zander's Secret Brother?"
"He Smells Like Sex and Deception – A Scent Reader's Analysis"
"Pregnant with Regret – The Ivan Orlov Story"
I blink.
They're treating me like a one-man true crime docuseries with bonus nudity.
Some of it's so ridiculous I almost laugh.
Someone even claims I seduced Zander with potion-laced perfume and moon-charmed lingerie.
...Okay, that actually sounds iconic. I screenshot it for future research. Maybe they are on to something with that one.
And then—
"EXCLUSIVE: Dorian Black Speaks" – Channel 2 Morning Report
Caption: "He was never loyal. I hope Zander knows what he's doing."
The audacity, ofcourse if there's someone enjoying this it must be fucking Dorian.
I'm still blinking at my screen when I hear it:
Zander's voice.
"You think this is a game? You're playing with fire. If you don't retract that article, I'll make sure your children can't find jobs outside of garbage collection!"
He sounds angry, like fuming smoke coming out of his ears angry.I drag myself out of bed, pad barefoot toward the door, and crack it open.
Zander pacing like a man ready to sue God. His hair's a mess. His shirt's halfway buttoned. His jaw could cut glass.
He's beautiful.
And terrifying.
I lift my phone and refresh.
Now the anchors are smiling grimly as they transition to a live feed:
"Coming Up Next: Ivan Orlov EXPOSED – A Deep Dive Into His Alleged Cult Past and Rumored Plastic Surgery. Viewer Discretion Is Advised."
Cult?
Surgery?
Nothing against surgery—but this level of paranoia means I'm so good-looking, they think there's no way I was born this way.
Honestly? Valid.
I place my phone away and head over to calm my fuming fiancee'.