The stage lights bathed the grand auditorium in gold, the kind that shimmered against the sequins of gowns and the sleek suits of celebrities. It was the "Harmony Live Gala", a night celebrating music, artistry, and authenticity. Zane stood backstage, adjusting his earpiece, his calm expression betraying the storm inside him.
For months, the rumors about him and Lyra refused to die down. At first, they denied it — not because it wasn't real, but because it was too fragile then, too precious to expose to the cruelty of the industry. But the more they hid, the more the world dug deeper. And lately, jealousy had found new life within his company walls.
"Zane," said one of his managers, approaching carefully. "The press is buzzing again. Someone leaked old clips of you two during rehearsals. The comments are… mixed."
Zane sighed quietly. "Let them talk. I'm done playing safe."
The manager looked confused but didn't push further.
Across the hall, Lyra stood with her stylist, the hem of her silver gown brushing against her heels. Her performance was later that night, a solo piece she'd written herself. But she could barely focus — her name had been trending all afternoon, tagged with words like 'favoritism,' 'affair,' and 'unfair rise to fame.'
When Zane finally approached her before the show, she gave him a polite smile — the kind that only someone who learned how to stay composed under pressure could pull off.
"You shouldn't come near me here," she whispered. "They'll only twist it again."
He looked down at her, voice low but steady. "Lyra, are you afraid?"
She hesitated. "No… just tired. I hate how they talk about you because of me."
Zane's lips curved into a faint smile. "Then let me talk for myself tonight."
Before she could respond, the stage director called his name. He gave her one last look — that soft, knowing gaze she'd learned to read — and walked toward the stage.
---
The opening notes of his performance filled the room. The song was new, unreleased, titled "Until the Noise Fades."
At first, it sounded like a typical love ballad — slow, tender, reflective. But the second verse silenced the entire hall.
"You stayed when silence was safer,
You reached when I pushed you away,
In a world that sold noise for love,
You were the quiet that made me stay."
Every word hit like a confession. Cameras panned to Lyra sitting among the artists, her expression tightening as the lyrics unfolded. Around her, people exchanged looks — whispers spreading like wildfire.
Zane ended the song with a faint smile and bowed, but instead of leaving, he stayed by the mic. The host, trying to lighten the moment, laughed and said,
"So… Zane, that was beautifully personal. Should we expect some real-life inspiration behind it?"
The audience chuckled — expecting his usual cool, evasive charm.
But this time, he didn't laugh. He looked straight toward Lyra.
"Yes," he said simply. His voice carried through the entire hall — low, clear, and unshakably honest. "It's about her."
A collective gasp echoed. Lyra froze in her seat.
"For a long time, I kept pretending it was just music. That what we had was something I could hide behind lyrics," Zane continued. His hands tightened slightly on the microphone. "But the truth is, I owe her more than just a song. She helped me remember why I even loved music in the first place. When my father passed, when I almost walked away from everything — she was there. Not as an artist under my company, but as someone who actually cared about me as a person."
The audience went completely still. Lyra's eyes glistened, her throat tightening.
"She never asked for fame. She worked harder than anyone else. I was the one who said we should deny it before — to protect her from people who would never understand. But I won't do that anymore." His tone softened, his chest rising with emotion. "Even if everyone disapproves… I won't leave her."
The silence that followed was deafening — then the crowd erupted. Some cheered, some gasped, others simply stood in shock. Cameras caught Lyra covering her mouth, her eyes wide and trembling.
The host didn't know what to say. "Uh— I think we just witnessed something truly heartfelt," he managed, earning laughter and applause from the audience.
Lyra stood slowly as the spotlight turned toward her. Zane extended his hand from the stage, and though it was unscripted, instinct took over. She walked toward him, the music fading as the crowd began to chant their names.
When she finally reached the stage, he smiled faintly. "You don't have to say anything," he whispered as the mic lowered.
But Lyra shook her head, her voice barely audible. "You just made it impossible not to."
The audience laughed, touched by her sincerity. Zane chuckled softly — and for the first time in a long while, he looked genuinely happy.
---
That night, the internet exploded.
Clips of the confession dominated every social platform — headlines like "Zane Confirms Relationship with Lyra During Live Show" and "The Confession That Stopped the Gala" spread instantly.
Of course, not everyone was supportive. Some jealous artists still whispered, and critics accused Lyra of using Zane for fame. But unlike before, she no longer hid. She posted one message on her page the next day:
"You can't fake the kind of peace that comes from being with the right person. I just hope someday, people will see that."
Zane reposted it with one simple caption:
"They will. Because I do."
And the noise, for once, started to fade.
– After the Lights Fade
The night after Zane's confession was louder than any concert he had ever performed in.
The internet exploded.
Clips of his words — "She was the reason I remembered how to sing with heart again" — were everywhere. Fans were crying, cheering, arguing, dissecting every detail of their past interactions like detectives.
But while the world celebrated the romance, Lyra sat in her dressing room, staring blankly at the mirror.
The lights had dimmed, the applause had ended — and all that remained was the deafening silence of uncertainty.
Her phone wouldn't stop vibrating.
Notifications flooded the screen:
"So it's true?"
"You only got in because of him!"
"Gold digger alert."
"Unbelievable. I used to respect you, Lyra."
She locked the phone, pressing her trembling hands together.
"Don't cry," she whispered to herself, forcing a smile. "You knew it would be like this."
A gentle knock broke the silence.
"Lyra?"
Zane's voice.
He stepped inside, still wearing the same suit from the stage, his eyes filled with a mix of pride and worry.
"You disappeared right after the show. I've been looking for you."
She stood, trying to sound composed. "I didn't want to steal your spotlight. Everyone's talking about your big moment."
He sighed, walking closer. "Our moment, Lyra. Not just mine."
She looked away. "You didn't have to do that, Zane. Now people will think everything I achieved was because of you."
Zane frowned slightly. "Let them think what they want. You and I know the truth."
"That's easy for you to say," she murmured. "You're Zane. Everyone loves you. I'm just… the girl they love to hate now."
He was quiet for a moment, then gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "Do you regret it?"
Lyra looked up, eyes glimmering. "No," she admitted softly. "But it hurts."
Zane smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Then let me take some of that hurt, at least."
---
Days passed.
Zane's confession became the headline of every entertainment site. The story wouldn't die down.
Some fans sent warm messages, calling them the "couple that healed music," while others demanded Lyra be removed from Zane's label.
Inside the company, the atmosphere grew tense.
Lyra could feel eyes on her wherever she went — in practice rooms, meeting halls, even the cafeteria. Conversations would stop when she entered, and she'd catch faint whispers behind her.
One afternoon, as she rehearsed for a music video, another artist from the label — Mira, a rising pop star — approached her, holding a smirk.
"Wow, you're still showing up here, huh?" Mira said lightly, twirling her mic.
Lyra froze, unsure how to respond.
"I mean, most girls would hide for a while after a scandal like that," Mira continued. "Guess it's easier when your boyfriend owns the company."
Lyra forced a calm smile. "Guess it's easier when your confidence doesn't depend on headlines."
Mira blinked, caught off guard, then scoffed. "You're brave, I'll give you that."
"I just prefer working over arguing," Lyra replied, adjusting her earpiece and turning away. But deep down, her chest ached.
Zane watched the tension from afar — quietly, patiently. He wanted to defend her, but Lyra's request echoed in his mind:
"Please, don't make this harder. Let me prove I deserve this on my own."
---
One evening, after a long rehearsal, Lyra found Zane waiting in the studio, strumming an old guitar.
"Can't sleep again?" she asked softly.
He chuckled. "Guess I'm just used to singing when I can't fix things."
She sat beside him, watching his fingers move across the strings. "You can't fix people's opinions, Zane. Even you."
He looked at her, eyes warm. "Then I'll just sing louder than them."
Lyra smiled faintly. "That's such a Zane thing to say."
He grinned. "You love it, though."
She laughed quietly. "Yeah… I do."
He paused, then took her hand gently. "You know, Lyra… I didn't confess just to make things easier. I did it because I wanted to stop hiding the best thing in my life."
Her eyes softened. "Even if it costs your image?"
He nodded. "Even if it costs everything."
---
Weeks later, things began to shift.
Lyra released a new single — her first after the controversy. Instead of anger or defense, the song was full of emotion, talking about choosing love despite fear.
The public listened. And surprisingly — they loved it.
People started to see her not as Zane's girlfriend, but as Lyra, the artist who could move hearts.
Even the company atmosphere began to change. Some who used to sneer at her started greeting her again.
During a fan event, a girl approached Lyra shyly, handing her a small note.
"You inspire me," it read. "You didn't run away when things got hard."
Lyra smiled for real that day — maybe for the first time since the confession.
And when she looked across the crowd, she found Zane watching her from the corner of the stage, a proud, quiet smile on his face.
---
That night, as they left the venue together, Lyra said softly, "I think things are getting better."
Zane grinned. "I told you — people just needed to see the real you."
"Maybe," she said, glancing up at him. "But I think… I needed to see the real us, too."
He stopped walking, turning to face her.
"And what do you see now?"
Lyra smiled, eyes shining under the city lights.
"Two people still standing — not because of fame, but because they didn't give up on each other."
Zane squeezed her hand. "Then maybe it's time we stop just standing."
She blinked. "What do you mean?"
He grinned. "You'll find out soon enough."