Despite his efforts at transparency, Alistair, cornered and vengeful, struck back. He leaked a curated selection of documents to a financial tabloid. The splashy headline read: "THORNE'S SECRET CAFÉ OBSESSION: Billionaire's Stalker-Like Pursuit of Barista Revealed." The article twisted everything: Marcus's daily visits were "surveillance," his anonymous grant was "financial manipulation," his departure was "fleeing accountability." It painted Chloe as a victim of a powerful, unstable man.
The paparazzi descended on the Daily Grind like vultures. Chloe's sanctuary became a circus. Her regulars were harassed, her routine shattered. The violation was profound. This time, Marcus didn't react from his penthouse. He walked into the scrum outside the café, dressed plainly, no security. Cameras flashed in his face.
"Mr. Thorne! Is it true you were stalking Chloe Reed?"
"Did you use your wealth to manipulate her life?"
He stopped, turning to face the shouting reporters, his gaze finding Chloe's terrified face in the café window. He spoke clearly, his voice carrying over the din. "Everything I did, I did because I cared for Chloe Reed. And everything I did was wrong. Not because it was illegal, but because it was dishonest. I lied to her. That is my failure, and mine alone. She is not a character in a story. She is a person who deserves peace. Leave her alone." He then did something utterly unexpected: he sat down on the curb, his back to the cameras, a silent, physical barrier between the mob and her door. He didn't move for hours.