His Decision

I walked into the research lab, the familiar scent of sterilized equipment and faint coffee lingering in the air. The team was gathered, their chatter filling the space as I stepped into the center.

“Alright, everyone,” I said, clapping my hands to get their attention. “Let’s focus. This week’s progress has been great, but we still have a lot to do. We’re on the verge of breakthroughs here, and every single one of you is crucial to that.”

Their faces lit up at the encouragement, and a few even nodded enthusiastically.

“Remember,” I continued, looking around the room, “it’s not just about the science. It’s about the lives we’re going to change. Let’s keep pushing forward.”

A round of applause broke out, and I couldn’t help but smile. Despite the chaos in my personal life, this was where I felt in control, where I knew I was making a difference.

\---

After the pep talk, I made my way to Claire’s room. Her mom was already there, adjusting the blanket over Claire’s still figure.

“Morning,” I said softly, stepping inside.

“Morning, Remi,” Claire’s mom replied, her voice tired but warm.

I moved to Claire’s bedside, checking her chart and making notes. She was stable, her vitals steady, but it was still hard to see her like this—so fragile, so far from the vibrant friend I knew.

“How’s she doing today?” I asked, glancing at her mom.

“Same as yesterday,” she said, her voice heavy with worry. “But at least she’s holding on.”

I nodded, setting the chart aside. “I’m going to make sure she gets her vitamins and supplements today. We’ll keep her strong, no matter what.”

Claire’s mom smiled weakly, her gratitude evident. “Thank you, Remi. For everything.”

“This is the least I can do,” I said, squeezing her hand briefly. “She’s my best friend. I won’t stop fighting for her.”

I adjusted the IV drip, my movements automatic but precise. As I worked, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Ignoring it for the moment, I finished my check and turned back to Claire’s mom.

“Let me know if you need anything,” I said, giving her a reassuring nod before stepping out of the room.

\---

Jo’s name lit up my phone screen, and I answered it as I walked down the hallway.

“Remi,” Jo said, her voice high-pitched with excitement. “Have you seen it?”

“Seen what?” I asked warily, knowing her tone usually meant trouble.

“Check your phone,” she said.

I sighed, pulling up my browser as Jo continued talking in my ear. “You’re trending, Remi. Trending.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, scrolling through my notifications.

And then I saw it.

There, splashed across the tabloid headlines, was a photo of me and Rowan on the balcony at the masquerade ball. The caption read: Lady Persephone and Hades Caught in an Intimate Moment.

My stomach dropped as I clicked on the article. It didn’t stop at the photo. They’d named me—Dr. Remi Laurent, surgeon and researcher, as if my professional title somehow made the gossip more scandalous.

“Oh no,” I whispered, my heart pounding.

“Oh yes,” Jo said gleefully. “You’re famous!”

“This is bad,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “I can’t be on a tabloid, Jo. My name—my work—is tied to this.”

“Oh, relax,” Jo said dismissively. “It’s free publicity. Investors love a good scandal, as long as it’s juicy enough.”

“Jo, they’re saying Rowan cheated on Gigi with me!” I snapped, my voice rising.

“Well…” Jo trailed off, clearly enjoying this more than she should.

I groaned, rubbing my temples. “This is a disaster.”

“It gets better,” Jo said, her voice practically vibrating with excitement.

“How could this possibly get better?” I asked, exasperated.

“Rowan called off his engagement with Gigi,” Jo said, pausing for dramatic effect.

I froze. “What?”

“Yep,” she said, clearly delighted. “It’s all over the news. Apparently, he made the announcement this morning. No more Gigi.”

I stared at the screen, my mind racing. My phone buzzed again—another notification, another article confirming Jo’s words. Rowan Vaughn had officially ended his engagement, and the timing was too coincidental to ignore.

“This can’t be happening,” I muttered, scrolling through the headlines.

“Believe it, girl,” Jo said. “You’re not just trending—you’re part of the scandal of the year. Lady Persephone and Hades, breaking hearts and engagements.”

“Jo, this isn’t funny,” I said, though a part of me couldn’t stop the corner of my mouth from twitching.

“Oh, come on,” she said. “When you first married him, no one even knew you existed. Now you’re everywhere.”

“And that’s exactly the problem,” I said, pacing the hallway. “I worked so hard to build my reputation, and now it’s going to be overshadowed by this… nonsense.”

“Or,” Jo said, her tone turning sly, “it’s going to make you more interesting. Everyone loves a good backstory, especially one with a billionaire ex-husband.”

I groaned again, leaning against the wall. “I can’t believe this is my life.”

“Hey,” Jo said, her voice softening slightly. “Look, it’s crazy right now, but it’ll blow over. And in the meantime, you’ve got everyone’s attention. Use it. Spin it to your advantage.”

I sighed, knowing she wasn’t entirely wrong. “Thanks, Jo.”

“Anytime,” she said. “And hey—if you need a publicist, I’m available.”

I hung up with a shake of my head, but her words lingered.

As I stepped into the break room to grab some water, my phone pinged again. This time, it wasn’t a tabloid headline or Jo’s commentary. It was a photo of Rowan and me from the balcony, the intimacy of the moment undeniable.

I stared at it, my chest tightening. The world might have been spinning out of control, but one thing was clear: I wasn’t invisible anymore. And that terrified me.

****

Rowan sat in the spacious living room of his family’s estate, the tension in the air so thick it was almost suffocating. His mother, elegantly dressed as always, stood with her arms crossed, glaring at him. His father sat in a chair nearby, his expression unreadable, while his grandfather leaned on his cane, his sharp eyes fixed on Rowan.

“So, you’re just going to throw away everything?” his mother said, her voice icy. “Years of planning, of reputation-building, and you decide—just like that—to humiliate this family?”

Rowan sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I ended an engagement that wasn’t working, Mother. That’s hardly humiliating.”

“You ended an engagement to a woman who comes from a family as powerful as ours,” she snapped. “And for what? A fleeting moment of scandal with some...some—”

“Careful,” Rowan warned, his voice low.

His mother’s lips tightened. “That woman is beneath you. She’s not one of us, Rowan. She doesn’t belong in this family.”

“And Gigi does?” Rowan shot back, his voice rising. “Do you even know the things she’s done, the lies she’s told? Or are you just conveniently ignoring them because of her last name?”

“Don’t raise your voice at me,” his mother said sharply.

“Then stop acting like you know what’s best for me,” Rowan retorted.

Before he could say another word, his mother stepped forward and slapped him across the face. The sound echoed in the room, drawing a sharp intake of breath from his father and a disapproving frown from his grandfather.

Rowan’s jaw tightened as he turned back to look at her, his cheek stinging from the impact. His mother’s eyes were blazing, but he saw a flicker of regret there, buried beneath her fury.

“You forget yourself,” she said, her voice trembling.

“No,” Rowan said, his tone controlled but simmering with anger. “You forget that I’m not a puppet for you to control.”

“Rowan,” his father interjected, his voice calm but firm. “Let’s not escalate this.”

“Stay out of it,” Rowan snapped, glaring at his father. “You’ve stood by silently for years while she’s tried to dictate every aspect of my life. Well, not anymore.”

“Enough,” his grandfather said, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

Everyone turned to look at him, the patriarch of the Vaughn family commanding the room with his mere presence.

“Rowan,” his grandfather said, his tone measured. “Your mother has a point. This... public spectacle you’ve created is damaging to our reputation. It needs to be addressed.”

“Public spectacle?” Rowan repeated, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You mean my decision to live my life on my terms instead of yours?”

“This family has built its legacy on carefully crafted alliances,” his grandfather said, his gaze steady. “Your engagement to Gigi was one of those alliances. It wasn’t just about you.”

“And maybe that’s the problem,” Rowan said, his voice rising. “Maybe it’s time this family stopped treating people like pawns in a chess game. Gigi and I were never happy. I wasn’t going to marry her just to keep up appearances.”

His mother let out a bitter laugh. “And what are you going to do instead? Run off with that woman? Turn this family into a tabloid joke?”

Rowan’s fists clenched, but he forced himself to stay calm. “That woman has more integrity in her little finger than Gigi has in her entire body. And if you can’t see that, then maybe you’re the ones with the problem.”

“Watch your tone,” his grandfather warned, his voice low and dangerous.

Rowan stood, his chair scraping against the floor. “No. I’m done watching my tone. I’m done letting this family dictate every part of my life. If you can’t accept that, then maybe I don’t belong here.”

“You’re being reckless,” his father said, his voice tight. “Think about what this will do to our business relationships, our standing.”

“I’ve thought about it,” Rowan said, his gaze sweeping across the room. “And I’ve decided that I’d rather be true to myself than spend the rest of my life pretending to be someone I’m not just to make you all happy.”

There was a heavy silence, the weight of his words hanging in the air.

His mother’s lips trembled, her voice softer now. “Rowan, we just want what’s best for you.”

“No,” he said firmly. “You want what’s best for you. And I’m not going to sacrifice my happiness for that anymore.”

Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked toward the door.

“Rowan,” his grandfather called after him, his voice hard. “If you walk out that door, don’t expect us to clean up the mess you’ve made.”

Rowan paused, his hand on the doorknob. He looked over his shoulder, his ga
ze cold. “I don’t need you to clean up anything. I’m perfectly capable of handling my own life.”

With that, he walked out, the door closing behind him with a resolute thud.