Chapter 54. Dating Rumours

Blake sat alone at his desk, the soft glow of the computer screen casting long, angular shadows across his face. The dim lighting of the apartment made the room feel smaller, more oppressive, as if the walls themselves were closing in. His gaze was fixed on an article that had popped up unexpectedly in his social media feed—a candid photograph of Camila and Travis dining together, smiles frozen in a moment that screamed intimacy. The headline blared in bold letters, relentless and accusatory: “Travis Turner, Property Mogul, Finds Love with Design Competition’s Darling, Camila Martinez.”

“Can’t believe everything you see online,” Blake muttered, though the words rang hollow. His eyes refused to look away, glued to the image as his chest tightened with a mix of disbelief and a creeping sting of jealousy. He clicked on the article, scrolling through the text with a jagged rhythm of heartbeats echoing in his ears.