Book Launch Surprise

"Pamela, what are you doing here?" Helena asked in awe.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to outshine you," she scoffed. "I'm here to remind you to know your place. Arthur is mine. You've already taken Israel from us, spare Arthur from your bullshit. Leave him alone," she said, raising an eyebrow.

"Pamela, you're delusional. Arthur and I are madly in love with each other and there's nothing you can do about that," Helena said with conviction. "You should be the one to be reminded to know your place. You're not welcome at my book signing event. Getaway from here," she said sternly.

After everything she'd been through with Arthur, he had given her so much confidence and assurance of how much he loved her. She must fight for their relationship and wouldn't let anyone bully her.

Pamela crossed her arms as she scorn. "I see that you have learned how to fight. Well, I wouldn't be surprised if you have wrapped Arthur around your fingers like what you did to my dear brother, Israel. That's what you're good at."

"Pamela, please," Helena implored. "In memory of your brother, Israel, just go away. I don't want to disrespect you. Just leave me alone," she said with a heavyweight in her heart.

She couldn't believe how easy it was for Pamela to mention her brother's name with lies in it. Pamela knew she never manipulated Israel. It was the other way around. Her parents manipulated Israel until he couldn't take it anymore.

"I'll go. But remember, you'll never be suited to be Arthur's wife. You have nothing to offer to the Hendricks Earthwise consortium. Arthur is mine, Helena. He is mine," Pamela said as she turned to leave.

"Who was that?" The organizer asked. She turned back to get Helena after noticing she wasn't following her. "That woman looks familiar. Do you know her?"

Helena shook her head. "No. Let's go?" They headed to the venue of her book launch.

The therapy session she had helped her cope with all her insecurities, plus Arthur, who calls her constantly, reminding to keep holding on while they are far from each other. He was always there to remind her to ignore all the rumors about Pamela and him having a romantic relationship and that he would always choose her.

Although there are times when she would think of giving up, her love for Arthur is stronger than anything in this world. They are each other's redemption when hope was almost out of sight, and that foundation made their relationship even stronger.

The sun glinted off the crystal chandelier, casting a warm glow over the crowded room as Helena Greene stepped onto the stage. Her heart fluttered nervously, but she maintained a serene expression for the press gathered before her. She held her latest novel, "Behind the Mask," close to her heart as if it were a fragile treasure.

"Good afternoon, everyone," Helena greeted them with a gracious smile, her fingers tightening around the book. Reporters and fans alike jostled for position, their cameras poised and ready to capture every moment. The air buzzed with anticipation, palpable energy filling the opulent ballroom of the luxurious hotel.

"Helena, congratulations on your new release!" an eager reporter called out, her microphone extended toward the bestselling romance novelist. "Can you tell us about the inspiration behind Arthur, the mysterious male lead of 'Behind the Mask'?"

"Thank you," Helena replied, her voice soft yet confident. "Arthur was inspired by someone very special to me. Someone who showed me that love can be found in unexpected places."

Her answer sent a flurry of whispers through the crowd while social media erupted with speculation. Who was the enigmatic Arthur? Fans dissected Helena's previous interviews, searching for clues. Threads appeared on book forums, analyzing the character in depth and seeking any connection to a real-life figure.

"Is Arthur based on your boyfriend?" another reporter asked boldly, his camera lens trained on Helena's face.

"Used to be," she answered, her voice tinged with melancholy. Her eyes seemed to gaze into the distance, lost in memories of a long time. But despite the wistfulness in her tone, there was strength in her posture - shoulders back, head held high.

"Used to be?" echoed the crowd, intrigued by her response. The press conference suddenly transformed into a flurry of follow-up questions. "Have you two broken up? How did your relationship end? Will we ever uncover Arthur's true identity?"

The old Helena was inspired to write about the Arthur she presumed to be until she has proven herself wrong. That's the reason she "said used to be". But the new and stronger Helena now is better and is even more inspired to fight for her rights and what she deserves.

Behind the mask is unveiling what is behind the cover of every man's appearance. It's not just physical and first impressions that matter. It's all about getting to know the person deeply. That's when the magic happens.

"Please," Helena implored, raising her hand for silence. "I'm here to discuss my novel, not my personal life."

"Sorry about that," one of the reporters replied, "but it's hard not to be curious about your inspiration for a character as complex and enchanting as Arthur."

Helena hesitated, contemplating her answer. She looked at the sea of eager faces before her, realizing their love for her work fueled her fans' curiosity. It was an undeniable part of the connection she had built with them.

"Arthur is someone who deeply impacted my life," she finally admitted. "Perhaps one day, I'll share our story. But for now, I hope you enjoy 'Behind the Mask' and find your meaning in its pages."

"Helena!" cried one reporter, waving her hand frantically to catch the author's attention. "Congratulations on your new book! We're all dying to know – is the character Arthur inspired by the real-life billionaire Arthur Hendricks?"

A hush fell over the crowd as Helena opened her mouth to answer. All heads turned toward the entrance, where none other than Arthur Hendricks himself stood, clutching a massive bouquet of red roses. His eyes locked onto Helena's, and he strode toward her purposefully, long legs carrying him quickly across the room.

"Arthur?" Helena gasped, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt as though she were caught in a whirlwind, unsure whether she should flee or stay rooted to the spot.

"Helena," he said softly, his voice barely audible above the murmur of the excited audience. He handed her the bouquet, his blue eyes never leaving her face. "These are for you."

"Thank you," she whispered, tremblingly accepting the flowers. The scent of the roses mingled with the jasmine, creating a heady aroma that made her feel light-headed.

"Is this the Arthur we've been asking you about?" one reporter dared to ask, breaking the spellbinding silence.

"Y-yes," Helena admitted, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of pink. "This is Arthur Hendricks, the man who inspired my novel's character."

The crowd erupted into a cacophony of questions, each reporter vying for Helena and Arthur's attention. Cameras flashing lit up the couple like stars in the twilight sky, capturing their every emotion.

"Helena, how did you meet Arthur? How long have you known each other?" one reporter shouted.

"Is this a reunion, or are you two officially back together?" another chimed.

"Arthur, what do you think of being immortalized in Helena's novel?"