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But then I realized this was a billionaire who didn’t have to follow anyone’s rules. People changed their schedules aroundhim.

Still, that didn’t make me feel any better. I was his fiancée now. Perhaps he should adjust his schedule to accommodateme.

“I assumed my considerate fiancée would give me more notice, knowing how busy I am.” I turned and grabbed my purse. “Where are we going?” I wanted to get this over with so I could go back to my painting.

“Wherever you want.”

I arched my eyebrows. Attikus didn’t seem like a man who didn’t have a plan. But at this moment, it appeared his visit to my studio was a spontaneous decision.

An idea popped into my head. I might as well make use of being engaged to one of the wealthiest men in the world.

“Let’s go to Saigon Bistro. I haven’t been there in a while.”

My mom and I used to love going there for authentic Vietnamese food.

Attikus just said. “Okay.”

As we walked out onto the street, he took my hand. Surprised, I looked over at him.

“We’re supposed to be engaged. Smile, people are watching across the street.”

I glanced over as two women quickly looked away with cell phones in their hands. A third woman with light brown hair stood off to the side by a parking meter, staring at us. I blinked at the familiar face as unease churned in my stomach.

“How do people even know about us? We only had the discussion yesterday.”

“My PR team informed a few friends from the media who told their friends. Things spread like wildfire when you know the right people.”

Curious, I paused in my steps and dug out my phone from my purse.

My social media accounts on Real Rumors and DailyThoughts had grown to over ten thousand followers overnight! I was tagged in several posts on DailyThoughts and clicked on the one at the top, which indicated it had been shown to the most people.

MirandaNews had an image of my art gallery.

Billionaire Attikus Mount is engaged to artist Nessa Lambert after a whirlwind romance.

But then someone sent his fiancée a severed finger to her gallery opening!

I gaped at the comments.

What could this mean?

Is it her ex?

Does she have enemies?

Is someone giving her the finger?

Did someone dare give Attikus the finger?

I switched to Real Rumors to see the same viral post from MirandaNews.

“Oh. My. God. I can’t believe this.” I wanted to laugh and cry. “This has grown into some monstrous narrative.”

“The media are a manipulative business.” He grabbed my phone, turned it off, and dropped it into my purse as though it were his.

“Hey! What are you doing?” I fumed.

“Trying to take your mind off irrelevant things.”