The Public Stand

The next morning, the air was thick with tension. After the chaos of the previous day, Grace and Jax sat on the couch in the apartment, neither knowing quite how to fix the mess the photo had caused. The whole situation felt too big to ignore, but neither of them wanted to hide away from it. The more they thought about it, the more they realized there was only one thing they could do: face it head-on.

Jax looked over at Grace, eyes sharp with determination. "I think we need to go somewhere. Where there's a crowd. Where we can make a statement."

Grace blinked, unsure at first. "A crowd? Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Jax stood up, pacing across the room. "Look, we can't just sit here and hope it blows over. The photo's everywhere, and people are talking about it. But if we show up somewhere, deal with the questions, and show we're not afraid of the lies, it'll put an end to it."

Grace's mind raced as she processed what he was saying. A crowd, paparazzi, questions—they'd be walking straight into the fire. But part of her knew Jax was right. The more they ignored it, the worse it would get. Maybe this was their best shot.

"Okay," Grace said, slowly standing up. "But where do we go? And what do we even say?"

Jax gave a half-smile, walking over to her. "We go somewhere public. We let the paparazzi take their pictures, and when they start asking questions, we answer them. We tell the truth. About everything. And if people see us owning it, the narrative will shift."

Grace nodded, though she felt her nerves starting to creep in. She'd never been one for the spotlight, and facing a crowd of strangers with a camera aimed at her felt daunting. But as she looked at Jax, she saw the same uncertainty in his eyes—along with a resolve she couldn't help but admire.

"We'll be fine," Jax reassured her, sensing her hesitation. "We've got this."

Later that afternoon, Grace and Jax found themselves stepping out of a sleek black car at a popular park, a place well-known for attracting fans and paparazzi alike. The moment they arrived, the familiar sound of camera shutters clicking followed them. Flashing lights and murmurs of recognition filled the air.

Grace's heart raced. She could see fans gathering nearby, phones raised high as they whispered excitedly. Some of them shouted Jax's name, but a few of them eyed Grace with curious, almost accusing looks. The photo from yesterday had already circulated widely, and they were about to be face-to-face with the people who had fueled the rumors.

But Jax wasn't backing down. He grabbed Grace's hand gently, his touch reassuring despite the chaos around them.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice steady.

Grace swallowed hard and nodded. "Let's do it."

The two of them walked toward a bench in the park, where the crowd seemed to be gathering. As expected, a few paparazzi started to swarm around them. A couple of fans approached, eager to get pictures or ask questions.

"Jax! Grace! Is it true? Did someone hurt you, Grace?" one of the paparazzi shouted, camera lens focused on her.

Grace took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest, but she wasn't about to let this moment pass her by.

"No," she said, her voice louder than she expected, but strong. "That photo is completely fake. I've never been hurt. We're fine. The whole thing is a lie."

The crowd grew silent for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Jax stood beside her, looking calm but firm as he added, "This was blown out of proportion. Grace and I have been through a lot together recently, and we've got no secrets. The photo was edited, and it's not what people are making it out to be."

Another paparazzi shouted, "But there's been speculation! You guys are seen together all the time, and now there's this incident. What's really going on?"

Grace felt Jax squeeze her hand, silently giving her the strength to speak her mind.

"I know people have questions," she said, looking directly into the camera, her voice unwavering. "But this is our story to tell, and we're telling it now. There's no drama. No abuse. Just two people who decided to stop pretending. That's it."

The crowd was quiet now, waiting for a response. The moment felt like it was suspended in time. The tension, the judgment, the questions—they were all on the line. But in that moment, Grace felt more sure of herself than she had in days.

Jax put his arm around her, offering her a smile that was both reassuring and genuine. "We're real so don't spread rumours that we are fake.," he said simply, to no one in particular. "We love each other so much and we promise you guys it's not fake."

A few more questions were fired at them, but the energy had shifted. The paparazzi's cameras clicked with less frenzy now, as if they had caught what they came for. The whispers from the crowd had softened, and more than a few of the fans were starting to smile at the couple, relieved by the truth.

After what felt like an eternity, the paparazzi began to retreat, their attention waning as the real story started to sink in. The fans who had once been hesitant were now applauding, their phones raised to capture the moment.

It had worked. Grace and Jax had taken control of the narrative, and it was starting to feel like they were no longer at the mercy of the public's perception.

Later, as they walked away from the scene, the tension that had once surrounded them seemed to evaporate. Grace couldn't help but smile. The idea of facing everything head-on had terrified her, but now she felt... free.

Jax turned to her with a grin, his voice light. "See? I told you we'd be fine."

Grace chuckled, her eyes softening as she met his gaze. "You were right. For once."

Jax raised an eyebrow. "I'm always right."

She rolled her eyes, but the smile that tugged at her lips said it all. This was just the beginning. Whatever came next, they'd face it together.