My Husband Is An International Idol

Chris remained standing outside the suite long after Liliana’s sobs had quieted.

His raised hand slowly fell back to his side.

Every instinct told him to open the door, hold her, and explain everything. Yet after hearing her cry, he suddenly realized that words alone might no longer be enough.

The suite door opened unexpectedly.

Emily stepped outside.

She froze for a brief second before letting out a quiet sigh.

"So you were here."

Chris nodded.

"I heard her."

Emily gently closed the door behind her to avoid disturbing Liliana. Neither of them spoke. The hallway felt unusually silent.

Chris finally broke the silence.

"Emily..."

"She hates me, doesn’t she?"

Emily looked at him for several seconds before answering honestly.

"No."

"She’s hurt."

Chris lowered his eyes.

"I tried to message her."

"Her phone died."

"I attended the reception because Dad asked me to. Ruby introduced me to her father. I never intended for those pictures to happen."

Emily folded her arms.

"I believe you."

Chris looked up hopefully.

"But..."

Emily continued.

"You were careless."

Her words landed harder than Chris expected.

He frowned.

"Careless?"

Emily nodded.

"Yes."

"You knew the media would follow every move you made. You knew people were already watching you and Lily after the press conference. Yet you still walked around with Ruby without thinking how it would look."

Chris rubbed his forehead.

"I didn’t think photographers would twist everything."

"They always do." Emily answered immediately. "You’re an international idol. You’re not an ordinary person anymore."

Chris remained silent.

Emily stepped closer.

"And this isn’t only about Ruby. It’s about both of you."

Chris looked confused.

"What do you mean?"

Emily sighed.

"The biggest mistake wasn’t last night. It started long before France."

Chris’s brows knitted together.

Emily met his eyes.

"Your secret marriage."

Chris stiffened.

"We agreed to keep it hidden."

Emily shook her head.

"No."

"Liliana agreed."

"You followed her decision."

Chris opened his mouth to respond.

Emily didn’t let him.

"You’ve had so many opportunities to tell the truth." She paused.

"The press conference. The interviews. The charity event. Every time someone questions your relationship. Instead, both of you kept hiding."

Chris spoke quietly.

"That was what Lily wanted."

"And you let her carry that burden."

Emily’s voice remained calm, but every word struck with precision.

"Chris, you’re her husband. You shouldn’t always be following her. Sometimes, you should be leading."

Chris froze.

Emily continued.

"You keep saying you’re protecting her. But look at what’s happening. She’s crying alone inside that room. She’s blaming herself. She’s convincing herself she has no right to feel jealous because your marriage was arranged."

Chris’s expression slowly changed.

Emily’s eyes softened.

"If you truly have feelings for Lily, stop letting her protect you. You should be the one standing in front of her. You should be the one telling the world you’ll protect both of you. Not the other way around."

The hallway became silent once more.

Chris couldn’t find a single argument. Because every word Emily spoke was true.

After several moments, Emily placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Talk to her. But don’t expect this to disappear with one apology."

Chris nodded slowly.

"I understand."

Emily quietly stepped aside.

"She’s waiting."

Taking a deep breath, Chris knocked softly.

A few seconds later, the door opened.

Liliana stood there.

Her eyes were swollen from crying, though she had already washed her face.

She stepped aside without saying a word.

Chris entered.

The room fell silent again.

Neither of them knew where to begin.

Chris finally spoke.

"Lily, I’m sorry."

She remained standing near the window.

"I read your message."

"My phone died."

"I know."

Chris nodded.

"I should’ve found another way to tell you."

Liliana gave a faint nod.

Silence returned.

Chris gathered his courage.

"The photographs with Ruby. Nothing happened. She introduced me to her father. The reception continued until morning. I never stayed alone with her."

Liliana quietly listened.

"I know."

Chris blinked.

"You... know?"

"I never believed the rumors."

Her calm answer surprised him.

"I know you wouldn’t betray me."

Relief briefly appeared on Chris’s face.

Then Liliana spoke again. "But that doesn’t mean I’m not hurt."

His smile disappeared. She finally turned toward him.

"You saw me surrounded by people. You couldn’t reach me. I understand that." She paused.

"But when you left, you didn’t even try to find me again."

Chris frowned. "I had to go with Dad."

"I know. You accepted Ruby’s invitation immediately."

"It was work."

"So was my tour around Paris."

Chris fell silent.

Liliana looked directly into his eyes. "Did the pictures upset you?"

Chris answered honestly. "Yes. They did."

She nodded. "They upset me too."

Another heavy silence settled between them.

Chris took a step closer.

"Lily... I was jealous."

The confession surprised even himself.

"I hated seeing another man beside you."

Liliana laughed softly.

There was no joy in it.

"So you can be jealous, but I can’t?"

Chris stared at her.

"I didn’t say that."

"You didn’t have to."

Her voice finally rose.

"For five years I’ve tried not to become a burden. I accepted everything. I never questioned your schedules. I never complained. I kept our marriage secret because I thought it was protecting you. And now..."

She struggled to steady her breathing.

"Now I’m wondering if I was only protecting myself from being rejected."

Chris’s heart clenched.

"Lily, that’s not true."

"Then tell me what is true."

She looked at him with tear-filled eyes.

"Why are we still pretending?"

Chris opened his mouth. No words came.

He wanted to tell her. He wanted to confess everything. That he loved her for years. That every decision he made had been for her.

But fear stopped him.

Fear that she still believed their marriage was only an obligation. His silence became his answer.

Liliana smiled bitterly.

"I understand."

Chris immediately shook his head.

"No, you don’t."

"Then explain."

"I..."

Again...

Nothing came out.

The room suddenly felt unbearably small.

Chris closed his eyes. "I can’t do this right now."

Liliana looked away.

"I figured."

Those three words hurt more than any accusation.

Chris stood motionless for several seconds.

Then, he turned around. Without another word, he walked toward the door.

The sound of it quietly closing echoed through the suite.

Liliana remained standing by the window, staring at the Paris skyline through eyes blurred with tears.

Outside the room, Chris leaned against the hallway wall and covered his face with both hands.

For the first time since becoming husband and wife, their conversation had not ended with comfort.

It had ended with distance.

And for the first time...

Chris St. Claire walked away from Liliana.

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