Husband With Benefits

"What do you mean they didn’t argue at all?" Sir Rupert demanded, his brow furrowing as he turned his piercing gaze toward his informant. The news of Prince Kael’s unusually calm reaction to hearing about his lover spending the night alone with his own brother, Rafael, didn’t sit well with him.

Given Kael’s history and the depth of his possessiveness, any hint of his Dora being linked with another man should have sparked an intense, irrational response. Especially Rafael who had always been his natural rival. Kael’s reaction should have been explosive, marked by an interrogation or at the very least, a display of cold disdain. Yet, according to the informant, nothing of the sort had occurred.

The informant, shifted uncomfortably under Rupert’s intense scrutiny and cleared his throat before responding. "Sir, from what I was able to gather, Princess Isidora returned earlier this morning and met Prince Kael for a late brunch. There were no signs of tension between them, and they seemed to enjoy their time together. However, they didn’t have much time, as Prince Kael had to leave shortly afterward for an important business conference in the afternoon."

"Yes, I’m well aware of the conference," Sir Rupert interrupted, a hint of impatience creeping into his voice. "But Rafael and Isidora are a hot topic of conversation everywhere right now! Everyone is talking about them. Why, then, did these two not argue? Surely he would have been at least a little cold toward her, if not outright furious? His lover spent the entire night on a deserted island with another man! Is he not the least bit bothered? Did you consult the body language expert?"

The informant hesitated, as if weighing his next words carefully. "Yes, sir. There was nothing of the sort in their body language to indicate that they were not in perfect harmony with each other according to the expert as well. They both behaved as if there wasn’t anything amiss between them. No heated words, no distant glances. They had a pleasant meal together, shared some light conversation, and then went their separate ways, as if nothing unusual had happened."

Sir Rupert’s frown deepened as he dismissed the man. This was beyond interesting. Prince Kael showed no sign of jealousy or frustration? Not even a subtle shift in his demeanor? How did the leapord change his spots? It seemed he had underestimated the relationship between these two. Or rather he had underestimated Isidora Sterling who had somehow helped Kael overcome his past. Very good. But the point was how much stronger was the trust and how much pressure could it take? Only time would tell. This was just the beginning.

Picking up his phone, Rupert made another call, his mind already devising his next move. "The trending topic? What’s the point of a few pictures taken in the dark of night? The buzz will fade if not sustained. If you want to make the most of this, you need more compelling material. Dig up photographs from past events, meetings—anything that can be used to construct a narrative. Have someone edit them to create the illusion of a deeper connection between Rafael and Isidora. Present it as a tragic love story thwarted by their societal positions. Find images where they appear lost or distant, and merge them as if they’re gazing longingly at each other. You’re capable of this. Do I need to spell out every detail?"

He paused, listening to the response from the other end before nodding in satisfaction. "Yes, make sure to stoke the flames. Every netizen should be rooting for their love to overcome all odds."