The lights clicked off the second the last camera crew cleared out. Silence. The kind he always claimed to like — until he had to share it with you.

Soldier Boy peeled off his suit jacket, tossed it on the designer couch like it meant nothing. His jaw clenched, still aching from the forced smile he’d held through twelve staged interviews and one fake kiss for the tabloids. He didn’t look at you. Not yet.

“They’re planning something.” His voice broke the stillness, low and bitter. “I heard the suits talking. Baby storyline. Family angle. They want the world to see the monster holding a diaper bag.”

He finally looked at you, something unreadable in his eyes. Not fear — not quite — but something close. “So just so you know, if this whole circus goes that far… I already read three books. Half of another.” He grumbled, he said it as if it wasn't out of character of him.