"Good afternoon. I'm Nora Mann, and today I'm speaking with Charity Pembroke and Draco about their relationship and the media storm that's followed them over the past few days. Thank you both for being here."
My mouth is dry. Draco's thumb strokes across my knuckles—once, grounding.
"Let's start simply," Nora says. "How did you two meet?"
Draco doesn't hesitate. "I was squatting in her family's cottage. Not my proudest moment, but I needed somewhere to stay, and it looked empty."
I watch Nora's expression—she doesn't flinch, doesn't judge. Just nods for me to continue.
"I found him there," I say. "He didn't try to con me or make excuses. He was just… honest. He offered to leaveimmediately."
"But you asked him to stay."
"I did. And then he found Lucky for me—our shaggy dog. I'd mentioned I always wanted a pet, and he brought me this rescue he'd found."
"Lucky's a good wingman," Draco adds with a slight smile.
Nora leans forward. "Charity, you recently walked away from a substantial inheritance. Can you talk about that decision?"
Here it is. The question that defines everything.
"My parents gave me an ultimatum," I say, forcing my voice steady. "Choose my family and their expectations, or choose my own life. They thought it was an easy choice—who would walk away from that kind of security?" I pause, making sure I get this right. "But I'd been living in a beautiful cage my entire life. Draco didn't break me out—he just showed me that the door was already open. I chose to walk through it."
"Do you regret it?"
"No." The word comes without hesitation. "I regret that it had to come to this. I regret that my parents couldn't accept my choices. But I don't regret choosing myself. Or him."
Nora turns to Draco. "You've been identified as one of the men from the Second Chance Sanctuary—scientifically verified as having been preserved in ice for two thousand years. What's it like, being thrust into the spotlight after choosing anonymity?"
"Terrifying," he admits. "I spent months building a quiet life. And then suddenly I'm on every tabloid, being called a golddigger, watching people dissect my relationship like it's entertainment."
"How do you respond to that accusation?"
His jaw tightens. “Charity gave up her inheritance. I never asked her to do that; just like I never asked her to do what would have been required to keep the family money. Our relationship has never been about finances. Whether she had everything or nothing at all, I’d still be here.”
"What do you say to people who think this happened too fast?"
We look at each other. I see two thousand years of survival in his eyes, and something else—the way he looks at me like I'm the first real thing he's found in this new world.
"I say they don't know what it's like to find your person," I answer. "The one who makes you braver and freer and more yourself. When you find that, you don't walk away just because the timing is inconvenient."
"She's worth fighting for," Draco says simply. "Whatever the media says, whatever obstacles get thrown at us—she's worth it."
Nora asks a few more questions—about our future, about how we're handling scrutiny. At one point, she brings up the challenges of his background, and Draco cuts through it with an edge I've rarely heard.
"That's insulting to both of us," he says. "It assumes I'm manipulative, and she's helpless. Charity is one of the strongest people I've ever met. She doesn't need protecting from me—she needs support in her own choices."
I fall a little more in love with him right then.
"Thank you both," Nora says as the thirty-minute mark hits. "I think you've given people a lot to think about."
The camera light goes off.
Nora thanks us, then adds quietly, "For what it's worth, I think you two are the real thing. Good luck."
The taxi ride back to the hotel is quiet at first. We're both wrung out, emotionally exhausted from putting ourselves on display like that.
"You were amazing," I finally say.
