Chapter 64: Emily's Sides.

After a few hours of rest and recuperation, Matthew and Emily decided to spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing in their room, watching a movie. Matthew chose a light romantic comedy, something he knew she liked, but as time went on, Emily began to show signs of boredom, shifting impatiently on the couch and letting out a few sighs.

Noticing this, Matthew stood up with an understanding smile. "Do you want something to eat? I'll go to the kitchen to get something."

Emily nodded, with a grateful smile. "If there's chocolate... I think it would cheer me up a bit."

Matthew laughed and headed to the kitchen, leaving her alone in the living room. As soon as he left, she took out her cell phone and, out of pure habit, opened her social network, not expecting anything special. But as soon as the screen loaded, her eyes widened when she saw the number of followers printed at the top of her page: 10 million. Surprised, she blinked a few times, as if trying to confirm what she was seeing, and soon realized that the number kept rising by the second.

The page was full of new comments from fans, supportive posts, and shares of recent photos of her. The news that she and Matthew had been seen together at the LoL World Championship event seemed to have fueled even more fan engagement. Many commented on her style, her interactions, and even speculated about the relationship between the two.

"Wow... ten million?" she muttered to herself, still in disbelief. Emily smiled, a little surprised by the amount of people who were following her now. She scrolled through the comments, reading some loving messages from fans, who said they were inspired by her and loved seeing her on screen and on stage.

When Matthew returned, carrying a tray with some snacks and chocolate bars, he found Emily completely absorbed in her phone, with a smile mixed with surprise and happiness.

"What happened?" he asked, curious, placing the tray on the table and sitting next to her.

Emily looked at him, still in shock. "Matthew... my followers. They reached 10 million!"

His eyes widened, impressed. "Ten million? That's incredible, Emily!" he said, holding her hand, visibly proud.

Emily smiled, looking back at her cell phone. "It seems like yesterday's event gave me a boost... and, well, I think you have something to do with it," she joked, giving him a loving look. "It's like all the love I receive is multiplied when we're together."

Matthew smiled, proud of her. "Well, you deserve it. There's something special about you, Emily, something that goes far beyond any social network. Your fans feel it."

Emily sighed, still taking it all in, and turned her attention back to him. "Thank you for being by my side, Matthew. I think that, even with all this, the best thing is knowing that I have you."

They exchanged a knowing smile, and Emily, feeling lighter and more grateful, settled down next to him.

As they continued watching the movie, Emily found herself distracted by the notification of a new post on her social networks. Curiosity led her to open the app again, and, to her surprise, she saw that "A Life of Questions!" was trending in daily searches. The movie, in which she was the star, seemed to be becoming a real phenomenon.

"Matthew, look at this!" she exclaimed, turning her phone towards him. "My movie is trending! 'A Life of Questions!' is trending!"

He looked at the screen with enthusiasm. "This is amazing! And it's just the beginning, I'm sure. But why didn't you tell me about the release date? I could have come to support you!" he asked, curious.

Emily frowned, thinking about what had happened. "I don't know… No one told me! I thought that since I'm the main character, I'd get some kind of announcement or launch event… but there was nothing. I just found out by chance!"

Matthew chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Actually, from what I heard, the crew decided not to have a formal opening or fashion show for the premiere. They wanted something more intimate, and on a low budget, which ended up being a surprising choice. What really made the film stand out was word of mouth. It seems that people who watched it really liked it and started sharing it on social media."

Emily thought about that for a moment. "Really? So even without a big event, people's connection to the story and the characters did the trick?"

"Exactly! It just goes to show how powerful your performance is and how people are connecting with what you brought to the role. You don't need a big fanfare when the content is this good," Matthew explained, a glint of admiration in his eyes.

Emily's expression changed from confusion to a mix of pride and accomplishment. "That means a lot, Matthew. The connection with the audience is what I've always wanted. And it's a little frustrating that I wasn't there to see it happen, but I'm so happy to know that people are really responding to the film."

"And you're at the center of it all," Matthew added, running his hand through her hair affectionately. "You're the star, and what really matters is the impact you're having on people. The fame will come, but the authenticity and the love for what you do, that's invaluable."

Emily smiled, feeling revitalized by his words. "Thank you, Matthew. You always know how to make me feel better. I really need that, especially now that the movie is doing so well."

"I'll always be here for you, no matter what. Let's celebrate when you're ready!" he said, squeezing her hand. "And who knows, maybe soon you'll have the chance to make a big debut for the next movie?"

She smiled back, her excitement growing as she imagined all the possibilities that could come. "Yes, that would be amazing. Let's make it happen!"

And with that renewed feeling, they went back to watching the movie.

As the movie continued to play, Emily, still on the adrenaline of talking about her success on social media, couldn't help but notice Matthew's phone on the table. On impulse, she picked it up and, in a moment of curiosity, started browsing his social media.

"Let's see what you've been up to around here," she said, with a mischievous smile.

Matthew watched her with an amused look. "Be careful what you find!"

She laughed, but her expression soon changed when she came across a photo of him that he had recently posted. The image showed Matthew at an event, with a charming smile, and right below, an avalanche of comments. Most of them were compliments, but some were blatantly provocative, with women offering themselves, commenting on how handsome and charming he was.

Emily felt a pang of irritation forming in her stomach. She began to read some of the comments out loud, trying to keep her tone light, but the possessiveness grew with each word.

"'When are you going to ask me out on a date, handsome?'" Emily read, her eyes narrowing. "'You're the kind of man I'd love to have by my side.' And one more… 'How about a drink just the two of us, Matthew?'"

She put her phone aside, her face a little more serious. "Wow, it seems some people don't understand what 'taken' means," she murmured, her tone now a little more sharp.

Matthew noticed the change in the atmosphere and approached, trying to ease the tension. "Hey, don't worry about it, Emily. They're just fans. I'm with you, and that's all that matters."

She crossed her arms, looking at him with an expression that was a mix of discontent and possessiveness. "But it's so annoying! They act like there's no one else in the world but you! It's not fair! I don't want you to become just an object of desire for them!"

Matthew leaned closer, looking into her eyes seriously. "Just remember one thing, Emily: I'm not just a 'hottie' to them. I'm your boyfriend, and you're the one I choose every day. What they say doesn't change that."

She sighed, feeling the tension starting to dissipate a little, but not completely. "I know, but… I can't help it. It just makes me possessive to think that someone might try to take you away from me. And you know how these things work, right? People can be pretty insistent when they think they have a chance."

Matthew took her hand, holding it tightly. "You don't have to worry. I'm yours, and nothing will change that. These things are just superficialities. What we have is real and deep, and I just want to build more moments with you."

Emily looked at him, her eyes softening as his words soothed her. "You're right. I trust you. It's just… well, you're very attractive, and I can't help but feel a little jealous."

"And that's normal," he replied, smiling. "But let's make a pact. I promise not to let myself get carried away by these things, and in return, you try not to stress about what other people say. We know what we have, and that's all that matters."

She smiled, feeling lighter with this promise. "Okay, pact made! I'll try to control myself."

"And I'll do my best to make sure you always know how much I value you," Matthew said, pulling her close and giving her a soft kiss.