The Ex-Husband of Alice Langley

43

FOUR YEARS LATER
PARIS SWIFT-KELCE
Lauren sits close to me on the sofa, her hand resting lightly on my knee as we settle into our positions. The man across from us adjusts his notes, his expression professional but friendly. Both of us are dressed in tailored luxury pantsuits—mine a deep navy and hers a soft cream—designed to be both elegant and comfortable. Small microphones are clipped discreetly to our blazers, the cords hidden expertly so they don't disrupt the sleek lines of the fabric.

The room buzzes with activity; camera operators and lighting technicians move around, ensuring every angle and shadow is perfected. Large cameras stand on tripods, lenses trained directly on us, while a few assistants check the audio levels, adjusting the tiny earpieces we wear. The lights are bright but diffused, casting a warm glow that reflects off the polished surfaces of the equipment and gives the space a sense of professional intimacy.

"I can't believe we finally did it." Lauren smiles, her eyes shining as she squeezes my hand.

"I know, and with Clara." I glance down at our intertwined fingers, feeling the weight of everything we've accomplished. "The test trials, all the late nights—it all paid off. We're done. Tomorrow, the cure will be distributed to hospitals worldwide."

Lauren's smile widens, and I can see the relief mixed with pride on her face. We both know how hard it's been to get here—years of research, endless testing, and all the setbacks we had to overcome. But this moment makes it all worth it.

"Are the two of you ready?" the interviewer asks, adjusting his notes.

"Ready," I nod, feeling the weight of the moment.

"Ready," Lauren echoes, giving me a quick, encouraging smile.

"Sound?" the assistant director calls out, glancing at a monitor.

"Rolling," a crew member confirms, his eyes fixed on the equipment.

"Camera?" the assistant director checks again.

"Rolling," another crew member replies, nodding as they focus the lens.

"3, 2, 1, action," the director announces, and the room falls silent, all eyes on us.

The camera zooms in slightly, framing us as the interviewer begins. "Today, we have Paris Swift-Kelce and Lauren Cassidy, the brilliant minds behind the COVID-19 cure that's set to be distributed globally. First, congratulations to both of you."

"Thank you," I reply, squeezing Lauren's hand.

"It's been a long journey," Lauren adds. "But seeing it all come together—knowing we're about to make a difference—makes every second worth it."

"It's also strangely a love story. You met during this time, correct?" the interviewer asks.

"Yes. Lauren just couldn't resist me." I smile, turning to look at her.

"You were the one who asked me to kiss you!" She chuckles, giving me a playful nudge.

"Well, technically, yes. But you didn't say no." I laugh.

"Not my best decision," she teases. "But definitely my favorite one."

The interviewer nods, shifting the conversation back. "It's incredible. The two of you not only found a cure, but you've done it while managing so much else. Could you walk us through the process of how you developed the formula?"

I glance at Lauren, and she gestures for me to start. "It was a long and complicated journey. We started by analyzing multiple variants of the virus, focusing on spike protein mutations and how they evolved. Our goal was to find a universal inhibitor, something that could block the virus from binding to human cells, regardless of the variant."