Jess finally broke the silence, "Okay," he said, tapping his fingers against his thigh. "Damage control it is. But we do it together. We're a band, right? We ride this out as a unit."
Henry nodded in agreement. "Yeah. We'll do some interviews, reiterate our support for Rhys... and for Heather. Try to spin it as Rhys finally finding happiness."
Dave chimed in, "We need to be strategic. Coordinate our social media. No stray comments. Everything goes through the PR team for now."
Emmett looked at Rhys, his quiet eyes filled with genuine concern. "And you, Rhys? You need to be there for Heather. This is probably ten times harder for her than it is for us. She didn't sign up for this circus."
Rhys nodded, a wave of guilt washing over him again. They were right. He had been so focused on his own desire for honesty that he hadn't fully grasped the enormity of what he was dragging Heather into.
"I know. I'm going to be. I'll do whatever it takes to protect her."
"Good," Jess said, a hint of his usual fire returning. "Because if those online trolls so much as breathe a nasty word in her direction, they'll have to deal with all five of us."
A small, hesitant smile touched Rhys's lips. Despite the mess he had created, he wasn't alone. He had his band, his brothers in music, standing by him. And he had Heather, the woman who had unexpectedly walked into his chaotic world and shown him the meaning of real happiness.
He had to navigate this storm, not just for himself, but for all of them.
The aftermath unfolded in a series of meticulously planned appearances, social media updates saturated with insincere sweetness, and the persistent, demanding voice of Julian's office on the phone.
Rhys mechanically shared the statement dictated by his label across his accounts and Starlight Entertainment's online presence – words that felt alien on his tongue.
To my devoted fans,
I want to address the recent attention surrounding my personal life. My journey has been unexpectedly enriched by a profound connection with Heather. This development has been a deeply personal one, and while it may have unfolded in a way that has caused some concern, I want to assure you that my feelings are genuine.
I sincerely apologize if any of my actions have caused disappointment. I humbly ask for your understanding and respect for Heather's privacy during this time as we navigate this new chapter. Your continued support means the world to me.
The interview circuit was a carefully choreographed dance. Each member of Lux, seasoned professionals in the art of public relations, knew their roles.
Jess often took the lead, deflecting intrusive questions with humor and redirecting the conversation back to the band's music and upcoming tour dates.
"Look, Rhys is a grown man," he'd declare with a playful roll of his eyes during a radio interview. "If he's found someone who makes him happy, who are we to judge? We've met Heather, she's cool. Makes a mean latte, apparently. We're just glad our grumpy leader finally has someone to smile at that isn't one of us."
He'd follow it up with a self-deprecating jab about Rhys's notoriously bad moods, eliciting laughter from the hosts and subtly humanizing the situation.
Henry would offer quiet but firm support. "For us, it's always been about the music," he'd state in a televised interview, his deep voice carrying weight. "Rhys's personal life is his personal life. But as his bandmates and his friends, we support him. If Heather makes him happy and doesn't interfere with the music, then she's alright by us. And frankly, all this online negativity? It's a waste of energy. Let's focus on the new album."
Emmett, surprisingly, found a way to connect with the more artistic and sensitive segments of their fanbase. In a thoughtful online interview, he spoke about love and inspiration.
"Love comes in many forms, unexpected and beautiful," he'd say, his gaze earnest. "If Rhys has found that, then it will only enrich his music, our music. As artists, we draw from our experiences, and love is the most powerful muse of all. Let's celebrate that, not tear it down."
Dave would focus on the human element. "At the end of the day, Rhys is a human being, just like all of us," he'd say during a magazine interview. "He deserves happiness. Heather seems like a genuine person, and the way he looks at her? Trust me, that's not something you can fake. The online hate is just noise. Real fans will support Rhys, and by extension, support us. We're a family, and that includes anyone Rhys cares about."
They'd also subtly weave anecdotes into their interviews – Jess mentioning Heather bringing them all coffee backstage with a shy smile, Henry recalling a brief but friendly conversation about paintings, Emmett talking about Heather's insightful comments on one of their new tracks, Dave joking about Rhys finally having someone to drag him away from his endless video game sessions.
These small, humanizing details helped to paint a picture of Heather beyond the grainy paparazzi photos and the vicious online comments.
Their coordinated front, coupled with the PR team's strategic releases and Rhys's own carefully crafted statements, slowly began to chip away at the initial shock and negativity.
While the #RhysAndHeather hashtag remained a hot topic, the narrative started to shift, with more voices joining the conversation, urging understanding and respect. The Luxies, it seemed, were a force to be reckoned with, not just on stage, but in protecting their own.
Meanwhile, Rhys spent every spare moment with Heather, holed up in their home, trying to shield her from the relentless glare of the media. He held her close as they scrolled through the endless stream of online comments, the hateful ones a sharp contrast to the surprisingly heartfelt messages of support from some of his fans.
He tried to reassure her, to tell her that this storm would eventually pass, but he could see the fear and uncertainty in her eyes.
The hardest part was the constant feeling of being watched. Even within the relative safety of their home, they knew that every move they made, every outing, every shared glance, could end up splashed across the internet within minutes.
The anonymity they had once cherished was gone, replaced by the constant scrutiny of a million judging eyes.
One evening, as they sat on their room's balcony overlooking the forest, Heather wrapped her arms around him, her voice barely a whisper.
"Do you ever regret it, Rhys? Bringing me into all this?"
Rhys held her tighter, pressing a kiss to her hair. "Never, Heather. Never. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. This… this is just noise. We'll get through it. Together. Remember?"
He looked out at the sky, a million tiny sparks mirroring the chaotic world they now inhabited. He had made a grand, impulsive gesture, driven by love and a desire for honesty. Now, he had to face the consequences, not just for himself, but for the woman he loved and the band he considered his family.
The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: they would face it together, hand in hand, navigating the treacherous currents of fame and public opinion, hoping to find solid ground on the other side.