**Chapter 6: Unraveling Chaos**

As Ashley's finger hesitated over the screen, Avan's eyes locked onto hers, sensing her unease. "You should get it," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "It might be important." Ashley took a deep breath and answered the call, her voice cautious. "Hey, Mark. What's up?" Mark's voice was urgent on the other end of the line. "Ashley, I need to talk to you about the situation outside the hotel. It's getting out of hand. The paparazzi are going wild, and I just got a call from your publicist. She's saying that there's a rumor going around that you're in hiding, and that you're not cooperating with the police." Ashley's eyes met Avan's, and she could see the concern etched on his face. "I'm fine, Mark. I'm safe. Liz helped me get out of there, and Avan is with me now." Mark's voice was relieved. "Okay, good. That's good to hear. But we need to do damage control, Ashley. The media is going to spin this however they can. We need to get your side of the story out there before things get worse." Avan's hand tightened around hers, and Ashley could feel his tension. She knew that he was worried about her, and she was worried too. She didn't want to go back to that chaos, but she knew she couldn't hide forever. "What's the plan, Mark?" Ashley asked, trying to sound calm. "We need to get you to a press conference," Mark said. "We can spin this as a misunderstanding, and you can clear the air. But we need to do it soon, before the rumors get out of control." Ashley hesitated, feeling a sense of dread wash over her. She didn't want to face the media again, not yet. But she knew she had to. "Okay, Mark. I'll do it. But can I have some time to prepare? I don't want to go in there unprepared." Mark's voice was understanding. "Of course, Ashley. I'll send over a team to help you prep. We'll get through this, okay?" Ashley nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Thanks, Mark. I appreciate it." As she hung up the phone, Avan's eyes met hers. "What did he say?" he asked, his voice low and gentle. Ashley took a deep breath and summarized the conversation. Avan's face grew more serious with each passing moment, and Ashley could see the tension building in his shoulders. "We'll face it together," he said, his voice firm. "We'll get through this, Ashley. I promise." Ashley smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. She knew that she couldn't do this without him, and she was grateful to have him by her side. As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, Ashley felt a sense of determination rising up inside her. She was ready to face whatever came next, as long as Avan was with her. But little did she know, the chaos was just beginning to unravel, and their lives were about to change forever.