Chapter 11: A Dangerous Rumor
1223 Words
Victoria stepped onto the balcony with a man beside her.
He was tall, well-dressed, and carried the same confident arrogance that most of the guests inside the ballroom seemed to share. His dark suit looked expensive, and his eyes immediately scanned Adrian with clear recognition.
Victoria’s lips curved into a satisfied smile the moment she saw us standing together.
“Well,” she said smoothly, “this is convenient.”
Adrian’s expression instantly hardened.
“Victoria.”
The man beside her stepped forward slightly.
“Adrian Wolfe,” he said with a polite nod. “It's been a while.”
Adrian studied him for a moment before replying.
“Daniel Carter.”
I blinked.
Carter?
My last name was Carter, too, but I had never seen this man in my life.
Adrian seemed to notice my confusion.
“Daniel Carter owns Carter Holdings,” he said quietly.
That explained it.
A completely different Carter family.
Daniel’s gaze shifted towards me.
“And this must be the mysterious wide everyone is talking about tonight.”
His smile was polite, but something about it felt… calculating.
“Lena Wolfe,” Adrian said calmly.
Daniel nodded thoughtfully.
“Pleasure to meet you.”
“You too,” I said politely.
Victoria stepped closer to the railing, casually leaning against it.
“You know,” she said lightly, “Daniel and I were just discussing your sudden marriage.”
Adrian didn't react.
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes flicked towards me again.
“It surprised everyone.”
Daniel chuckled softly.
“You can't blame people for being curious.”
“Curious about what?” Adrian asked calmly.
Daniel shrugged.
“Well, Adrian, you’ve spent years avoiding relationships.”
His eyes moved toward me.
“And suddenly you appear with a wife no one has ever heard of.”
The implication hung in the air.
My stomach tightened immediately,
Victoria tilted her head.
“It doesn't seem... unusual.”
Adrian’s voice remained calm but firm.
“Lena and I met privately.”
Victoria smiled.
“Yes, she told your grandfather a charming story.”
My heart skipped.
How did she know that?
“Wirds tracks fast,” Victoria continued smoothly. Especially when people find something interesting,”
Adrian’s gaze sharpened.
“What exactly are you implying?”
Daniel lifted his hands slightly.
“Oh, nothing negative.”
His voice says otherwise.
“People are simply curious how somebody like Lena appeared so suddenly in your life.”
Victoria added sweetly, “And how quickly you decided to marry her.”
The subtle accusation made my chest tighten.
I understood what they were doing.
They were planting doubt.
Trying to make it sound like our marriage wasn’t real.
Adrian’s arm slides around my waist again.
His grip was firm.
Protective.
“My marriage doesn't require public approval,” he said coldly.
Victoria laughed softly.
“No, of course not.”
Her eyes moved toward me again.
“But public opinion can be…powerful.”
Daniel nodded thoughtfully.
“Especially for someone in Adrian’s position.”
Adrian’s patience was clearly fading.
“If you came here to spread rumors,” he said sharply, “you’re wasting your time.”
Victoria pushed herself away from the railing.
“Oh, I'm not spreading rumors.”
Her smile widened slightly.
“I'm simply repeating what people are already saying.”
My stomach twisted.
“What are they saying?” I asked quietly.
Victoria looked pleased that I finally spoke.
“That perhaps this marriage isn't what it appears to be.”
Silence fell on the balcony.
Adrian’s voice dropped slightly.
“Be careful, Victoria.”
She lifted her hands innocently.
“I'm just sharing the gossip.”
Daniel added calmly, “You know how these circles work.”
He looked directly at Adrian.
“When something unexpected happens, people ask questions.”
“And what kind of questions?” Adrian asked.
Daniel’s eyes moved towards me again.
“Questions like whether the marriage is genuine.”
The accusations were finally clear.
They believed our marriage was fake.
Or at least they wanted others to believe that.
Adrian’s arm tightened slightly around me.
“It is genuine.”
Victoria’s smile didn't change.
“Of course.”
Her tone said the opposite.
I felt anger rise in my chest.
This woman clearly wanted to humiliate me.
I looked directly at her.
“Why does it matter so much to you?”
Victoria seemed surprised by my question.
“It doesn't.”
“Then why are you so interested?”
For a moment, she didn't answer.
Then she smiled again.
“I suppose I'm just protective of Adrian’s reputation.”
Adrian scoffed.
“You’ve never cared about my reputation.”
Victoria’s eyes flashed.
“I cared enough once.”
The tension between them thickened instantly.
Daniel cleared his throat.
“Well, regardless of the rumors, I'm sure everything will become clear soon.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
Daniel smiled slightly.
“Public relationships tend to reveal themselves over time.”
Adrian’s voice turned colder.
“If you're waiting for my marriage to fail, you’ll be disappointed.”
Victoria looked amused.
“Are you sure about that?”
Adrian stepped closer to me.
His arm pulled me slightly against him.
The movement felt natural.
Intimate.
“Very sure,” he said.
Victoria studied us carefully.
Her e oressuon slowly changed.
The smug confidence faded slightly.
“You seem very convincing tonight,” she said.
Adrian’s voice remained calm.
“I don't need to convince anyone.”
Daniel checked his watch.
“Well,” he said casually,” I suppose we should return to the ballroom.”
Victoria didn't move immediately.
She continued watching Adrian and me for several seconds.
Then she sighed softly.
“I hope this marriage makes you happy, Adrian.”
Her tone sounded almost sincere.
Her eyes told a different story.
Because just before she turned to leave, she leaned slightly closer to me.
Her voice dropped into a whisper.
“Enjoy the attention while it lasts.”
Then she walked away with Daniel.
The balcony finally fell silent again.
I exhaled again.
“Well.. That was unpleasant.”
Adrian’s arm remained around my waist.
“Yes.”
I looked at him.
“Do you think they’ll so read rumors?”
“They already are.”
My stomach tightened.
“Will that cause problems for you?”
Adrian studied my face.
“No.”
His voice remained calm.
But I could see the tension in his eyes.
The business world he lived in clearly cared about reputation.
And Victoria knew it.
“She wants to provoke you,” I said.
“I know.”
“Why?”
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Then he said calmly,” Because she hates losing.”
I frowned slightly.
“Losing what?”
His gaze met mine.
“Me.”
The simple answer caught me off guard.
Before I could respond, the ballroom opened again.
Several guests stepped onto the balcony.
The quiet moment between us disappeared instantly.
Adrian straightened slightly.
“We should go back inside.”
I nodded.
As we walked back toward the ballroom, one thought kept repeating in my mind.
Victoria wasn't just jealous.
She was planning something.
And whatever it was…
It probably involved destroying our marriage.
- Writer
