The Scandal Trap
1417 Words
The next evening, Emma arrived at an exclusive charity gala alongside Aiden. The moment they stepped onto the red carpet, the cameras exploded with flashes.
Reporters surged forward, calling out questions.
“Emma, do you think Bella Amore will choose you?”
“Are you ready to reclaim your career?”
“Aiden, is Darius Entertainment backing Emma’s return?”
Emma smiled smoothly, ignoring the chaos as she let Aiden guide her into the venue.
As they moved through the crowd, whispers followed them.
“She looks incredible.”
“I have never seen her more confident.”
“Sophia must be losing her mind right now.”
Emma took a champagne flute from a passing waiter and smirked at Aiden. “People cannot stop talking about me.”
Aiden chuckled. “That is what happens when you become the main event.”
Emma sipped her drink, scanning the room. “Sophia will not stay quiet much longer.”
Aiden nodded. “She is already planning something.”
Emma arched a brow. “How do you know?”
Aiden leaned in slightly, his voice low. “Because I know people like her. They fight dirty when they realize they are losing.”
Emma exhaled slowly. “Then let’s be ready for whatever she throws at me.”
Aiden’s dark eyes gleamed. “Always.”
Meanwhile, in a darkened parking garage, a figure slipped an envelope into a reporter’s hands.
“You know what to do,” the voice said.
The reporter nodded and quickly disappeared into the night.
Inside the car, Sophia leaned back against the seat, a smug smile on her lips.
“By tomorrow morning,” she murmured, “Emma Claire’s reputation will be in flames.”
Eden glanced at her warily. “Are you sure about this?”
Sophia’s eyes darkened. “Absolutely.”
Eden hesitated but then nodded. “Then let’s hope it works.”
Sophia smirked. “It will. By the time the press event happens, Emma will be nothing but a bad memory.”
The next morning, Emma’s phone buzzed with messages before she even opened her eyes.
She frowned, reaching for it, and her stomach twisted as she saw the headlines.
“Emma Claire’s Hidden Past: The Scandal That Could End Her Comeback!”
She sat up sharply, her pulse quickening.
Just as she was about to click on the article, the door to her room swung open.
Aiden stood there, his expression unreadable.
“Get dressed,” he said. “We have a problem.”
Emma exhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay calm.
She had expected Sophia to strike.
Now, it was time to strike back.
“Get dressed. We have a problem.”
Emma’s fingers tightened around her phone as she looked up at Aiden. His expression was unreadable, but the sharpness in his tone told her everything she needed to know.
She slid out of bed, her bare feet touching the cold floor. “What happened?”
Aiden walked further into the room, his presence filling the space effortlessly. “The media is running a story about your past. Someone leaked information. It is gaining traction fast.”
Emma exhaled slowly. She had expected Sophia to retaliate, but she had not expected her to move this quickly.
“What exactly did they say?” she asked, already unlocking her phone.
Aiden’s jaw tightened slightly. “They are trying to paint you as a failure. The headlines suggest that you were blacklisted from the industry because of scandals, not because of Davis’ influence. They are twisting the story to make it look like you were never worthy of your success in the first place.”
Emma scoffed. “Classic move. Attack my credibility.”
She scrolled through the articles, her eyes narrowing as she read the exaggerated headlines.
“Emma Claire’s Fall from Grace: The Model Who Could Not Keep Up.”
“Emma Claire’s Comeback Built on Lies?”
“Did Aiden Brooks Handpick a Disgraced Model to Be His Wife?”
Emma clenched her jaw. The last one irritated her the most. They were not just attacking her, they were dragging Aiden into it.
She looked up at him. “And what are we doing about this?”
Aiden took a step closer, his dark gaze locked onto hers. “We destroy whoever started it.”
His voice was smooth, but beneath it, there was a dangerous promise.
Emma met his gaze, her lips curving slightly. “And how do you suggest we do that?”
Aiden smirked. “We start by making them regret ever mentioning my name.”
The media world was in chaos. News anchors and entertainment bloggers scrambled to discuss the sudden scandal, some speculating on its origins while others eagerly dissected Emma’s past.
In the middle of it all, Sophia sat in her penthouse, sipping her morning coffee with a satisfied smile.
Eden stood nearby, his phone buzzing with incoming messages. He looked up at her. “It is spreading fast.”
Sophia smirked. “Good. By the time the press event happens, Emma’s reputation will be too damaged for Bella Amore to even consider her.”
Eden hesitated. “Are you sure about this? If Aiden Brooks gets involved.”
Sophia cut him off with a sharp look. “Aiden is powerful, but he is not invincible.”
Eden adjusted his glasses. “No, but he is ruthless. If he finds out you are behind this, he will not just ruin your career, he will make sure you never recover.”
Sophia set her cup down, her expression hardening. “Then let’s make sure he does not find out.”
Eden’s phone vibrated, and he glanced at the screen before looking back at her. “You might want to rethink that.”
Sophia frowned. “Why?”
Eden turned the phone toward her.
On the screen was a breaking news update.
“Aiden Brooks Takes Action, Media Giants Under Pressure for False Reports.”
Sophia’s stomach twisted slightly. “That was fast.”
Eden sighed. “You just declared war on a man who never loses.”
Back at Darius Entertainment, Aiden sat in his office, his presence alone commanding attention. Bryce stood in front of him, holding a tablet with the latest updates.
“Bloggers are already pulling articles,” Bryce reported. “News stations are scrambling to clarify their reports. They are scared, sir.”
Aiden smirked. “As they should be.”
Emma, seated across from him, leaned back in her chair. “That was quick.”
Aiden’s gaze flickered to her. “I do not give warnings, Emma. When someone crosses me, they lose everything.”
Emma studied him for a moment. She had always known Aiden was powerful, but seeing him work like this was something else entirely. He was not just controlling the media—he was owning it.
Bryce cleared his throat. “There is still one problem.”
Aiden raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”
Bryce hesitated. “The source of the story has not been confirmed yet, but all signs point to Sophia.”
Aiden’s smirk disappeared. His expression turned ice-cold. “Then find proof.”
Bryce nodded. “Already working on it.”
Emma tapped her fingers against the table. “Sophia thinks she is playing smart. She will not stop unless we make an example out of her.”
Aiden’s dark eyes gleamed with something dangerous. “Then we will.”
Emma exhaled. “We need to make sure Bella Amore sees this as nothing more than desperate sabotage. If we handle this right, it will only make me look stronger.”
Aiden nodded. “Then let’s handle it right.”
Sophia’s confidence wavered as she scrolled through the latest headlines. Instead of destroying Emma, the scandal was starting to backfire.
People were questioning the timing of the accusations. Some were defending Emma, calling it a clear attempt to ruin her comeback.
Sophia clenched her fists. “How is she still winning?”
Eden sighed. “Because Aiden Brooks is behind her. And when he fights, no one stands a chance.”
Sophia gritted her teeth. “Then we need to hit harder.”
Eden hesitated. “Or you need to stop before this turns into something you cannot fix.”
Sophia shot him a glare. “I am not stopping.”
Eden exhaled, shaking his head. “Then be ready. Because Aiden Brooks does not forgive.”
- Writer
