The Scandal Begins
823 Words
The next morning, Elena woke up to the sound of her phone vibrating nonstop.
For a moment she thought she was still dreaming.
But when she reached for the phone on the bedside table, the screen lit up with dozens of notifications.
Messages.
News alerts.
Social media mentions.
Her stomach tightened.
Slowly, she opened the first news article.
The headline was bold enough to make her sit up immediately.
“Billionaire CEO’s Wife Linked to Missing Man Case.”
Elena felt her chest grow heavy.
She scrolled down.
The article repeated the same photo from last night—her and Marcus standing together on the university campus.
But this time, the story was worse.
Much worse.
It described their past relationship.
Their argument.
And the rumor that Marcus had disappeared shortly after their fight.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Someone had clearly given the media more information.
Information that only a few people knew.
“Elena.”
She looked up.
Alexander was standing by the bedroom door, already dressed in a dark suit.
His expression was calm, but there was a sharpness in his eyes.
“You saw it.”
Elena nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Alexander walked into the room and placed a tablet on the bed beside her.
“Look at this one too.”
Elena hesitated before picking it up.
Another article.
But this one came from a different news site.
The headline made her breath catch.
“Was Elena Rivera Involved in Her Ex-Boyfriend’s Disappearance?”
Her heart started beating faster.
“This is insane,” she whispered.
Alexander sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Yes.”
“But it’s also very deliberate.”
Elena looked at him.
“You think someone planned this?”
Alexander gave her a look.
“Stories like this don’t appear everywhere overnight unless someone pushes them.”
Elena’s mind immediately went to one person.
Anna.
But even Anna couldn’t have known everything about Marcus.
Could she?
Before Elena could say anything, Alexander’s phone rang.
He answered it immediately.
“Yes.”
His voice became colder as he listened.
“I see.”
A few seconds passed.
Then he ended the call.
Elena frowned.
“What happened?”
Alexander looked at her.
“That rumor isn’t just online anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s already affecting my company.”
Elena’s stomach dropped.
“Investors?”
“Some.”
“But more importantly…”
He paused.
“…the board.”
Elena felt a wave of guilt.
“I’m sorry.”
Alexander’s gaze softened slightly.
“This isn’t your fault.”
“But it’s my past.”
“And someone is using it.”
Elena looked down at the tablet again.
The article had thousands of comments already.
Some people defended her.
But many were suspicious.
Some were cruel.
“Maybe I should just explain everything publicly,” she said quietly.
Alexander shook his head immediately.
“That would make it worse.”
“Why?”
“Because right now it’s a rumor.”
“If you respond emotionally, the media will turn it into a confession.”
Elena sighed.
“So what do we do?”
Alexander stood up.
“We find the person behind this.”
Before she could respond—
her phone suddenly rang.
The number was unfamiliar.
Elena frowned.
“Unknown number.”
Alexander watched carefully.
“Answer it.”
She hesitated.
Then pressed the call button.
“Hello?”
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
A voice Elena never expected to hear again.
“Well… well.”
The voice was female.
Cold.
Amused.
“Elena, you’re trending everywhere today.”
Elena’s eyes widened.
“Anna.”
Alexander immediately looked at her.
On the other end of the call, Anna laughed softly.
“You sound surprised.”
“What are you doing?” Elena demanded.
“Oh, nothing.”
“Just watching the world discover what kind of person my dear sister really is.”
Elena’s grip on the phone tightened.
“You started those rumors.”
“Rumors?” Anna mocked.
“I didn’t invent anything. I simply… shared information.”
“Information you shouldn’t even have.”
Anna’s voice dropped slightly.
“Oh, but I do.”
A cold feeling spread through Elena’s chest.
“How?”
Anna chuckled.
“That’s the interesting part.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“What is she saying?”
Elena switched the phone to speaker.
Anna’s laughter filled the room.
“Ah… so the famous Alexander Hale is there too.”
Alexander spoke calmly.
“What do you want?”
Anna sounded delighted.
“Straight to the point. I like that.”
“You’re spreading false accusations.”
“Am I?”
“You’re damaging my wife’s reputation.”
Anna’s tone turned sharp.
“Oh please.”
“She ruined my life first.”
Elena stared at the phone.
“Anna, you stole
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