BOUND TO THE BILLIONAIRE BY CONTRACT

RUMORS BEGIN

Chapter 26 – Rumors Begin

The following morning, Carter Manor was peaceful.

Golden sunlight filtered through the tall windows as the household gathered for breakfast.

Olivia entered the dining room carrying a basket of freshly baked muffins.

"I tried a new recipe," she announced with a smile.

William's eyes lit up.

"Now this is the kind of news I like."

Ethan looked up from the financial newspaper in his hands.

"You baked again?"

Olivia nodded.

"I hope they're edible."

William laughed.

"If they're anything like your cookies, I'll be asking for seconds."

She placed a muffin onto Ethan's plate.

"You'll be the first judge."

Ethan took a bite.

He chewed thoughtfully.

Olivia watched him expectantly.

"Well?"

He looked at her.

"I think Chef Martin is about to lose his job."

Olivia burst into laughter.

"I'll tell him you said that."

Even Ethan laughed quietly.

For a brief moment, all thoughts of Victor Hayes disappeared.

---

After breakfast, Ethan prepared to leave for Carter Group.

As he reached the front door, Olivia called after him.

"Ethan."

He turned.

"Yes?"

She walked over and adjusted his slightly crooked tie.

"There."

"You were in too much of a hurry."

He looked at her with a faint smile.

"I guess I was."

Daniel, standing nearby, couldn't help smiling.

These little moments between them had become an everyday occurrence.

Before leaving, Ethan leaned closer.

"I'll try to be home early."

Olivia smiled.

"I'll believe it when I see it."

He chuckled before getting into the waiting car.

---

At Carter Group Headquarters...

The morning meeting had barely begun when Richard Collins entered Ethan's office carrying a tablet.

"You should probably see this."

Ethan looked up.

"What is it?"

Richard placed the tablet on the desk.

A celebrity news website displayed several photographs.

The first showed Ethan and Olivia dancing at the charity ball.

The second showed Ethan helping Olivia into the Rolls-Royce.

The third...

Showed Adrian Brooks standing beside Olivia at the community center, both smiling naturally after volunteering.

The headline read:

WHO IS THE MYSTERY MAN FREQUENTLY SEEN WITH MRS. OLIVIA CARTER?

Ethan's expression immediately darkened.

He scrolled farther down.

The article carefully avoided making direct accusations.

Instead, it asked questions.

"Has Mrs. Carter found a new charity partner?"

"Why does the businessman continue appearing wherever she volunteers?"

"Coincidence... or something more?"

Richard sighed.

"It's already spreading online."

Ethan immediately picked up his phone.

"Daniel."

"Yes, sir?"

"I want every article traced."

"Find out who leaked those photographs."

"Immediately."

"Yes, sir."

Ethan stared silently at Adrian's smiling face in the photograph.

He wasn't angry with Olivia.

Not even for a second.

He trusted her completely.

But someone...

Was trying to create a story that didn't exist.

---

Across the city...

Victor Hayes smiled as he watched television.

The entertainment channels had already picked up the story.

His assistant entered.

"The article is spreading faster than expected."

Victor nodded.

"People don't need evidence."

"They only need something interesting to talk about."

"What about Ethan?"

Victor smiled.

"He'll defend Olivia."

"I'm counting on it."

The assistant looked confused.

"Then why publish the story?"

Victor's smile widened.

"Because rumors..."

"...grow on their own."

He picked up another photograph from his desk.

It showed Adrian handing Olivia a box of children's books.

"By the time people stop asking questions..."

"...the damage will already be done."

---

Meanwhile...

Olivia was completely unaware of the headlines.

She spent the afternoon at Carter Manor helping William organize old family photographs.

She laughed as she held up one picture of a young Ethan wearing oversized glasses.

"He was adorable."

William laughed loudly.

"He hated those glasses."

"I can imagine."

Just then, Anna hurried into the room carrying her phone.

"Mrs. Carter..."

She looked worried.

"I think you should see something."

Olivia frowned slightly.

"What happened?"

Anna handed her the phone.

As Olivia read the headline...

The smile slowly disappeared from her face.

She stared silently at the photograph of herself and Adrian.

Then she whispered,

"...What is this?

Olivia stared at Anna's phone, her fingers tightening around it.

The article filled the screen.

Below the headline were several photographs.

One showed Adrian handing her a box of children's books.

Another showed them laughing with the children at the community center.

The last picture had been carefully cropped so that none of the children appeared.

It made them look as though they had been alone together.

Olivia felt her stomach sink.

"This..."

"...this isn't true."

Anna nodded immediately.

"We know, Mrs. Carter."

"But people online don't."

William adjusted his glasses before taking the phone from Olivia.

His expression darkened as he read the article.

"This wasn't written to tell the truth."

"It was written to make people doubt."

Olivia lowered her head.

"They're using charity work against me."

William placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"The people who truly know you won't believe this."

Even so...

The words still hurt.

---

At Carter Group Headquarters...

Daniel entered Ethan's office.

"Sir."

"I traced the photographs."

Ethan looked up immediately.

"And?"

"They weren't taken by reporters."

"They came from anonymous sources."

"What about Adrian Brooks?"

Daniel hesitated.

"We investigated him."

"What did you find?"

"Nothing suspicious."

"His record is clean."

"He's donated to charities for years."

Ethan leaned back in his chair.

"Which makes this even stranger."

Daniel nodded.

"It feels... planned."

Ethan looked at the article again.

Someone had deliberately chosen photographs that could be misunderstood.

Someone wanted people talking.

He already knew who.

---

At Carter Manor...

Olivia sat quietly in the library.

For the first time since marrying Ethan...

She felt anxious.

What if he saw the article?

What if people believed it?

She trusted Ethan.

But she hated the thought of causing him trouble.

A few moments later, she heard the front door open.

Ethan was home.

Much earlier than expected.

His footsteps echoed through the hallway until he reached the library.

Their eyes met.

Neither of them spoke at first.

Olivia slowly stood.

"I..."

"I'm sorry."

Ethan frowned.

"For what?"

She picked up the phone and showed him the article.

"I didn't know they were taking pictures."

"I didn't know they'd write something like this."

She lowered her eyes.

"I never wanted to embarrass you."

Ethan looked at the article for only a second before locking the phone.

Then he looked back at Olivia.

"Come here."

She looked confused.

"What?"

"I said..."

"...come here."

She slowly walked toward him.

Without another word...

He gently took both of her hands in his.

"Look at me."

She lifted her eyes.

"Do you think I believe this?"

She blinked.

"I don't know."

"I do."

He answered firmly.

"I know exactly who you are."

"You've never lied to me."

"You've never given me a reason to doubt you."

His voice remained calm.

"So why would I start now?"

Tears filled Olivia's eyes.

"You..."

"...you trust me?"

Ethan smiled gently.

"Completely."

A tear slipped down her cheek.

"I was so afraid..."

He carefully brushed the tear away with his thumb.

"You don't have to be."

"As long as I know the truth..."

"...nothing else matters."

Olivia couldn't stop herself.

She wrapped her arms around him.

For a brief moment, Ethan seemed surprised.

Then...

He slowly returned the embrace.

Holding her gently against him.

William quietly watched from the doorway.

A warm smile spread across his face.

"They've stopped pretending."

"They just don't realize it yet."

---

Across the city...

Victor Hayes sat in his office, waiting for the news reports to continue.

His assistant walked in.

"Sir."

"The articles are everywhere."

Victor smiled.

"And Ethan?"

"Our sources say he left work early."

Victor laughed softly.

"Good."

"The rumors are working."

Just then, his phone buzzed.

His smile faded as he read the message.

Update: Ethan Carter publicly denied every rumor and ordered his legal team to sue every media outlet that published the false story.

Victor narrowed his eyes.

"So..."

"He chose to protect her."

He wasn't angry.

Instead...

He smiled.

"Interesting."

The assistant looked confused.

"Our plan failed?"

Victor slowly shook his head.

"No."

"It told me exactly what I wanted to know."

"What?"

Victor looked out over the city.

"Ethan Carter trusts Olivia without question."

He folded his hands behind his back.

"That trust..."

"...will be much harder to break."

He smiled coldly.

"But not impossible."

---

That night...

As rain began to fall outside Carter Manor, Ethan and Olivia stood together on the balcony outside the library.

Neither of them spoke.

The silence between them was comfortable.

Peaceful.

Finally, Olivia looked at him.

"Thank you."

He smiled.

"For what?"

"For believing me..."

"...without asking a single question."

Ethan gently squeezed her hand.

"I'll always believe you."

Her heart skipped a beat.

For the first time...

Those words didn't sound like something a husband said out of obligation.

They sounded like a promise.

Hidden far beyond the estate gates, another camera clicked.

Someone captured the image of Ethan and Olivia standing hand in hand beneath the rain.

The photograph was immediately sent to Victor Hayes.

He stared at it for several seconds before smiling.

"The stronger their bond becomes..."

"...the more satisfying it will be to test it.