Chapter 16:The Storm Unleashed

For a long moment, silence stretched between the three of them.

Lena could feel the weight of Ethan’s gaze drilling into her, a mixture of fury and something far more dangerous—betrayal.

He reached for Trina’s phone with slow, deliberate movements, as if forcing himself to keep his composure. His fingers tightened around the device as he scanned the image, the muscle in his jaw clenching.

Then, with a sharp exhale, he turned the screen toward Lena.

“Care to explain this?” His voice was quiet—too quiet.

Lena swallowed hard. “I—”

Ethan didn’t wait for her answer. He turned to Trina. “Where did you get this?”

Trina, for once, looked momentarily stunned by his intensity, but she quickly recovered. “It’s everywhere. The article dropped less than ten minutes ago, and it’s already making rounds on social media.”

Ethan let out a low curse, running a hand through his hair before fixing his gaze on Lena again.

“You didn’t think to tell me?” His voice was still calm, but the storm was brewing beneath the surface.

Lena bristled. “I only just saw it, Ethan. And maybe if you’d given me a second to—”

“Who took the picture?” he interrupted.

Lena blinked. “How am I supposed to know?”

Ethan’s patience snapped.

“You’re supposed to know because someone is trying to use you to get to me, Lena!” His voice finally rose, filled with the kind of restrained rage that sent a chill down her spine. “This isn’t just a scandalous headline. This is an attack. On you. On me. And I need to know who’s behind it.”

Trina let out a slow whistle. “Wow. So you’re saying this isn’t just some paparazzi catching you two at the wrong time? Someone actually orchestrated this?”

Ethan shot her a sharp look. “Yes. And if you’re as close to Lena as you say you are, you’d want to help figure out who.”

Lena felt her pulse hammering. It made sense. Of course, it did. Ethan was a billionaire—one of the most sought-after men in the country. The media loved to speculate about his love life, but this? This was calculated.

And there was only one person she could immediately think of who had the motive.

Victoria.

But before she could voice her suspicions, Ethan stepped closer, lowering his voice.

“This is exactly why I came here tonight, Lena.”

She tensed. “What?”

“I came to warn you.”

Lena exchanged a glance with Trina before looking back at him. “Warn me about what?”

Ethan exhaled sharply. “I found out something earlier today—something that makes this leak seem a little too convenient.”

Her stomach twisted. “What do you mean?”

Ethan’s expression darkened. “I got a call from one of my security contacts. Someone has been digging into your past, Lena. Your job history. Your connections. Your life before you ever met me.”

Lena’s breath caught.

“What?” Trina snapped, stepping in now. “Are you saying someone is investigating her?”

“Yes,” Ethan said, his gaze locked onto Lena’s. “And considering this photo leak? It means whoever is behind it isn’t just trying to stir up gossip. They’re trying to destroy you.”

Lena felt her entire body go cold.

Victoria. It had to be.

But why? Why go after her now?

Ethan raked a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “I didn’t want to come here like this. I didn’t want to drag you into my world any deeper than you already are, but this isn’t just about you anymore.” His voice softened slightly, but the intensity remained. “It’s about both of us.”

Lena hated the way her heart clenched at that. Hated that despite everything, she still felt that pull toward him.

But before she could respond, Ethan’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen—and his expression hardened.

“Damn it.”

Lena’s stomach tightened. “What now?”

Ethan turned the screen toward her.

It was another leaked article.

This one with an even more damning headline.

“ETHAN MONTGOMERY'S SECRET LOVER? SOURCES CLAIM SHE’S NOT JUST A REPORTER—SHE’S A GOLD DIGGER.”

And beneath it—another photo.

One from months ago.

Of the night she and Ethan had first met.

Lena felt the room spin.

This wasn’t just a media scandal.

This was war.