Chapter 9 Smoke Without Fire

Adrian's phone buzzed with sharp insistence the moment he stepped out of the boardroom.His meeting had run over, dragging into technicalities and board politics he barely had the patience for.

He didn't bother checking it at first - most meetings ended with noise. His staff knew better than to disturb him unless it was urgent.

But then Julian appeared at the end of the hallway, a tablet in hand and urgency carved across his face.

But Adrian didn't ask him about it .He kept on walking.

Julian trailed behind him, phone in hand, brows furrowed as he scrolled. "Adrian," Julian said lowly as they fell into step together. "You need to see this."

Adrian didn't slow down. "If it's another delay on the Zurich file-"

"It's not Zurich," Julian cut in, tone sharp. "It's... it's personal."

That word made Adrian stop. He turned slowly, catching the flicker of something rare in Julian's expression-uncertainty.

Adrian took the tablet without a word. The screen loaded to a blaring headline:

The screen displayed a tabloid-style post already racking up thousands of likes and shares.

BILLIONAIRE ADRIAN WOLFE SECRETLY MARRIED? Sources Claim Private Ceremony Took Place a Week Ago.Identity of the bride still undisclosed.

Below the title, there were blurred photos of a black car outside City Hall. Another of a woman stepping out, her face partially hidden by shadows and hair.

Elara.

He stopped walking.

The building's noise seemed to dull, like someone turned the volume down on the world.

It didn't matter that it showed nothing else. The internet was already ablaze.

He stared at the screen for a beat too long, jaw tightening.

Julian studied him. "Was this you?"

"No."

"Then who leaked it?"

Adrian didn't answer.

He handed the phone back and walked through the glass doors without a word.

"Do we know who leaked it?"

Julian shook his head. "It's spreading fast. I'm guessing a photographer caught wind of the City Hall thing, maybe someone from the license office."

Adrian's mind spun, but his face remained unreadable. Then he spoke - voice low, cold, steady:

"Order takedowns on every platform. I want every single version of that article erased by sundown."

Julian nodded and pulled out his phone. "Already on it."

Adrian turned away from him and began walking again. Slower this time.

This wasn't just a slip.

It was a message.

His uncle's name slid to the surface of his thoughts. That side of the family had been too quiet lately. And they'd made it clear what they thought about his new wife.

"Find out who's behind it," Adrian muttered, his tone now made of iron. "If it's coming from inside the family, I want names. Receipts. Everything."

"Understood."

"And Julian?"

"Yes, boss?"

"If they think I won't set the entire media structure on fire just to protect her, they've forgotten who I am."

Julian didn't respond. He didn't have to. They both knew it wasn't an empty threat.

The elevator ride up to his office was painfully slow. His reflection in the mirrored panels looked just as unreadable as ever. But inside, his thoughts churned.

He had been careful. Deliberate. Every staff member had signed an NDA. . So how-

His phone vibrated.

He checked the screen.

Elara.

Did you see the news? I thought we were keeping this private.

His grip tightened around the device.

She was right.

They had agreed.

And now her name could be dragged through the same mud that followed his family around like a curse.

He hit reply.

I'm handling it. Don't panic. I'll explain everything tonight.

But even as he sent it, he had no explanation to give.

Not yet.

Three dots appeared. Then vanished.

He waited.

Nothing came.

Adrian passed through the glass doors of his private office and shut them behind him. The city view stretched out before him, blurred slightly by his reflection in the window.

Adrian turned from the window, fire in his veins.Something deep inside him stirred, in protective, restless, and on edge.

Whoever leaked this...

They'd just made a mistake.

A very dangerous one.

He had promised her privacy.

And someone had crossed that line.

Now, he would make sure they bled for it.

---

The ride back to the estate felt longer than usual.

Elara sat in the back seat of the SUV, phone face-down on her lap, her reflection caught faintly in the tinted glass beside her. She hadn't spoken much since she saw the news . Even Cat had noticed and asked if she was okay. She'd lied. Said she had a headache. That she was just tired.

But inside, she was anything but tired.

She was panicking.

The post had been everywhere by afternoon-gossip blogs, fashion forums, even the front page of PulseOnline. They hadn't named her, but the headlines didn't need to.

Wolfe Adrian. Married in secret. Bride still unknown.

Unknown. Like she didn't exist.

She stared out the window as the estate gates opened, swallowed in silence.

Cain parked and stepped out to open her door, as always.but she beat him to it this time.

"Thanks," she murmured.

He only nodded, but there was something in his eyes-a flicker of concern but he said nothing.

She walked up the steps slowly, her heels clicking in the quiet estate. The house felt colder than usual. Or maybe it was just her.

Genevieve greeted her at the door with her usual pleasant tone, but Elara barely heard the words. She mumbled something about going upstairs and took the long route ,avoiding the study, the dining room, the library.

But when she reached the stairs, she saw the light from the library still on.

She stopped.

She shouldn't. She should go to her room. Shut the door. Lock herself in silence.

But before she knew it, her feet moved toward the light.

The library door was slightly ajar. She pushed it open gently.

Adrian was standing near the far window, back turned, sleeves rolled up to his forearms. There were papers on the table. His phone beside them. A half-full glass of something amber.

He turned when he heard her.

Their eyes locked.

He looked exhausted but alert. Calm but tense. In a way she was slowly growing used to.

"Elara," he said softly, almost like a question.

She didn't answer at first.

She stepped inside, shutting the door behind her.

"You said this would stay private."

His gaze didn't flinch. "And I meant it."

"Then why is the entire internet buzzing with headlines about a secret wedding and an unknown bride?" Her voice didn't rise. But the hurt in it cracked.

Adrian exhaled, stepping forward a little. "It wasn't me. I don't know how it got out. But I'm handling it."

Don't worry about it.

"You said that already," she replied. But do you know how it felt to sit in a room full of people laughing at the thought that someone like me could be your wife?

His jaw tightened.

"Elara..."

"They don't know, I get it. But this..." She motioned vaguely, "This wasn't part of the deal."

"No," he agreed. "It wasn't."

A silence stretched between them, thick and charged.

Then, finally, he spoke again. "I've already had Julian contact every outlet running the story. Cease and desist orders have been issued. They'll take it down."

She blinked. "Just like that?"

Adrian's mouth curved slightly .no smile, just steel. "I don't give warnings."

She stared at him, trying to wrap her head around the ease in which he said that.

Her heartbeat slowed, just a little.

Still, she said, "You can't erase everything."

"No," he agreed again. "But I can shield what matters."

Their eyes held.

For a moment, there was no Wolfe fortune. No tabloid gossip. No contract between them.

Just two people in the quiet.

"I didn't want them to know because I didn't want them to destroy it before it had a chance to become real," she whispered.

Adrian stepped closer.Close enough that the air between them turned warm. "Then let's decide what real looks like," he said. You and me. No one else.

Her lips parted slightly. Not a word. Just breath.

Then, she turned away.

"I'm tired," she said softly.

He nodded.

"I'll see you in the morning."

And she walked out,her heart beating faster than it should've.

And the unsettling feeling in her tummy ?

It had softened.

Just a little.

And when she turned to leave ,he wanted to stop her.

He walked halfway toward the door after her but stopped himself, he gripped the frame instead

But he wanted to.He felt the urge to say something.Something that could make her feel better.But nothing came,all he could come up with was ,"I'll see you in the morning."

F**k,that came out wrong.

He stood still, watching her retreat.

She walked out, her back straight but breath uneven.

His fingers curled slightly against the edge of the desk. Had she eaten today? She looked thinner like the stress was quietly carving at her. Her shoulders seemed heavier than usual, her steps a little slower.

In just a day...

She looked like she'd been carrying the weight of something far bigger than gossip.

And it unsettled him.

He had promised to protect her.

But promises meant nothing when the world came hunting with cameras instead of claws.

He pulled out his phone again.

"Julian," he said once the line picked up, "Find out who planted the leak. I want every platform that's carrying that story wiped clean by nightfall. Quietly. No loose ends."

Julian paused. "What about the ones who won't cooperate?"

Adrian's voice was ice.

"Make them cooperate. I don't give warnings."

He ended the call, tossing the phone onto the desk.

Outside the window, the world went on.Unbothered.So calm.

But inside , A storm was brewing inside drian Wolfe.

And absolutely certain of one thing:

Whoever lit that fire around Elara...

Was going to face the consequences.