?Chapter 503:


    Kaiden, meanwhile, leaned casually against a desk, his posture rxed yet deliberate. He rarely stood this way unless he felt uneasy. His gaze fixed on Carole, sharp and questioning. “Then, who’s behind the gossip?”


    “What do you mean by that?” Carole looked up at him, her expression one of puzzled innocence.


    Jerome handed her a photograph showing her in lively conversation with a woman at a banquet, a moment captured in apparent happiness. “This woman, the one who runs her own social media, spread the rumor. She imed to have your approval before posting it online. In other words, you sanctioned her actions.”


    The photo left Carole speechless, her anxiety palpable. Her heart pounded as she gripped the photograph, her fingers trembling so much that the edges crumpled under the pressure.


    Kaiden tasked Jerome with uncovering the origins of the rumor, leading to the discovery of Carole’s involvement. Given her unique status, Jerome approached the situation with caution, seeking guidance. “Kaiden, how should we proceed?”


    Kaiden decided, “Issue a denial on GT Group’s official Twitter. No, better yet, I’ll handle it personally. Set up a new ount for me.” He intended to set the record straight under his own name, marking a departure from his usual preference for traditionalmunication methods.


    Jerome nodded, a hint of surprise on his face at Kaiden’s modern approach, and left to carry out the instructions.


    The lounge, a modest space of 20 square meters, became the backdrop for a tense moment between Kaiden and Carole.


    Carole’s anxiety mounted under Kaiden’s silent gaze, feeling as though she was on trial.


    “Kaiden, the woman behind this is a friend who’s supported me in the past. She thought some shocking news would draw attention and asked for my help, so I helped her,” she stammered between sobs. “Kaiden, I realize now how disruptive my actions were. I’m sorry if they’ve upset you,” she pleaded, hoping for his understanding.


    Kaiden, growing weary of her excuses yet maintaining a calm demeanor, interrupted, “Carole, I’m not angry at you.” His reassurance caught her off guard.


    G  al  no vel s . holds tales worth reading


    “Really?” she inquired, a flicker of hope in her eyes.


    “Yes,” he confirmed, “but Ellie was angry at me.”


    Carole’s brief relief was shattered by this revtion, leaving her momentarily frozen.


    Was Kaiden confronting her because Ellie had expressed her displeasure to him?


    “Kaiden, you’ve always been indifferent to gossip. Even when rumors of us circted, you paid them no mind. I assumed this wouldn’t bother you either.” She tried to pin the problem on his unexpected reaction, aiming to absolve herself of guilt.


    Kaiden, in search of a brief escape from the tension, lit a cigarette. Previously, he’d dismissed rumors as harmless, but this recent one had driven a wedge between him and Ellie.


    “Carole, I’ve told you countless times: Ellie is my wife.” His statement hinted at the importance of considering Ellie’s feelings.


    Guilt surfaced on Carole’s tear-streaked face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through. I’ll apologize to Miss Gordon.”


    .


    .


    .