Chapter 30: A Ticking Clock
Ethan's mind raced as the weight of the new task settled over him. *Protect your secrets.* The words from the system flashed ominously in his mind. He couldn't afford to let anyone dig too deep into his past—not now, when he was on the verge of finally gaining control over his career and public image. His new life was a fragile balance, and one wrong step could send everything crashing down.
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**[Ding!]**
*72 hours remaining to complete task: Protect Your Secrets.*
---
The countdown had begun, and the clock was ticking. Ethan felt the pressure like never before. He immediately picked up his phone and dialed Mia, pacing anxiously as he waited for her to answer.
"Ethan?" she picked up after the first ring, sounding just as on edge as he felt.
"We need to talk—now. This rumor about me seeing a guy is spreading too fast. If they dig into my past..."
"I know," Mia cut him off, her voice low. "I've already started damage control, but the press isn't letting up. They're desperate for a story."
Ethan clenched his jaw. "Do they have anything concrete?"
"Not yet. But they're sniffing around. I think we can still shut it down before it gains traction."
"I need you to find out who's behind this leak. Someone started this rumor, and I have a feeling it's not just some random gossip."
Mia paused on the other end. "You think someone's targeting you?"
Ethan hesitated, running a hand through his hair. "It's too specific. Too close to the truth. Someone knows more than they should."
There was silence on the line, then Mia spoke again, her tone sharp and determined. "I'll start digging. In the meantime, you need to be careful, Ethan. If there's more from your past that could surface, you better be ready to deal with it."
Ethan swallowed hard. There was more, much more, that he hadn't told anyone—not Mia, not Olivia, not even Leo. His past life was filled with choices he wasn't proud of, and secrets that, if revealed, could ruin everything he had built here.
---
After hanging up with Mia, Ethan turned his attention to the system, wondering if it could help him. It had guided him this far, pushing him to rise in the entertainment world. Maybe it had more in store for him.
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**[Ding!]**
*System Assistance Available: Risk Mitigation Package*
- **Cost:** 500 System Points
- **Effect:** Suppresses media attention on specific rumors for 48 hours. Allows time for alternative action.
---
Ethan checked his current points balance: 750. The decision wasn't difficult. He immediately activated the package, and the system buzzed in acknowledgment.
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**[Ding!]**
*Risk Mitigation Activated: 48 hours of reduced media scrutiny. Proceed with caution.*
---
Relief washed over him, but it was short-lived. He had bought himself some time, but the underlying threat was still there. If he didn't handle this cleanly, the damage could be irreversible.
He decided to pay Leo a visit. His agent had connections—people who could deal with this sort of problem without attracting more attention. As he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door, his phone buzzed again.
It was a message from Olivia.
**Olivia:** *Are you okay? Saw the latest rumor. We need to talk soon.*
Ethan stared at the message. Olivia had been an unexpected ally in all of this, but he wasn't sure how much he could tell her. Not yet. He typed out a quick response.
**Ethan:** *Let's talk soon. Things are... complicated right now.*
He slipped his phone back into his pocket and hurried to Leo's office, his thoughts swirling. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, that someone was pulling strings behind the scenes. But who? And why now, when he was finally starting to rise?
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**Later that evening...**
Leo was already pacing his office when Ethan arrived, clearly stressed. "I've been hearing about the latest rumor," Leo said without preamble. "You've got the media on a leash for now, but that won't last forever. Who's behind this?"
Ethan shook his head, frustration bubbling over. "I don't know. But someone wants to tear me down, and they're using my past to do it."
Leo narrowed his eyes. "Your past? Ethan, if there's something out there that could destroy you, you need to come clean with me now."
Ethan hesitated, his pulse quickening. How much should he reveal? Could he trust Leo with the truth? His mind raced, but before he could answer, Leo's assistant burst into the room, her expression pale.
"Leo... you need to see this."
She handed Leo a tablet, and as he looked at the screen, his face went ashen. "Ethan, you're trending again. And it's not good."
Ethan grabbed the tablet, his heart sinking as he saw the headline:
**"EXCLUSIVE: Ethan Reed's Secret Gay Love Triangle? New Details Emerge from His Shady Past."**
Underneath the headline were blurry photos—photos from his old life, before the accident. Ethan felt his stomach drop. The press had gotten too close, and now the real danger was looming.
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**[Ding!]**
*New Urgent Task: Stop the Story from Spreading*
- **Objective:**
1. Find the source of the leak.
2. Neutralize it before it reaches more outlets.
3. Deadline: 24 hours.
---
Ethan's mind spun as he looked from the tablet to Leo, his hands clenched into fists. "We need to act fast," he said, his voice low but firm. "Find out who's leaking this and shut them down."
Leo nodded, already on the phone, calling in favors from his network. Ethan stood by the window, staring out into the night, his thoughts racing. He wasn't going to let this destroy him. He had fought too hard, climbed too far, and he wasn't about to lose it all now.
But whoever was behind this knew more than they should—and they weren't going to stop until they had torn him down completely.
And as the minutes ticked by, Ethan knew one thing for certain: this was only the beginning. The real battle for his career—and his secrets—was just beginning.