Chapter 32: Whispers and Flames

Ethan woke the next morning with a hollow feeling gnawing at his gut. Despite neutralizing the threat from Greg Martin, he couldn't shake the tension lingering in the air. The rumors, the secrets—they were like wildfire, always threatening to spark again. He wasn't naive enough to believe it was over.

His phone buzzed again, and this time, it wasn't Olivia or Leo.

---

**[Ding!]** 

*New Task Available: Dispel a Dangerous Rumor.* 

*Deadline: 48 hours* 

*Objective: Prevent a rumor from damaging your public image. Find the source and silence it.* 

*Penalty: Permanent career damage.* 

*Reward: 500 System Points.*

---

Ethan sat up, his mind racing. Another rumor? He had barely slept after the confrontation with Greg, and now this? He cursed under his breath. The stakes were rising, and he couldn't afford to let his guard down. 

*Where is this one coming from?* He grabbed his phone and dialed Mia.

"Mia, we've got a problem," he said as soon as she picked up. "Another rumor's spreading, and I need you to track it down."

"I'm already on it," she replied. "But Ethan... this one's different. It's personal."

Ethan's chest tightened. "What do you mean by personal?"

Mia hesitated. "There's a rumor circulating that you... might be gay."

Ethan's breath hitched. It wasn't that the accusation itself was harmful—he had no problem with anyone's identity—but in an industry obsessed with appearances, a rumor like that could change everything about how people saw him. And worse, it felt like an attack aimed to hurt him personally.

"They're trying to undermine me," he muttered, pacing the room. "Someone's pulling the strings behind the scenes."

"We have to act fast," Mia said. "If this spreads, it's going to be in every tabloid by tomorrow. You need to get ahead of it."

Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm on it. Keep digging, and let me know if you find out who's behind this."

---

**Later that afternoon...**

Ethan sat in a café, anxiously stirring his coffee as Leo slid into the seat across from him.

"So, what's the plan?" Leo asked, leaning in. "This rumor could really mess things up."

"I don't know yet," Ethan admitted. "But the system is pushing me to find the source."

Leo tapped his fingers against the table, thoughtful. "It has to be someone close, right? Someone with access to your life. Maybe an ex? Or someone who's seen you vulnerable."

Ethan's mind flashed back to Olivia. They hadn't been dating for long, but things had gotten serious quickly. Could she have...?

No. He shook his head. Olivia wouldn't do this. She was protective of him, always had his back. But who else could have that kind of inside knowledge?

"Do you trust Olivia?" Leo asked, as if reading his thoughts.

"Yeah," Ethan said, though the doubt lingered. "But I don't trust the people around her."

Leo nodded. "We need to figure out who's benefiting from this. Someone's trying to paint a target on your back. They want you out of the game."

Ethan's phone buzzed again. A message from Olivia.

---

**Olivia:** *We need to talk. Urgent.*

---

His heart sank. Could she know something? Or worse, was she involved? Ethan clenched his jaw, unsure of what to think. He stood abruptly, throwing a few bills on the table.

"I have to meet Olivia," Ethan said. "Stay close. If I find anything, I'll need your help."

Leo nodded, watching him leave with a furrowed brow. "Be careful, man. There's more going on here than you know."

---

**Later that evening...**

Ethan arrived at Olivia's apartment, his nerves buzzing. He knocked, and she opened the door, her expression strained.

"Ethan," she began, biting her lip. "I didn't know how to tell you this, but... I overheard something today. Something about you."

Ethan's stomach flipped. "What did you hear?"

"There's a rumor that's about to break in the tabloids. Someone's claiming you're in a secret relationship with a guy. They're saying you've been hiding it to protect your image." Olivia's eyes searched his face for a reaction.

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, tension knotting his muscles. "And you believe it?"

"Of course not!" she said quickly. "But it doesn't matter what I believe. The press is hungry for a story, and this is the kind of thing that'll catch fire, whether it's true or not."

Ethan sank onto the couch, his mind spinning. Whoever was doing this was playing a dangerous game. But who had the motivation to tear him down?

"Who's spreading it?" Ethan asked, his voice tight.

"I don't know," Olivia admitted. "But the person who leaked it works at one of the major gossip sites. I think it's coming from someone who used to work for your old manager."

---

**[Ding!]** 

*New Objective Added: Confront Former Manager's Network* 

- **Time Remaining:** 36 hours 

- **Reward:** 300 System Points 

- **Penalty:** Permanent damage to reputation.

---

Ethan clenched his fists. His old manager, Jared, had always been a thorn in his side, even before the accident. Could it really be him orchestrating this?

"I have to go," Ethan said, standing abruptly.

Olivia grabbed his arm. "Ethan, be careful. This is bigger than just a rumor. It feels like someone's out to destroy you."

Ethan nodded grimly. "I know."

As he left Olivia's apartment, the city lights reflected in his eyes, mirroring the storm brewing in his mind. Jared had been out of the picture for years, but clearly, someone from his old world still held a grudge.

---

**Midnight...**

Ethan pulled up to Jared's former office building, a sleek, glass-paneled structure that had seen its fair share of shady deals. He'd been here countless times before, back when his career had been nothing more than a series of failed auditions and broken dreams.

Now, he was back, but this time he wasn't the same desperate wannabe. He had power—both from his knowledge and the system. He wasn't going to let anyone tear him down, not when he'd fought so hard to rise.

He entered the building, his eyes sharp and focused. The clock was ticking, and he needed answers before it was too late.

---

To be continued...