Bound To The Broken Alpha (Amy and Daniel) novel Chapter 99

Chapter 99 A Scandal

AMY

69%

45 Pearl

Days after that have been quiet. I woke up as usual and went to have breakfast. The morning started quietly, which should’ve been my first warning. In this house, peace rarely lasted long.

I had just poured myself coffee when Mrs. Carter walked into the dining room, phone in hand and her expression tight. She didn’t greet me or even sit down. She placed the phone on the table in front of me, screen glowing.

“Explain this,” she said.

It was a picture of me and Brian from the charity gala. We were standing close, smiling, talking. Nothing inappropriate, but the headline above it said otherwise: Is There Trouble in the Carter Marriage? Sources Hint at Jealousy Between Daniel and His Partner.”

I stared at it for a few seconds before meeting her eyes. “It’s just a photo.”

“It’s not just a photo,” she snapped. “This is on every news site this morning. They’re calling it a scandal, Amy. Do you realize what this does to our name?”

“Our name?” I repeated, setting the cup down. “Mrs. Carter, I went to a charity gala. That’s all. There’s no scandal here unless someone decides to make one.”

She crossed her arms. “People already have. Do you think anyone cares about the truth once the story spreads? You went there as Brian’s date-”

“I went as his guest,” I corrected. “There’s a difference.”

“Not to the public,” she said sharply. “Not to the investors. They see one thing and make their assumptions. You’ve put this family in a bad position.”

I took a slow breath, trying to keep my tone calm. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I represented the company, I supported a colleague, and I came home like a responsible adult.”

She gave a short, humorless laugh. “Responsible? Do you even realize how much wo first wave of gossip? Now it’s resurfaced because of you.”

<to bury that

The tension in my chest finally broke. “You act like I’m the one who leaked the photo. I can’t control what people choose to believe.”

Mrs. Carter’s gaze was cold and firm. “You can control how you present yourself. The Carters don’t give the public room to speculate.”

“I’m not a PR strategy,” I said, standing now. “I’m a person. I went to one event, not a secret affair.”

She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “You are part of this family. Every step you take reflects on all of us. Carters do not have the luxury of acting like ordinary people.”

“That’s not fair.” I said quietly. “I’m allowed to have a life”

Her reply came fast, almost too fast. “Carters do not have a life. They have responsibilities. Appearances. Power. That’s what keeps this house standing.”

For a moment, the room went still. The air felt thick with tension with everything she wasn’t saying and that

10:18 Tue, Dec 30 DO

Chapter 99 A Scandal

3.69%

+5 Pears

she’d spent decades maintaining this image, building the Carter legacy, and she was about to let anyone, especially me, chip away at it.

When I spoke again, my voice was calmer but firm. “I didn’t marry into this fa Mrs. Carter. I’ve done everything asked of me. I’ve worked, supported Daniel, an when no one else would. But I won’t apologize for attending a public event.”

Her eyes flickered, like she didn’t expect me to push back. “Watch your tone, Amy.”

“I am,” I said. “You’re the one shouting.”

e like a shadow, otected this family

We stood there in silence for a few seconds. Then she picked up her phone again, her lips pressed tightly together. “You’ll stay out of public events for the next few weeks. No interviews, no appearances, no unnecessary contact with Brian outside of work.”

I frowned. “You’re punishing me for something I didn’t do.”

“I’m preventing more damage,” she said coldly. “If you can’t understand that, you’re being naïve.”

Before I could answer, Daniel walked in. He looked between us, instantly sensing the tension. “What’s going on?”

“Ask your wife,” Mrs. Carter said, turning toward him. “She’s the reason our name is trending again.”

Daniel’s brows drew together. “Because of the gala photo?”

“Exactly,” she said. “I told her we should have handled it differently. Now it’s turned into a public mess.”

Daniel sighed. “Mum, it’s a photo. The media loves a story that doesn’t exist. We’ll issue a small statement and move on.”

Mrs. Carter turned to him sharply. “You’re being careless. This kind of rumor can’t just be ignored.”

He met her gaze evenly. “I’m not ignoring it. I’m refusing to make it bigger. If we act scandalized, it’ll only feed them more.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but he raised a hand slightly, firm but respectful. “P” handle this.”

1. um. Let me

She looked from him to me, clearly irritated that he wasn’t taking her side, then left the room without

another word.

Once she was gone, Daniel turned to me. “You okay?”

I nodded, though my chest still felt tight. “I’m fine. She just thinks I embarrassed the family.”

He gave a small, tired smile. “She always thinks that. You could save a village and she’d still say you should’ve worn a different outfit while doing it.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “That sounds about right.”

He walked over to the table, glancing at the phone she’d left behind. “I saw the headline earlier. I knew she’d

react like this.”

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