All the Brayton Brothers Want Me

Chapter 12: The Gossip Storm

Diary Entry:

Date: September 12th

Time: 3:30 AM

Dear Diary,

Genevieve saw everything. I don’t even know what she’s planning, but by the time I walked out of that room, it felt like everyone already knew. The way they stared at me—like I was some kind of joke. Like I didn’t belong here.

Alec was furious, but I couldn’t even explain. I’m starting to think this whole thing is hopeless.

-Ivy

Genevieve’s laughter rang through the room, slow and syrupy, like she had just stumbled upon the best secret of the night. She stood in the doorway, drunk but sharp, her eyes flicking between Ivy and Callum, taking in the way his hands were still on her face, the way Ivy’s cheeks were still damp with tears.

“I always knew you were trouble,” Genevieve drawled, lips curving into a vicious smirk. “But this? This is a new low, even for you, Ivy.”

Ivy’s stomach lurched.

“Genevieve, leave,” Callum said, his voice flat, as if she was an annoyance, nothing more.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Genevieve said, stepping back with a slow, deliberate grace. “I’m going. But everyone’s going to love this story.”

Then she turned on her heel and walked out.

And Ivy knew it was over.

By the time she made it back to the main ballroom, the whispers were already spreading like wildfire.

Eyes locked onto her the second she stepped inside. Conversations hushed, replaced with not-so-subtle glances and hushed murmurs behind champagne flutes.

“That’s her,” someone said, not even bothering to lower their voice.

Ivy forced herself forward, her face burning, catching only fragments of what was being said.

Callum.

Alone.

Desperate.

She wanted to scream. She wanted to tell them they didn’t know anything, that nothing had happened, that it was all one giant misunderstanding.

But they wouldn’t care.

Her chest tightened, a knot of panic and frustration twisting inside her. She needed to find Alec.

Alec was by the bar, jaw tight, fingers clenched around a glass of whiskey. The moment she reached him, his dark eyes snapped to hers, filled with something unreadable but sharp.

“What happened?” Alec demanded the second she was close enough. His voice was low, but there was an edge to it. “Why were you alone with Callum?”

“I wasn’t,” Ivy said quickly, the words tumbling out. “He just… we were talking.”

Alec’s expression darkened. “Talking?” he repeated. “Is that what they’re calling it now?”

Ivy’s breath hitched. “Alec, don’t. It’s not what you think.”

Alec took a step closer, towering over her, his voice sharp and quiet, meant only for her ears.

“Then explain, Ivy,” he murmured. “Because right now, you’re making this worse.”