Contract marriage:Mother for rent, wife for free
Chapter 37: The news

Chapter 37: The news

Lin Wei swallowed hard, clutching the phone tightly.

"What do you mean, what have I done?" she asked, trying to sound confident despite the pit forming in her stomach.

"Your little stunt at the school," Ezekiel snapped. "The internet is buzzing with rumors. Are you out of your mind?"

She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself to breathe slowly. Of course, he would know about it already. Nothing in his world ever remained private for long.

"I didn’t do anything," Lin Wei protested. "Some woman—Madeleine Yin—started making a scene. All I did was take the twins to school."

There was a cold silence on the other end. She imagined Ezekiel pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Madeleine Yin," he repeated, voice tight. "Of course. The socialite who would burn down the city just to be seen as a savior."

Lin Wei dared to breathe again. "I didn’t mean to cause trouble. She just—she kept angling for the cameras and acting like she owned the place."

"And you let her," Ezekiel snapped. "Now the press is speculating whether you’re the twins’ mother, my secret wife, or some random stranger posing as family."

"What was I supposed to do?" Lin Wei shot back, the frustration finally breaking through her earlier fear. "The whole place was buzzing like a hornet’s nest, and she made it her mission to make me look out of place. I barely managed to get the twins to class without causing a scene."

"You should have called James," Ezekiel stated icily. "He knows how to handle situations like this."

"James wasn’t there," Lin Wei countered, her tone softening. "I didn’t want the boys to be late."

Ezekiel exhaled harshly. "I’ll handle the fallout. Stay at home and keep a low profile."

Lin Wei bristled. "Keep a low profile? You’re acting like I committed a crime. I was just trying to be responsible."

Another pause. This time, Ezekiel’s voice came softer, almost reluctant. "It’s not about what you did or didn’t do. It’s about how it looks. The twins are targets because of who they are. One wrong move, and people will latch on to it like leeches."

Lin Wei bit her lip. She knew he was right, but it didn’t make her feel any better. "I’ll be careful," she promised quietly.

"Be more than careful," Ezekiel muttered. "Be smart."

He hung up without another word, and Lin Wei slumped against the seat, feeling a mixture of irritation and guilt. Her phone buzzed again, this time with a message from James.

James: "Are you alright? I heard about the morning drama. Don’t worry, I’m handling the media. Just hang tight. Call me if you need anything."

She managed a weak smile at his concern. Maybe she wasn’t completely alone in this mess.

Before she could respond, her phone chimed again. This time, it was a news notification. Against her better judgment, Lin Wei clicked on it.

BREAKING: Who is the mysterious woman with the Wang twins? Speculations range from secret wife to high-profile nanny.

A picture accompanied the headline: Madeleine Yin, with a serene smile, flanked by the twins, while Lin Wei stood awkwardly in the background. The caption read: "Socialite Madeleine Yin seen with the Wang twins—who is the unidentified woman by their side?"

Lin Wei groaned and buried her face in her hands. Why did life with Ezekiel’s family always have to be so complicated?

Deciding to distract herself, she started the car and drove back to the Wang mansion, thoughts swirling in her mind. As much as she wanted to curl up and ignore the world, she couldn’t afford to let Madeleine Yin win. She would figure out how to navigate this world—even if it killed her.

When she finally pulled into the driveway, she found James waiting by the entrance, his phone in hand.

"Ezekiel called," he said, giving her a sympathetic look. "He’s not pleased."

"I gathered that much," Lin Wei muttered. "What’s the damage?"

James sighed. "Mostly online gossip and speculation. Some reporters are camped out near the school now. Ezekiel’s PR team is trying to diffuse the situation."

"All because I took the twins to school?" Lin Wei shook her head in disbelief. "What is wrong with these people?"

"It’s not you," James assured her. "It’s Madeleine. She’s known for latching onto anything that might get her attention. It’s unfortunate you were caught in her theatrics."

"Great," Lin Wei grumbled. "First day of school duty, and I’m already a headline."

James gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Don’t let it get to you. Ezekiel might be annoyed, but he’s more concerned than angry. You’ll be fine."

Lin Wei managed a grateful nod. "Thanks, James."

As she walked into the mansion, she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of storm awaited her once Ezekiel came home. For now, she just needed a moment to regroup and figure out how to survive the next wave of chaos.

Later that evening, Lin Wei heard the sound of the front door opening, followed by the familiar heavy footsteps of Ezekiel. Bracing herself, she stayed seated in the living room, mentally preparing for the confrontation. Ezekiel entered, his expression unreadable.

"We need to talk," he said, his tone calmer than before. Lin Wei took a deep breath, nodded, and gestured for him to sit.

"I’m sorry," she said before he could start. "I didn’t mean to cause a scene."

Ezekiel looked at her, his eyes softer than earlier. "It’s not entirely your fault. Madeleine is good at manipulating situations to her advantage. But next time, just be more cautious."

Surprised by his even tone, Lin Wei nodded. "I will."

The twins peeked from behind the door, clearly curious. Ezekiel gestured for them to come in, and they rushed to Lin Wei’s side, holding onto her sleeves. Ezekiel’s stern demeanor melted slightly at the sight.

"Lin Wei," he said, his tone gentler. "I know this world is overwhelming, but you’re doing fine. Just... be more careful."

Relief flooded her, and she smiled. Maybe, just maybe, things were starting to look up.