Waking up to the sound of notifications pouring in her phone Isadora was low key thrilled
She knew what they were about and she has been waiting for it patiently
Not the timing, not the way it came — but the blow itself? That was always coming.
She picked up the phone, thumb hovering over the glass. Then she walked down to the kitchen, she needed her coffee to start the day.
__
The kettle clicked off. She poured the water, stirred in a spoonful of instant, and took a sip. Bitter. Too strong. She didn't care.
Only then did she finally unlock the phone.
There it was.
A photo.
Her and Sebastian. That moment in the hallway. His hand too close. Her face turned just enough to look like something that will never happen.
The caption was worse than the image.
She didn't finish reading it.
She didn't need to.
She closed the app and set the phone down again, a smile settling on her lips.
Then she sat at the table, coffee in hand, and stared out the window.
The sky was gray. The kind of gray that made everything feel heavier. The kind that made you want to stay inside and hide under blankets. But she wasn't going to hide.
Not this time.
—
Kane was already dressed when he saw the photo.
He was halfway through tying his tie when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, saw the message from his assistant, and opened it.
He stared at the image for a long time.
Not because he believed it, this time.
But because he knew exactly who had sent it.
And why.
He didn't hesitate to think the picture was real like the last time, this time he just set the phone down and continued tying his tie, grabbed his keys, and left.
—
Isadora didn't go to work.
She called in, said she needed the day. Her voice was calm. Thankfully her supervisor knew of the issue at hand and since Isadora just handled a big event she let it slide with a "I hope to see you in two days tho" to which Isadora chuckled and replied with a affirmative "yes ma'am"
After she hung up, she sat back down at the table and opened her laptop.
She didn't know what she was going to do yet. But she knew she had to do something, Kane's mother already had enough misconceptions about her and even if Kane said her blessings were not required, to her they meant a lot so she needed to clear all the scandals around her quickly.
She couldn't let a lie become the truth just because it was louder.
She opened a blank document.
And started typing.
Not a statement.
Not a defense.
Just… thoughts.
Her thoughts.
Her truth.
—
Kane didn't go to the office either.
He drove to the gym instead. Hit the bag until his knuckles ached. Until the sweat soaked through his shirt. Until the noise in his head quieted down enough for him to think.
He didn't care about the photo.
Not really.
He cared about what it meant.
That someone — Sebastian — had gone this far. That he'd tried to humiliate Isadora. That he'd tried to make Kane doubt her, he not only sent the photos to him but he also had the balls to add more to the mix and send it off to the media.
And worst of all, that he'd almost succeeded.
Kane hated that part the most.
He'd seen the photo the first time and felt that flicker of doubt. Just for a second. But it had been there.
And that scared him.
Because if he could doubt her, even for a second, what did that say about him?
He sat on the bench, breathing hard, hands on his knees.
He needed to see her.
Not to question her,
Just to be near her.
He pulled out his phone.
> "Come over. If you want."
He hit send.
Then waited.
—
Isadora saw the message and smiled.
It wasn't a demand.
It wasn't even a request.
It was just him, reaching out, feeling her that he was always open for her anytime and anyday and that alone made her feel like the most loved person on earth.
Still smiling like a school girl who just confessed to her crush he grabbed sher coat and keys.
No makeup. No fixing her hair. No pretending.
She didn't need to be perfect for him.
She just needed to be her.
—
Kane opened the door before she could knock.
She stepped inside, and for a moment, they just looked at each other.
No words.
No explanations.
Just two people who had been through enough for one day, and finally found home in each other.
He reached for her hand.
She let him.
They sat on the couch, side by side, knees touching.
"I saw it," he said.
"I figured."
"I know it's fake."
She nodded. "I know you do."
He looked at her. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For not stopping it before it happened."
"You can't stop people like him," she said. "You can only outlive them."
He smiled, just a little. "You planning to outlive him?"
"Oh, absolutely."
They sat in silence for a while.
Then she said, "I wrote something."
He turned to her. "Yeah?"
She nodded. "It's not a statement. It's not for PR. It's just… me. Saying what I want to say."
"Can I read it?"
She hesitated. "I don't know if I want you to read it. I just want you to know I'm going to post it."
He nodded. "Then post it."
She looked at him. "You're not worried?"
"I'm always worried," he said. "But I trust you."
That made her chest ache.
In a good way.
She leaned her head on his shoulder.
He rested his cheek against her hair.
They stayed like that for a long time.
—
She posted it that night.
No fancy caption.
Just a photo of herself in Kane's arms— no makeup, no filters, no smile.
And three words:
> "Let them watch."
She didn't check the comments.
Didn't refresh the page.
Didn't wait for approval.
She just closed the app and turned off her phone.
Then she curled up next to Kane on the couch, pulled the blanket over them, and let herself breathe.
—
The next morning, she woke up to sunlight and silence.
Kane was already up, making coffee in the kitchen.
She padded in barefoot, still in his shirt, hair a mess.
He looked up and smiled. "Morning."
"Morning."
He handed her a mug.
She took it, sipped, then leaned against the counter.
"Did you sleep?" she asked.
"A little."
"You?"
"Some."
They stood there for a moment, drinking in sync.
Then he said, "You're trending."
She rolled her eyes. "Of course I am."
"People are talking."
"Let them."
He looked at her. "You sure?"
She nodded. "I'm done hiding."
He reached for her hand. "Good."
She squeezed his fingers. "I want to do an interview."
He raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"I want to tell my story. My way. No spin. No edits."
He thought for a second. "I know someone. She's tough, but fair. She won't twist your words."
"Perfect."
He smiled. "You're really doing this."
"I have to."
He leaned in, kissed her forehead. "Then I'm with you."
She looked up at him. "Even if it gets messy?"
"Especially then."
She smiled. "You're really bad at letting people in, you know."
"I know."
"But you're trying."
"I am."
She kissed him.
Slow. Soft.
Then whispered, "Thank you."
He wrapped his arms around her. "You don't have to thank me."
"I know," she said. "But I want to."
They stood there, wrapped in each other, the world outside still spinning.
But in that moment, they were still.
Together
And ready.