Jake sneered. “You think you’re some kind of hero? You’re just a rock star playing with fire.”
Rio’s eyes darkened. “Better to play with fire than to burn the ones who love you.”
The tension cracked like a thunderclap. Security rushed in, pulling the two men apart, but the war was far from over.
Kylee watched, heart pounding, knowing this was just the beginning of her fight to reclaim her life.Security tightened the circle around them, but Jake and Rio’s eyes never left each other, the air thick with fury.
Jake spat, “You think you’re some savior? You’re nothing but a selfish player. She’s a married woman, and you tore her apart just like every other girl you’ve slept with.”
Rio stepped closer, voice low but fierce. “I didn’t tear her apart. You did. You lied, cheated, and left her broken. The only thing I did was show her she deserves better.”
Jake laughed bitterly. “Better? You’re a rock star living a fantasy. She’s a mother, a wife. And you? You’re just a fling. Nothing lasts with you.”
Rio’s eyes burned. “Maybe not. But at least I’m honest. You hid behind lies while you fucked your receptionist, ruining everything.”
Jake’s fists clenched, veins bulging. “Watch your mouth, or you’ll regret it.”
Rio didn’t flinch. “I’d rather regret telling the truth than live a lie like you.”
Jake shoved Rio hard. The security guard grabbed him before he could throw a punch.
“Stay away from my family,” Jake snarled, voice trembling with rage.
Rio’s voice cut through the chaos, cold and sharp. “She’s not your possession anymore. And neither is those kids. I’m here to make sure you never forget that.”
The crowd murmured, whispers spreading like wildfire. Kylee swallowed hard, her heart racing, caught between the two men who defined her past and her uncertain future.
Kylee’s breath caught as the tension thickened, fists clenched at her sides. She stepped forward, her voice steady but laced with fire. “Enough!” She yelled
The words cut through the charged air, silencing murmurs. All eyes turned to her Jake’s furious glare, Rio’s intense stare.
“I am not a prize to be fought over,” she said, looking directly at Jake. “And I am not some broken thing you get to throw insults at.”
Jake’s jaw tightened, but Kylee didn’t waver. “You called me a whore. Well, maybe I was faithful while you were busy betraying everything we had. But I am more than your mistakes.”
She shifted her gaze to Rio, her tone softer but firm. “And you... Thank you for showing me I deserve respect, but don’t think I’m here because I need saving.”
Rio nodded slowly, respect shining in his eyes.
Kylee took a deep breath, feeling strength pulse through her veins. “I’m here for my son Jake! Nothing more, nothing less. So if you want to fight, save it. I’m done being the battlefield.”
The crowd fell silent, the weight of her words settling like a storm calm before it breaks. Jake’s face flushed with anger and humiliation, while Rio’s expression softened, admiring her fire.
For the first time in a long time, Kylee felt like she was reclaiming herself no longer the woman torn between two worlds, but the one who stood firmly on her own. For a long beat, no one said a word. The tension shifted no longer crackling with male ego, but simmering with the sting of truth.
Jake blinked, visibly rattled. His mouth opened like he had something to say, but no words came out. He looked around, noticing the parents staring, the kids watching, phones still raised. His jaw clenched as he tried to salvage the last shred of control.
“You’re delusional,” he finally muttered, voice low, bitter. “You think you can just walk in here and pretend like you're some angel?”Jake took a sharp breath, eyes bouncing from her to Rio, then back again. “You embarrassed me. You humiliated our family. Don’t think you’re some kind of hero now.”
Kylee just stared at him. “No, Jake. I don’t think I’m a hero. I just think I’m done being your victim.”
Jake scoffed, but he had nothing left. His power was slipping through his fingers, and he knew it. He turned, grabbing Jake Jr.'s hand, muttering, “Let’s go.”
But Jake Jr. hesitated, looking at his mom with wide eyes. Rio stepped forward, but not toward Jake toward Kylee. His voicewas calm, quiet, but strong. “You’re incredible, you know that?” She glanced up at him, her defenses still bristling.
“You didn’t need me to step in,” Rio added, more for her than anyone else. “You owned the moment. That was all you.” He wasn’t puffing out his chest. He wasn’t looking for a fight. He was looking at her like she was fire and gravity and the most beautiful kind of storm.
Jake Jr. was frozen between them, eyes wide, clutching his little football glove like a lifeline.
