“She’s in a mess,” I cut in, trying to keep my voice steady, my hand stroking through Kate’s damp hair as she curled small against me. “She saw it, Gwen. I’ve got her, I’ve calmed her down a bit, but she’s…she can’t even get words out.”
“Okay.” Gwen didn’t hesitate. “I’ll be there in ten minutes. Don’t move. Keep her with you.”
The line went dead, and I shoved the phone aside, tightening my hold. Kate was perched on my lap like she was trying to disappear into me, her cheek pressed to my chest. Her breaths were still shallow, her whole body limp, like she’d run out of fight.
“You’re alright,” I murmured against her hair. “You’ve got me. I’m going to fix this.”
She didn’t answer, didn’t even lift her head. She just pressed herself closer.
I eased her back against the cushions, kissed her tear-soaked hair, then snatched her phone off the carpet. My thumb jabbed at my own.
Matt picked up on the second ring. “Jordan?—”
“What the fuck is this?” My voice was sharp enough to cut glass. “That headline…how the hell did they get those photos? Who leaked Andrew’s name? Whythe fuckwasn’t this stopped before it went live?”
“Jordan, calm?—”
“Don’t tell me to fucking calm down. My fiancée just collapsed on the fucking floor because of this shit. I want it gone. Tonight. Lawyers, statements, whatever the hell it takes. Nobody gets to drag her like this and make a pay cheque out of it.”
Matt hesitated. “We’re already drafting?—”
“Draft faster. I don’t care what it costs. I want retractions, I want threats of lawsuits in every inbox by morning. And if that prickAndrew so much as gave them a sentence…” My jaw locked, hot rage flooding me. “…I’ll bury him in court.”
Out of the corner of my eye, Kate stirred. “Jordan…” Her voice was small, wrecked.
I forced my own tone down, gentler for her. “It’s alright, babe. I’m sorting it.” Then back into the receiver, all venom: “You hear me, Matt? Nobody…and I mean nobody…gets to write about her like that again.”
I ended the call before he could answer. My hands were still shaking, pulse hammering.
Then I turned back to Kate, softening instantly, holding her against my chest tighter. Her eyes were red and swollen but fixed on me like I was the only thing keeping her tethered.
“I’ve got you,” I whispered, cupping her face. “Always. Let them try. I’ll take every single one of them apart before I let them touch you again.”
By the time the door buzzed and Gwen’s footsteps came racing in, I’d managed to get her to the living room. Kate was still folded into me, numb, and I was still holding on like I’d never let her fall.
“Oh, babe,” Gwen breathed the second she caught sight of Kate.
Kate rose unsteadily, like she wasn’t fully aware of her own movements, and collapsed into Gwen’s arms. The sobs started again, wracking and raw. I felt so fucking helpless. Nothing I did felt fast enough. Nothing was enough.
Gwen stroked her back, steady as ever, before flicking her gaze to me. “Right, Jord. What’s the latest?”
“I’ve got Matt calling the legal team in,” I said, my voice clipped, the rage simmering just beneath the surface. “We’ll get a statement drafted, issue whatever threats we need to. They’re not going to get away with this.”
“It’s too late.”
Kate’s voice was a whisper. Broken, but it hit like a hammer. She pulled back just enough to look at us, her face blotchy and pale. “The whole world’s seen it now. They’ll believe it. They always do.”
Then she dropped a bomb. Her voice was barely audible. Her eyesstared at the floor like she couldn’t bear to look at me. Shame swallowed her whole.
“You’d have been better off if you’d never met me.”
My heart broke open. Gwen’s face crumpled. And before I could think, I was hauling Kate back into my arms, holding her like she was the only thing keeping me upright.
“Don’t you dare,” I growled, my voice rougher than I meant. “Don’t you even for one second say that.”
Her tears soaked my shirt. My throat burned, but I kept going, because she had to hear it. “You know none of this is true. And so do I. I met you, I fell in love with you, fair and square. Having our son with you, marrying you, that’s the best thing that’s ever going to happen to me. Do you understand?”
She shook her head weakly, and my chest clenched tighter.
