I should’ve stayed inside the café. Should’ve ordered another coffee, opened social media, anything to avoid the storm waiting outside. But my dumb, racing heart said, Go find him. So I did. I shoved my laptop in my bag, took a breath, and stepped onto the sidewalk. And chaos exploded. Paparazzi. Not one, not five, but a mob. Flashes, yelling, camera lights like explosions, and they swarmed like bees.
“Is it true? Mercer didn’t cheat?”
“What happened with Ava?”
“What’s your opinion about it?”
I backed up, panicked. My breath got caught somewhere between my ribs and my spine. I didn’t even know where I was anymore. Then a car pulled up, fast. Door flew open and I saw Ives.
“Marla. Get in,” Ives said. No hesitation, I dove inside. He slammed the door and peeled off like he was escaping a hostage situation. Which, let’s be honest, kind of felt accurate. We didn’t talk until we were parked near an empty overlook by the lake. No cameras, no noise, just wind and the brutal sound of us finally being alone. I crossed my arms, and didn’t look at him.
“You could’ve told me,” I said, quietly. “That you were being blackmailed.”
“I couldn’t risk it.”
I turned to him, eyes burning. “You let me believe you cheated. That I was nothing to you. That I made it all up in my head.”
He ran a hand down his face. “She had photos, Marla. Edited. Cropped. Made it look like you were sneaking around behind my back. She said if I didn’t back off, if I didn’t make you leave, she’d leak everything. And if that didn’t work, she’d go after your grandmother.” My breath caught.
“What?”
“She said accidents happen. She knew where your grandma was recovering. The hospital, the wing, and room number.” His voice cracked. “So yeah. I let you hate me. Because if that meant she’d leave you alone, I’d take the hit.”
I stared at him, heart pounding. “So you broke me... to protect me?”
He nodded, eyes locked on mine. “I didn’t know another way.” I wanted to scream, throw something, shake him… hug him. I didn’t even know what the hell I felt anymore.
“You watched me fall apart,” I whispered. “And you just stood there.”
“I was falling too,” he said. “I just hid it better.” We sat in silence, staring out at the lake. It was quiet, too quiet, like the universe was holding its breath.
“I’m not here to beg,” he said eventually. “But I am here to tell you this: No more deals. No contracts. No pretending. Just... whatever this is, if you’ll still have me.” I looked at him. The man who ruined me. The man who saved me. Everything inside me was a storm. But one thing was clear, I deserved the truth. All of it.
“Then start with this,” I said. “Who else knew?”
“No one,” he replied. “Not even my legal team. I signed the NDA alone. Ava wanted it that way.”
“And now?”
“She’s done,” he said. “The press knows. The lawyers are eating her alive. I’m not letting her near either of us again.” I watched him carefully. And for the first time in weeks... he looked like a man stripped bare. Not a CEO. Not a cold strategist. Just a guy. Tired, regretful and real.
I exhaled. “If we do this again... it’s on my terms.”
He didn’t hesitate. “Name them.”
“No lies. No saving me behind my back. No playing the villain for my sake.”
“Deal.”
“No more pretending,” I said.
He leaned in, eyes raw. “Then let’s be real.”