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Something in me snaps because I realize I can’t let her continue this story without me at least holding her.

I don’t care if anyone walks in on us at this point.

Let ‘em. I appreciate that she is trusting me with this and in this moment, I know she needs me more than any explanation I would give about what’s happening between us.

"I'm sorry," I say as I set the beer down and close the gap between us. I pull her into my arms and she doesn't move away. Her eyes dart to the side, then back to me, as if she's trying to forecast the outcome a thousand possible ways before picking one.

“Yeah.” She shakes her head. “The thing that got me was how much her messages sounded like mine. Like, the same phrases. The same—” She bites the inside of her cheek.

“He’s got a playbook. He just tweaks it for whoever he’s with.

” She swallows, and for a second I see every wall she’s ever built trembling.

“So what did you do?” I ask, forcing my anger to stay flat and steady. All that matters is her. Not the urge to hunt Leo down and break his fucking face.

Willow’s foot bounces, barely making a sound against the tile.

The only reason I know she’s doing it is because I feel her body shake against mine.

“I told her to get out. Run, block his number, whatever it takes because that was me. I see what I went through in her. Questioning whether this was bad or not because other guys did way worst things. Leo just made me cry every couple days and gaslit me into thinking it was normal. Or would threaten to leak everything he knew about me online.”

“You know it wasn’t your fault, right? You know that, Wills.”

“I know. Intellectually.” She shrugs. “Emotional reality is trickier. What I also know is that he can’t keep getting away with this. He gets to act like a shitty person in private but the world’s golden boy in public and it’s not right.”

"You're right. He shouldn't get to keep his reputation while he's destroying people behind closed doors." I run my thumb along her shoulder, hoping to relieve the tension there. "What if you went to his management team? His sponsors? I’m sure they wouldn’t want someone like him representing them."

Her head tilts up to look at me. "What do you mean?"

"Think about it. Leo's whole brand is built on being this wholesome gaming influencer, right?

Family-friendly content, positive role model bullshit.

If his management knew he was harassing women, sending explicit messages, threatening to leak personal information.

.." I pause, watching her process this. "That's not just morally fucked up, it's a liability.

Sponsors don't want to be associated with that kind of scandal. "

Willow's eyes widen slightly. "You think they'd actually care?"

"Money talks. And right now, Leo makes them money because people think he's a good guy.

But if that image gets shattered publicly, he becomes a risk they can't afford.

" I shift so I can see her face better. "The woman who contacted you, if she's willing to speak up, and you're willing to back her up with your own experience. .."

"That could actually work," she says slowly, and I can see the wheels turning. "I mean, I documented everything back then. Screenshots, emails. I kept it all because I thought I was going crazy and needed proof that it really happened."

"You were protecting yourself. That was smart."

She lets out a shaky breath. "I never thought I'd use any of it. I just wanted to forget he existed."

"But now you have a chance to make sure he can't do this to anyone else. He shouldn’t have the privilege of having his platform. Because, above all else, it is a fucking privilege."

For a moment, neither of us speaks. I can hear Knox's voice carrying from the living room and assume any second someone will be in here wondering what the hell we’re doing because it’s taken us so long to come back.

"It's scary," Willow admits quietly. "Going up against someone with that kind of platform. What if they don't believe us? What if it backfires?"

"Then at least you tried. And you won't be alone in this." The words come out before I can stop them, and I realize how much I mean them. "I'll help however I can."

She looks up at me and I can see the shock on her face. "You would do that?"

"Of course I would. This matters to you, which means it matters to me."

She thinks about it for a minute before she finally says something. "I need to think about it. It's a big decision. Going after someone with Leo's reach...there could be consequences I haven't considered."

"Take all the time you need," I tell her, meaning it. "But whatever you decide, you don't have to face it alone."

She nods. "We should probably get back," she says, glancing toward the living room where Knox's voice has gotten louder. "Before someone comes looking."

"Yeah." I reluctantly step back, immediately missing the warmth of her body against mine. "Can't have people thinking we're actually capable of having a civil conversation."

That earns me a small smile. "Heaven forbid."

I grab the beers I'd originally come for, while Willow picks up her water glass. As we head toward the doorway, she pauses.

"Blaise?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For listening. For not making me feel crazy about all this."

"You're not crazy. And you never were."

She gives me one more look before we walk back into the chaos that is currently my living room, but the weight of what she just said and how brave she has been, is the only thing on my mind.