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Fiona

I can feel the weight of the room pressing in on me as I sit across from my father and the team’s PR people. The air is thick with tension, and I hate the feeling. It’s like every word spoken is a step closer to something I can’t control.

Stellan is sitting next to me, his presence both comforting and suffocating all at once. I can feel his gaze on me, but I can’t bring myself to look at him. The story is everywhere—blown up to a point that I never imagined—and now we’re sitting in this sterile conference room, with the PR team, and my father, trying to figure out how to clean up a mess none of us anticipated.

The incident in the hot tub was supposed to be a simple, harmless moment—a private thing, no cameras, no fuss. But somehow, it ended with Stellan wrestling a paparazzo, the flash of cameras blinding us both. The pictures that followed? The live video? They’ve cast the team in a bad light, painting us as reckless and out of control.

I can’t even believe how quickly everything spiraled.

The worst part is that I know my father is furious. I can see the way his jaw tightens, the way his eyes narrow every time the PR people speak. He’s never been one to hide his emotions, especially when it comes to the team. And this—this is something that could ruin everything.

“It’s a disaster,” my father says, his voice sharp, cutting through the silence like a knife. “This isn’t just about a public relationship anymore. It’s a liability. The team’s reputation is at risk, and we’re not going to let one mistake drag everything down.”

My heart clenches at his words. I can’t stop thinking about how much Stellan means to me—how much I care about him. But I also know my father’s right. The situation is serious, and I never wanted it to get this far.

Stellan shifts in his seat beside me, his expression unreadable, and I can feel the weight of his presence. He hasn’t said much since we walked in, but I know he’s not happy with how things are going. None of us are.

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly, finally breaking the silence. My voice cracks, and I hate that it sounds so weak. “It’s my fault. If I hadn’t… if we hadn’t been so careless… this wouldn’t have happened.”

My father turns to look at me, his eyes narrowing in frustration. “Fiona, this isn’t about you ,” he says sternly, his tone cold. “You didn’t cause this, but you are part of the story. This reflects badly on the team, and you need to understand the consequences.”

I feel my heart sink. He’s not wrong, and that’s the part that hurts the most. I’m in this with Stellan, but it feels like I’m being torn in two directions—caught between what my father expects from me and what I want .

“Please, Dad,” I whisper, my voice shaking with emotion. “Don’t punish Stellan for this. It was my fault too. I shouldn’t have—”

“I’m not blaming you, Fiona,” my father interrupts, his voice low but firm. “But this is bigger than you or Stellan. This is the future of the team, and I won’t let it all fall apart because of a moment of recklessness.”

Stellan shifts in his seat again, and for the first time, he speaks up, his voice rough but steady. “I’ll take the blame for this. If it means saving the team, I’ll take whatever consequences you throw my way.”

I look at him, my heart breaking. He’s trying to protect me—trying to shield me from the fallout—but I can’t let him take all the blame. Not when I know how much he’s sacrificed already.

“Dad, please,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t punish him. I know we made a mistake, but Stellan’s been nothing but good to me. He’s not the problem here.”

My father’s eyes flicker toward Stellan, but his expression doesn’t soften. He sighs, rubbing his temples as if he’s trying to think through the decision. “This isn’t just about the pictures, or video. It’s about the image the team has built up over years. And frankly, this is something I can’t ignore. If Stellan stays with the team, he’s never to be seen with you again. This relationship—if that’s what you want to call it—can’t happen. Not now. Not with the media breathing down our necks.”

The words hit me like a physical blow, and I feel my breath catch in my throat. Stellan stays silent beside me, and I can feel the weight of the room pressing down on us both. My father’s decision is final, and I can’t change it. The pain in my chest is overwhelming, and I know the tears are coming, but I try to hold them back.

“Dad, you can’t be serious,” I say, my voice trembling. “We—he means something to me. I can’t just… let him go.” My voice cracks, and I hate how weak I sound, but I can’t stop it.

My father’s expression softens, just for a moment, and I see the concern flicker in his eyes. But it’s quickly replaced by the stern, authoritative look I know too well. “Fiona, this is the only way. I can’t let this scandal affect everything we’ve worked for.”

I feel a tight knot form in my chest, and I look at Stellan, who’s been quietly listening to the conversation, his jaw clenched, his fists resting on his knees.

“You heard him, Fiona,” he says quietly, his voice calm but full of determination. “I’ll take the heat for this. I don’t want you to get dragged into it. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make this right. But I want to be with you. I’ll find a way.”

I don’t know what to say. I want to scream, to tell him we can fight this together, that we don’t have to give up on each other. But the weight of my father’s words is too much, and the reality of the situation settles in.

“I’ll take the suspension,” Stellan continues, his voice unwavering. “But I’m not walking away from you, Fiona. Not now, not ever.”

Tears well up in my eyes, and I can’t stop them this time. “I don’t want to lose you, Stellan,” I whisper, my voice breaking.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he says softly, his gaze locking with mine. “I’m staying right here, fighting for you, for us. But I won’t let you get hurt over something that’s my fault.”

It’s his fault, yes. But it’s mine too. We got caught up in something real, and now we’re paying the price for it.

My father stands up, his face hardening. “You’re not going to see each other again, Fiona. If you want to stay involved with the team, Stellan, you’ll have to respect my decision.”

The finality in his words stings, and I feel the weight of everything crashing down on me. I look at Stellan one last time, and I see the same heartbreak mirrored in his eyes.

This isn’t how it was supposed to be.

But if my father has made up his mind, then maybe there’s nothing I can do to change it.

“Fiona,” Stellan says softly, reaching out to touch my hand. “We’ll figure this out. I promise.”

But as I look at him, I can’t shake the feeling that everything is slipping through my fingers, and I’m powerless to stop it.