The studio lights were blinding, but I didn't flinch.
This wasn't the version of me that had once stayed silent, hiding behind Damien's shadow or Rylan's protection. This was the woman who'd survived heartbreak, betrayal, a coma, and a media circus built on lies.
The interviewer—Emma Hart, host of Morning Spotlight—smiled warmly. But I could see the curiosity in her eyes, like everyone else who'd watched the internet explode overnight.
She glanced at her notes, then looked up.
"Ava, thank you for being here. I know it's been… a whirlwind."
I offered a tight smile. "That's one way to describe it."
The camera light blinked on.
Live.
"Let's dive in. You've been trending for over twenty-four hours. The world thinks you and Damien Blackwell have rekindled a secret romance. Are you ready to address that?"
I took a breath.
And then, steady and sure: "Yes. I am."
She leaned in.
"So… are the headlines true?"
I met her gaze head-on.
"No. Damien and I are not dating. We were… once. A long time ago. And for a moment, I thought maybe we had unfinished business. But yesterday, I realized something important—I've outgrown that chapter."
Emma blinked, clearly not expecting honesty so direct.
"But the café photos…"
"We met as friends. For closure. And that's exactly what it became—closure."
She nodded slowly, then glanced at her cue cards. "You were in a coma less than a year ago. Damien left during that time. Many say his return was romantic. Some say he's a hero."
I bit back a laugh. "A hero doesn't leave when things get hard. A hero doesn't come back only when it's convenient. I had heroes, yes—but not him."
"Are you referring to your friend Rylan ?"
I didn't hesitate. "Yes. Rylan stood by me through everything—through every dark day, every moment I wanted to give up. He's the one who never stopped fighting for me."
There it was—the spark of a new headline forming in Emma's eyes.
"But are you two together?" she asked gently.
I gave the camera a half-smile. "Not officially. Not yet. But what we have is real. And earned. And whatever it becomes—it'll be ours. Not the media's story to write."
Emma paused, then asked softly, "Why speak out now?"
I leaned forward.
"Because I'm tired of being the girl in someone else's narrative. I'm not Damien Blackwell's tragic ex. I'm not a coma patient to be pitied. I'm Ava Canter. And I've come back stronger."
The room fell silent for a beat.
Then Emma smiled—genuinely this time.
"Well said."
The segment ended with a quiet applause from behind the cameras. As I stood, Emma touched my hand.
"Thank you for owning your story."
"Thank you for giving me the chance."
As I walked out of the studio into the early morning air, my phone buzzed with texts and calls—but this time, they weren't questions.
They were messages of support.
One from Rylan.
> "Proud of you. Want me to pick you up?"
I smiled, typing back:
> "Yes. Let's start writing our own story now."
But before I could press send, a new headline popped up.
> "BREAKING: Damien Blackwell's Father Speaks Out — 'She Was Never Good Enough For Him.'"
And just like that…
The next storm was already brewing.
---