Shayla POV
My phone wouldn't stop buzzing.
I stared at the screen, watching the number climb: 3,000,000 views. Three million people had watched the most private moment of my life in just six hours.
The video showed me sitting cross-legged on Dr. Chen's office floor. My hair was in pigtails. I wore my favorite pink overalls. In my hands, I held a stuffed bunny named Mr. Hoppers. My voice sounded high and sweet—my Little voice.
"Can Mr. Hoppers have a cookie, Dr. Chen?" video-me asked, making the bunny dance.
That was supposed to be private. That was supposed to be safe.
Now the whole world was laughing at Shayla "The Savage" Morrison, undefeated wrestling champion, three-time title holder, the woman who'd never lost a match in her entire career.
My phone buzzed again. A text from my stepsister Vanessa: OMG Shay, what is this??? Everyone's talking about it. Mom is FURIOUS.
Another buzz. My manager Marcus: Get to the arena NOW. We need damage control before your match tonight.
Another. My sponsor: We're terminating your contract effective immediately. This doesn't align with our brand values.
I dropped the phone like it burned me. My hands started shaking. My chest felt tight, like someone was sitting on it. I knew this feeling. Panic attack coming. The big kind that made me feel like I was dying.
I pressed my hands against my chest, trying to breathe. In through the nose, out through the mouth. That's what Dr. Chen always said. But it wasn't working. Nothing was working.
The comments on the video kept flashing in my mind:
"This is so weird. She's literally playing pretend like a baby."
"And she's supposed to be tough? What a fake."
"Someone needs to tell her she's 26, not 6."
"This is why women shouldn't be in wrestling. Too emotional."
Three years of therapy, ruined. Dr. Chen had explained that age regression was a healthy coping tool for my anxiety and childhood trauma. Lots of people did it. It helped me deal with the pressure of being undefeated, of carrying my whole family financially, of everyone expecting me to be strong and perfect all the time.
Being Little let me rest. Let me feel safe. Let me just... be.
Now everyone thought I was a freak.
My phone rang. I grabbed it without looking. "Hello?"
"Shayla Marie Morrison." My mother's voice was ice-cold. "What have you done?"
"Mom, I didn't—someone leaked my therapy video. I don't know how—"
"I don't care how it happened. I care that you're embarrassing this family. Again." She said 'again' like I made a habit of destroying her reputation. "Your father and I have spent years telling people our daughter is a champion. Now they're asking if you're mentally unstable."
My throat closed up. "I'm not unstable. It's therapy. It's healthy—"
"It's weird, Shayla. And weird doesn't pay the bills." She paused. "Speaking of bills, the payment you usually send on the fifteenth? We're going to need that early this month. Your father's car needs repairs."
I closed my eyes. I'd been supporting my parents for five years. They never asked how I was doing. Only how much I was sending.
"Mom, I just lost a major sponsor because of this video. I don't—"
"Then win tonight and get it back. You're good at fighting. Maybe focus on that instead of playing with dolls." She hung up.
I stared at the phone. The shaking got worse. My vision started getting blurry at the edges. The apartment walls felt like they were closing in.
I needed to be Little. Needed it so badly my whole body ached. But I couldn't. Not now. Not when the whole world was watching, waiting for me to prove them right.
Another text. This one from my ex-boyfriend Derek: Saw the video babe. That's rough. But hey, if you need someone to talk to, I'm here. I miss you.
I wanted to throw the phone across the room. Derek had cheated on me with Vanessa six months ago. At my own birthday party. In my bedroom. And now he was pretending to care?
Wait.
Derek had been the only person besides Dr. Chen who knew about my age regression. I'd trusted him with that secret when we were dating. Told him about my Little side because I thought he loved me.
My stomach dropped.
Derek leaked the video.
The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. He was the only one who could have done it. He must have filmed me during one of my sessions without me knowing. Probably hid his phone somewhere in Dr. Chen's office.
But why? Why would he destroy me like this?
My phone buzzed with another text from Marcus: If you're not at the arena in 30 minutes, you're in breach of contract. I'll sue you for everything you have.
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. The panic attack was taking over completely now. Black spots danced in my vision. My fingers felt numb and tingly.
I slid down the wall to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest. This was it. This was the end of everything I'd worked for. My career was over. My reputation was destroyed. My family hated me. My ex-boyfriend had betrayed me in the worst possible way.
I was completely alone.
Through the panic, I heard a knock at my door. Loud. Demanding.
"Shayla Morrison?" A man's voice, deep and commanding. "Open the door."
I couldn't move. Couldn't speak.
The knock came again, harder. "I know you're in there. I can hear you breathing."
Who was this? A reporter? Someone from the wrestling organization? My hands shook as I forced myself to stand. Every instinct screamed at me not to open that door. But what did it matter anymore? My life was already ruined.
I unlocked the door and pulled it open.
A man stood in the hallway. Tall, wearing an expensive black suit that probably cost more than my rent. Dark hair, dark eyes that seemed to see right through me. He looked dangerous. Like someone who hurt people for a living.
"Who are you?" I managed to whisper.
He looked at me with an expression I couldn't read. Not pity. Not disgust. Something else entirely.
"My name is Dante Salvatore," he said quietly. "And I just bought your wrestling contract."
My knees gave out.
The last thing I saw before everything went black was him stepping forward to catch me, saying words that didn't make any sense:
"It's okay, little one. Daddy's got you now."