“Breathe, baby,” he urged in a calming manner. A sob ripped through her throat, finally breaking after months of stress.

“I miss you,” she cried, her words muffled by her tears. “I feel like I can’t do anything to reach you and the universe is playing a game to make sure we don’t make it.” The uninhibited fear in her voice scared him too. “I understand the distance and your work. But it’s so overwhelming when people that have nothing to do with me keep poking me to break down.”

He silently waited as she unloaded her frustrations, talking about the people in the supermarket who had stopped her and asked if she was waiting, being ambushed by likes on social media and the guy insinuating that he was okay with the rumors.

Cage instantly had a bad feeling about the situation but it wasn’t danger, just discomfort. He didn’t think this Laurence was dangerous. Instead, this guy was interested in Katherine. That was why he was okay with the rumors. Telling Katherine wouldn’t serve any purpose so he waited until she was exhausted to say his piece.

He could see that she needed reassurance from him. He had neglected her concerns and thought she would be okay. Even though she was strong, the separation had taken a toll on both of them.

“I miss you, too,” he said softly. The adoration in his heart seeped through his heart and reached her ears miles away. She sniffled, feeling much better after venting. “I know you didn’t show interest and I know people misunderstood without context. You did nothing wrong in this context. You are in internet personality and not a celebrity. But the rule applies. Your fans should not encroach on your private space and make you feel awkward. None of it is your fault.” He couldn’t emphasise it enough. He waited for her to respond.

“Yes,” she muttered, unconvinced.

“Look at it like this… the universe is testing you so that we can emerge from this stronger than ever. When we meet again, when we face the world hand in hand, nothing will be able to separate us. I’ll see them try. And I promise you, I’ll tear down everything that tries to keep me away from you.” The threat was clear. Try me. I’ll make sure you regret it.

Her breath hitched as she heard him speak.

“About the collaboration. Do it. Do a video for his challenge and make the fifty percent cut from his video. Why should you shy away from making use of him when his friend and he are okay with using you to make people speculate? You’re in the right if you do it.”

“But the rumor-” she interjected weakly.

“Just hint at the fact that you are not in a relationship with him. You don’t have to think too deeply about it. If people talk poorly about you, you have me to back you up. Why are you so scared?” He was ferocious and protective. It tingled her heart and she felt the tightening of her chest in response.

“You didn’t suspect me when you went through the posts?” she asked, feeling confident once again.

“I scoffed at the posts. When I saw the picture, I could clearly tell that these people needed to get their eyes checked.” He sounded amused and she was relieved.

“Well, nobody knows me better than Cage,” she sighed, sounding like that was a bad thing.

“Do you want me to post that you are mine?”

“Don’t joke!” she retorted hurriedly. “I don’t have a death wish, yet.” She fell silent. “You are the best man on the planet. God must have taken a lot of time to create you.” She nodded at the thought.

“Well, he must have kept you in mind when he created me because I seem to be perfect for you in every sense.” The innuendo and the sultry aftertaste of the words left her reeling.

“You’re going on Entertainment Tonight, right?” she asked, changing the topic quickly. She rolled around on her bed freely, feeling the burden on her shoulders lift immediately.

‘Don’t get Cage hot and bothered before he goes on screen. He sounds deadly.’ She would have to fight women off with a sword if they heard this side of him. She must protect her treasure with her life!

“Yeah. I need to call in two hours.” He checked his watch to make sure. “You’re going to tune in, right?” he asked hopefully.

“Of course. My boyfriend is going to be on call, I must watch. I might want to punch people, though. I have a hard time keeping myself off social media when it comes to you.” Her confession didn’t come as a surprise. He chuckled in understanding.

“You’ve been awfully quite on your account about me. Don’t you think people will grow suspicious?” Cage teased lightly. He unscrewed a bottle of battle and took small sips to drown out the exhaustion from his brows and listened to her speak.

“I have so much work already that I rarely get time to draw recreationally anymore. And don’t you dare think I don’t understand. You just want to see me fangirl over you, don’t you?” She would have waved her finger at his face in accusation if he was in front of her. The image was vivid in his mind, though.

“I’m very lucky to have my biggest fan as my girlfriend,” he confessed.

“Who said anything about being your biggest fan, clearly you don’t know how crazy people can get.” She snorted when she remembered the plethora of confessions of love and people wanting to have his babies. He did make her ovaries explode, as well, so she couldn’t really blame them.

“I don’t care about the crazy. I care about the sane,” he pointed out bluntly. “Do you think I will be criticized for hooking up with a fan?” he contemplated.

“Well, it was me who seduced you,” she prompted. “Secondly, fangirls will start to think that dreams do come true. Doesn’t Stephen always say that it is the narrative that matters?” She felt so self-righteous that she could pat her back any time.