Page 120 of Guarded Love

The video ends. I stare at my phone screen until it goes black, then stare at my own reflection in the dark glass.

My hands are shaking.

This is retaliation and a betrayal rolled into one. And now he's doing what Leo does best: weaponizing his platform against anyone who threatens him.

I set my phone down on my nightstand like it might explode. Then I pick it up again. Put it down. Pick it up.

Ari's follow-up text appears before I can decide what to do with my hands or my phone.

Ari: I'm so sorry. Someone shared it on socials and after you told me about how the call went…I thought you should know.

Ari: Want me to come over? We can talk shit and figure out what to do about this. I’ve been ready to kick his ass ever since you told me about him.

I don't respond to Ari. Instead, I open every social media platform I can think of, searching for Leo's name and any mention of what just happened.

The posts start appearing immediately.

A Twitter (I refuse to call it X) thread with fifteen retweets: "Anyone else catch Leo's stream tonight? Sounds like someone's still pressed that he’s doing fine without them. "

An Instagram story screenshot from his stream, reposted with the caption: "Tea When your ex can't let you level up in peace."

A Reddit post in r/streamerdrama: "Leo Kent calls out desperate exes on stream. Alludes to this being connected to the Red Wolves deal drama."

My thumb keeps scrolling. The comments get worse.

"They’re just mad he's successful without them."

"Imagine being so thirsty over your ex moving on that you try to sabotage his career."

"Some girls really can't handle rejection lmaooo."

Each comment hits me like I’m being jumped in a fight, but I can't stop scrolling. Can't close the app. Can't put the phone down.

"Probably just wants attention."

"Classic crazy ex behavior."

"Leo deserves better than dealing with psycho exes."

The room starts spinning. I'm hyperventilating now, gasping for air that won't come. My vision tunnels until all I can see is the screen, comment after comment tearing me apart while strangers who don't know my name decide who I am.

And I know it’s only a matter of time before my name leaks.

My phone buzzes again. A notification from an account I don't recognize. It’s then I realize I spoke too soon.

"You ruined a good man's career because you couldn't handle being dumped. Pathetic."

Then another.

"Stay in your lane and leave Leo alone."

And another.

"Nobody wants to hear from bitter exes. Take the L and move on."

They're finding me. Somehow, without Leo ever saying my name, they're connecting the dots and coming for me directly. My hands shake so violently I nearly drop my phone, but I can't stop reading. Can't look away from the digital mob forming in real time.

Then it clicks in my mind that I’m probably not the only one experiencing this. Lilly is probably getting hit even worse than I am. She is a streamer and has a public platform herself. If they found me this quickly, they've definitely found her.

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