Page 51 of The Interview
“There are a couple of things that’ve come up we’d like to talk to you all about,” I say before finishing off my egg and bacon roll.
My kids all look at each other, and I know for a fact they would’ve been discussing yesterday’s and last night’s events in their group chat.
I’m the last to finish eating, so put my plate down on the bedside chest of drawers, brush off my hands, then pick up my coffee and take another sip, acutely aware all eyes are on me.
“What we’re about to tell you doesn’t leave this room,” I start.
“There’s absolutely no reason you need knowledge of these facts,” Cam interjects. “But we’re trusting you with them. The first thing, I’ve left for your mum to decide, and she thinks you’re old enough and mature enough to be told something that was revealed to us just last night.” He finishes his coffee, sets the cardboard cup down, and looks from me to each of our kids. “The second thing…. That thing might be a bit hard for you to hear, but again, we’ve discussed it and think it’s no more than you can handle.” He gives me a small nod, which I take as my cue to continue.
“We learned last night that when Sean and Marley were drugged, then falsely accused of rape all those years ago, while unconscious, Sean was also sexually assaulted.”
“What?” the boys simultaneously call out.
“Sexually assaulted, how?” Kiki asks.
Despite just finishing my coffee, my mouth feels dry. Despite just waking up, I feel like I need to sleep.
“Rocco Taylor had a video camera with him.” Cam, sensing my panic, takes over. “He took photos, which he later released to the press, but the video was taken as police evidence. When the charges were dropped, everything was released. A rep from the label’s legal team collected everything, including the video camera. It was eventually given back to Taylor, minus the tape inside. The lawyers gave it to Len. Len watched it.”
Lu closes her eyes, and Kiks’ hand covers her mouth.
“He doesn’t think Taylor and White realised the camera was still rolling, and they can be heard discussing how to obtain evidence to back up White’s rape claim she was about to make.”
“Fuck me,” Harry says with a headshake. “While the boys were unconscious?”
I nod and blow out a breath.
“They wanted semen, and both of them did whatever they could to get some,” I explain without going into graphic detail.“It didn’t work. Nothing they tried worked, and before they could violate Marley, Sean stirred, so they carried on without the evidence they wanted, and the accusation was still made.”
“What did Len do?” Lu asks.
“He told Sean, who, because he didn’t want to give them more publicity, didn’t want?—”
“He didn’t want your mum to know,” Cam interrupts when he hears my voice crack. “He didn’t want her hurting any more than she already was, and he didn’t want the whole thing dragged into the public eye again. Plus, Marley wasn’t doing too great mentally after everything that happened. Things were tense between all of the band members, so Sean insisted Len keep it between them, but requested the tape be kept in case it was needed as leverage at some point in the future. Taylor was informed of its existence and threatened with SA charges being brought against him and White if they didn’t retract their accusations and give no comment responses to all press questions regarding what happened in Paris going forward.”
“That poor fucking bloke,” Harry says.
“Mum.” Lu says my name in a way that has my eyes instantly fill with tears.
“I know,” I reply. “It’s awful. Horrible.”
“Did you know? Did he ever tell you?”
“No, baby.” I shake my head. “He never told me, but that was just typical Sean behaviour, always trying to protect me.”
“What an absolute pair of scumbags them two were,” George states.
“Horrible, horrible humans,” Kiki agrees.
“I’m just glad they’re both fucking dead, otherwise, I’d be making a call to Bailey asking if he knew someone who could off the oxygen thieves,” Lu declares.
“Bailey wouldn’t need to be involved. I’m pretty sure if that pair were still walking this earth, after mum and dad found allthat out last night, Dad would’ve made sure neither of them were waking up this morning,” Harry says.
“That’s not what—” I start to argue only to get cut off by George.
“Yep, Dad would’ve had it all taken care of by this morning.”
What do I say to that? Do I lie? My kids are adults. They know Cam’s history, my family’s connections, so both Cam and I remain silent, watching and listening as our kids discuss and process the information they’ve just been given.
