Page 53 of Damsel in Defense
“I will.Thanks for letting me know.”
“Oh, I’ve had no choice.The woman has been blowing up my phone for updates the second she heard about the accident and couldn’t reach you.”Bending down, he kisses her temple.“Take care, sis.”
“Thanks, Hen.”
“Bye, Tori.You call me if you need anything.We’re filming close by, so both of us can be here in a flash.”
“I will.See you, Bryn.”
Henrik gives me a small nod before they both head for the door.
“Oh my God, I thought they would never leave,” Victoria moans, tipping her head back so it rests on a pillow.“All I want is to take a shower to get the hospital smell off me and then eat everything in sight.”
“I can arrange for all those things, but I think we need to talk first.”
Her brows knit together, but she nods.“You’re kinda freaking me out, Mason.You’ve been distant all morning.”
I keep my voice low.“I know.And I’m sorry, but…” I run a hand down my face, then take a seat beside her.“I should have told you earlier, but I honestly didn’t have the words before today.And now, now I’m just fucking destroyed.”
She scoots closer to me, throwing off her blanket as she reaches for my hands.“Whatever it is, Mason, I’m sure we can get through it together.”
God, I really hope that’s true.
She squeezes my hand three times.That’s all the courage I need.Taking a deep breath, I tell her what Falcon and his team discovered.
“We know who’s behind the leaks.The fire.The crash.The paparazzi tips.”
Her eyes go wide.“Who?A crazed fan?A pissed-off producer?”
My pulse thuds painfully.“It’s Jess.”
Silence.She blinks.Once.Twice.Her lips part, but no words come out.
“My ex,” I clarify, shaking my head.“She’s the one who’s been tipping off the press and trying to make you the bad guy.I guess she thought if she made your life miserable enough, I’d come running back.”
Victoria recoils, disgusted.Her hands break from mine as she cradles her jaw in horror.
I rush to add, “She’s been arrested.Falcon and the security team built the case and brought it to Toronto authorities this morning.They have the IP logs, the financial trail, everything.It’s just a matter of hours now before this goes public.”
She doesn’t speak.Her arms cross tightly over her chest, and when she finally looks at me, it’s not with anger.
It’s devastation.
“You think this is your fault,” she says, voice barely above a whisper.“Don’t you?”
“Itismy fault.”
“No,” she counters sharply.“How could any of this be your fault?She’s unhinged.You didn’t ask her to do this.You didn’twantthis.”
“But it followedme,” I cry, standing up and throwing my hands in the air.“All of it.The cameras.The danger.The headlines.You almost died, Victoria.Because of me.”
“No.No, Mason.Because of someone from your past.Not you.How could you have known?”Tears well in her eyes, and I nearly break right there.
“I love you, Victoria,” I blurt out.“I think I’ve loved you from the moment you asked me if hockey players go camping together.And it’s because I love you that I can’t let this continue,” I say.“We made a pact to help each other change the narrative of how people see us.”
I take another breath, preparing myself for the impact of my next words.Leaving her is the last thing I want to do.Yet it’s the best thing.
“I broke that pact.All I brought into your life was chaos and more opportunities for you to be seen as the villain.I can’t let that continue.”
