At some point, my mom had arrived outside the room too. She was sobbing uncontrollably, pleading with the angry fans.
“Girls, please–aren’t we all gathered here because we love the same idol? My daughter just… she lost control because of how much she adores him. Please, go easy on her, I beg you.”
Then she turned toward the door and called out to me.
“Nina, honey, let him go. Come out, we’ll go home and figure this out together.”
Her voice stabbed into me like a knife.
If I hadn’t dated Bay in my last life, none of this would’ve happened to them.
My mom had been so traumatized by the funeral wreaths covering the entire house that she was sent straight to the ICU, her condition
uncertain.
And now, here she was crying outside, while I sat inside, tears pouring down my face.
Ethan looked genuinely troubled now. His voice softened.
“If you know you’ve gone too far, then open the door. Let me speak to them. I promise, they won’t get violent.”
I glanced up at the man in front of me.
Yes, I had adored Ethan Howard for five years. This was the closest I had ever been to him.
If I hadn’t been utterly cornered, I never would’ve done something like this just to prove my innocence.
But thankfully, the idol I liked was the kind who seemed to attract drama and chaos like a magnet.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gotten the attention I needed.
And what a storm it was, the police showed up.
They cordoned off both ends of the hallway with yellow tape, forcing fans to retreat to the far end.
My parents stood right outside the room.
Mom sobbing, Dad chain–smoking like it was the only thing keeping him from falling apart.
A female officer arrived, who was level–headed and empathetic. She knocked gently and asked first about Ethan’s safety.
Then she spoke to me through the door, her tone calm and patient.
“Sweetheart, are you in some kind of trouble? Come on out, we can talk this through.”
Because the room had been leased in my name long–term, I had exclusive access. Hotel staff didn’t have a master key.
Afraid I might be armed, they didn’t dare force their way in. All they could do was persuade me, sentence by sentence.
I leaned into the officer’s voice, replying honestly, “Yes, officer. I’m in trouble. And this is the only way I know how to fix it. I won’t hurt him. I just need to stay with him a little while longer.”
Time ticked by, each second scraping against my nerves. Only three minutes left before the clock hit midnight. The moment that mattered most.
The officer was puzzled. “What kind of problem requires you to be locked in a room with a celebrity? Whatever it is, we can help you. Just come out.”
“Sweetheart,” my father called again. “What’s really going on? Come out. Whatever it is, we’ll handle it together.”
11:58 PM.
A few rabid fans broke through the police line and started screaming outside my door.
“We found your info! You’re from the Collins family, huh? Think being rich gives you the right to harass people?”
“If Ethan’s career tanks because of you, I swear we’ll dump garbage outside your house every damn day!”
11:59 PM.
My ears buzzed. The voices faded into white noise.
All I could see was the second hand ticking on my watch. One more click.
12:00.
I flung the door wide open. The flashing lights of countless phones hit me like gunfire.
Officers rushed in. My wrists were cuffed.
A wave of relief washed over me, and I collapsed onto the floor, gasping like a fish out of water.
Every breath was sharp and painful, but I didn’t care.
had done it. This time, I had changed my fate.
Everyone present, my parents, Ethan, the fans, the cameras–they were all my witnesses now.
My mom rushed forward, hugging me tight, trying to shield me from the lenses pointed directly at my face.
My dad stepped in front of me, arms spread to protect me.
I forced myself up, standing on shaky legs, and stared straight at the fanbase that once wanted me dead.
My voice was hoarse, but clear as a bell.
“I did it. So go ahead. Cancel me. Tear me apart online.”
Even the police seemed caught off guard. The room fell completely silent.
“You’re not planning to play the crazy card to get away with this, are you?”
