The next morning, all hell had broken loose.
"Cat, we need to get you in front of the press," a press officer said quickly, eyes darting between Cat and Jade as they sat in a emergency meeting in one of the hotel conference rooms. "Austin's posted something online. It's going viral."
Before Cat could respond, the officer was already texting furiously, clearly trying to minimise the damage. The announcement had already been made—the breakup was public, but that wasn't the worst part. Austin had taken it a step further, revealing something no one had expected.
Austin's post wasn't just about their breakup—it was about Cat's past. He'd exposed the fact that Cat and Jade had once been in a relationship, a fact that the public had never known. His words were harsh, a mix of betrayal and bitterness, and the internet was already exploding with questions and scandalous theories. Everything made it sound like a betrayal on Cat's part for keeping it hidden. It was a massive bombshell, and the internet quickly latched onto it, speculating wildly about why Cat had never talked about it before. All the public knew of Jade was from what Cat had posted herself; posts that, now with all context did read in a new tone. That, and the night Jade punched a photographer. Old photos surfaced, stories brewed up. Shots of the two of them together during this tour were everywhere. It was news in not only that the famous pop star had had a secret relationship, but that it was a gay one. Her many love songs, previously thought to be dedicated to Shay were all lies. Just a few of many things this changed for her.
Jade felt her stomach drop, the weight of the situation hitting her all at once. She could hear the PR officer's voice getting more urgent, telling Cat that she needed to come up with a statement, something to downplay the situation before it spiralled further. But all Jade could focus on was Cat's face.
She had no idea how Cat would react to this level of public scrutiny. And what made it worse was that she could see the shift in Cat's eyes, the hesitation, the quiet dread. Cat was on already teetering the edge, and maybe this would push her over. It was all in the past anyway, their relationship. They were over it, no need to bring it all back up now.
The PR officer, who had been pacing at the back of the room, shot them both a sharp look. "We need a statement now, Cat. This can't go unchecked."
But Cat didn't look at the officer. Her eyes were locked on Jade, and for the first time in weeks, there was something close to peace in her gaze. She could feel the weight of the decision she was about to make.
After a long pause, she stood up slowly. "No more lies," she said quietly. "I'm not going to hide anymore."
She walked past Jade, who only returned a look of shock, and turned to the PR officer. "We're going to do this my way," Cat declared, her voice steady now, though her hands shook slightly as she held her phone. "I'm not going to keep living in the shadows of what people want me to be. This is me. All of it."
The officer sighed, clearly frustrated but knowing there was no point in arguing now. "You're making a huge mistake," they warned, but Cat shook her head.
"Maybe I am," she said, meeting the officer's gaze with newfound determination. "But I've made bigger mistakes trying to keep this hidden. This is who I am. And I'm done pretending."
Jade watched as Cat posted the statement. Her fingers hovered over her phone for a moment before she tapped it out, and then the world knew. The whole truth came out—the past relationship between her and Jade, the fact that they had once been together, and the real reason why she had kept it quiet. The statement was raw, honest, and for the first time in a long while, it felt like Cat was standing up for herself, not for her team or the people trying to control her.
Her words were:
"I've spent too long hiding the truth, not just from you, but from myself. So today, I'm choosing to be honest.
Yes, Jade and I were in a relationship. We dated from high school until the near the end of my second tour. That's the truth. We were together, and it was real. But as that tour ended, we both realised that we were better off apart. That's just how life goes. We've both moved forward since then, and I respect the love we shared—always will—and we have remained close.
I'm bisexual, and for years, I was terrified to admit it to the world. I was told I needed to be perfect, fit into a box, and that I couldn't be anything other than what people expected of me. I kept my relationship with Jade a secret for so long because I thought it would hurt my career, because I was scared of losing everything I worked for. But I'm tired of hiding. I'm proud of who I am. And I want the world to know that. I want you to know me for who I truly am.
I'm no longer afraid of being honest about my past or my identity. I know some of you might be surprised, others might be angry, and that's okay. I'm ready to own my story. I hope that by sharing this, I can give someone the courage to be themselves, too.
Thank you for understanding. And thank you to those who've supported me through all of it."
The post hit the internet like a storm. Fans, journalists, and haters alike flooded her comments, sharing their reactions. But the one thing Cat hadn't expected was the overwhelming support. The people who had been rooting for her all along—the ones who had seen her as more than just a pop star—came forward in droves, showing their love and understanding.
For the first time in a long time, Cat felt like she was finally on the path to reclaiming her life, her identity, and her future. She wasn't sure what the fallout would be, but she knew that this was the first step toward healing.
Jade smiled softly, watching Cat read through the comments, her face slowly relaxing. "I'm proud of you," she said, her voice filled with warmth.