The headlines were everywhere. Blasting across gossip sites, business networks, and social media. Shane's name was on fire—and not in the good way.
"BREAKING: Business Tycoon Alexa Moreau Claims Secret Marriage to Shane Kingston"
"EXCLUSIVE: The Shocking Love Triangle Between Shane Kingston, Alexa Moreau, and New Flame May Anderson"
"Did Shane Cheat? Alexa Drops Bombshell Marriage Announcement"
Shane stood in the center of her penthouse, hands gripping the edge of the kitchen island so hard her knuckles turned white.
The TV blared in the background, every channel spewing the same twisted narrative.
And May—May stood across the room, her heart thundering, her throat dry.
"She's lying," Shane said, her voice a low growl. "We were never married. Never even talked about it."
"But she has a certificate, Shane." May turned her phone around, showing the news article. A photo of a legal-looking document. Stamped. Signed. Dated. "She forged it?"
"Most likely. Or bribed someone. Alexa's father has pull in old political circles—money talks."
May's jaw clenched. "So what's the plan? Deny it publicly?"
Shane pushed away from the island, pacing. Her movements were sharp, full of restless energy. "I'll have my legal team dismantle it. Expose the forgery. But the damage—" She paused, her voice catching. "The damage is already done."
May watched her for a long moment, the tension in her chest growing heavier. Shane's usual steel had cracks now—hair disheveled, blazer off, shirt sleeves rolled up with her tattoos on full display, a dark shadow in her eyes.
"She wants to own you," May said quietly. "Not love you. Own you."
Shane looked at her, eyes flickering with something raw. "That's what she always wanted. Control. Power. She was the first woman I ever let in… and she used that against me. She knew how to make me feel needed. Like I didn't deserve anything better."
May moved closer, her voice soft but steady. "But now you have something better. You have me."
A beat.
Then Shane chuckled dryly. "She's trying to scare you off."
"She should know by now," May said, stepping in, "I don't scare easy."
They stood close—too close—and the heat that lingered from their passionate night sparked again, mixing with adrenaline and fury.
But Shane looked away.
"She's got the public. She's got my past. I don't want you getting caught in this mess."
"Then don't push me away," May said. "Because if she thinks I'm backing off, she hasn't seen what I'll do when someone threatens what's mine."
Shane's breath hitched.
Something in her unraveled.
"I don't know how to fight this the right way, May," she admitted, voice cracking for the first time in a long time. "Every move I make, she's five steps ahead. Every time I try to breathe, she tightens the noose."
May grabbed her hand.
Pulled her in.
"You don't need to fight her alone."
And then she kissed her.
Hard.
With desperation and fire, with promise and heat.
Shane melted into it, her hands on May's hips, clutching her like she was the only anchor left in a stormy sea.
They broke apart only when the phone buzzed again.
This time—it was Shane's lawyer.
Shane answered on speaker. "Talk."
"Shane. Bad news. The certificate Alexa submitted... it's filed in Nevada. Looks like a drunken Vegas night six years ago. It's legally binding. You are married. At least on paper."
The silence that followed was deafening.
May blinked, stunned.
Shane's jaw dropped. "That's impossible. I don't remember—"
"She's playing the long game," May muttered. "Waiting until you had something new to destroy it."
The lawyer continued, "We can get it annulled. Fast. But she knew exactly what she was doing. This timing… it's deliberate. She's about to file a public suit. She's claiming infidelity."
"Jesus Christ," Shane whispered, slamming the phone down.
"She's not just jealous," May said. "She's vindictive. If you lose control of the narrative, she wins."
Shane turned to her.
"I won't let her destroy us," she said, voice low and full of steel. "I'll fight this. I'll expose her."
May stepped closer, resting her hand on Shane's cheek. "Then let's do it together."
Shane kissed her forehead.
And something inside her finally settled.
This wasn't just about exes or public image anymore.
This was war.
And Shane Kingston wasn't going down quietly.