Ren sat in the dim light of his loft, his phone resting on the counter in front of him. The space was quiet, save for the faint hum of traffic outside the window and the occasional creak of the floorboards beneath his restless pacing. His finger hovered over the "Go Live" button on his social media app, a war raging in his mind.
It was reckless, bold, and completely unplanned. But for the first time in his life, Ren didn't care about the risks. This wasn't about his image, his followers, or even the campaign. It wasn't about damage control or proving something to anyone else. It was about Vivien—and proving to her that his feelings weren't just another performance.
He took a deep breath, the weight of his decision pressing on him. His hand lingered for a moment longer, his heart pounding in his chest. Then, with a burst of resolve, he tapped the screen.
---
The notification went out immediately: "Ren Ashford is live." Within seconds, thousands of people joined, their comments flooding the screen.
"OMG, Ren is live at this hour???"
"What's he up to now?"
"Is this about Vivien???"
Ren glanced at the viewer count climbing rapidly but forced himself to focus. He ran a hand through his hair and leaned into the camera, his expression uncharacteristically serious.
"Hey, everyone," he began, his voice steady but low. "I know this is unexpected, and honestly, I wasn't sure if I should do this. But there's something I need to say, and I figured this was the only way to make sure it's heard."
The comments exploded.
"WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT?!"
"This better be about Vivien."
"I'm not ready for this drama!"
Ren smiled faintly, his gaze dropping for a moment before returning to the camera. "This isn't for you guys—not really. It's for someone who means more to me than I've ever let on. And if you know me, you probably know who that is."
---
He took a breath, his voice softening. "Vivien, if you're watching this… I just need you to hear me out. No cameras, no crew, no edits—just me."
The audience seemed to collectively hold its breath as he continued.
"I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. I've coasted, charmed my way through things, and avoided letting people get too close. But you? You didn't let me get away with that. You challenged me, called me out, and made me realize that I've been playing a part for so long, I forgot how to be real."
His voice cracked slightly, and he swallowed hard before pushing on. "What we had—what we have—it wasn't fake. Not for me. Every laugh, every fight, every moment we shared… it changed me. You changed me. And I'm not saying I'm perfect or that I'll never screw up again, but I can promise you this: I'm done pretending. With you, I want to be real."
---
Across town, Vivien sat on her couch, her phone gripped tightly in her hand as she watched the live stream. Her heart raced, each word sinking in deeper than she wanted to admit. She hadn't expected this—hadn't expected him to do this.
Her notifications were blowing up as friends, fans, and even Chloe texted her, urging her to respond. But she couldn't tear her eyes away from the screen.
---
Ren leaned closer to the camera, his raw vulnerability holding the audience captive. His chest rose and fell with uneven breaths as he gathered his final thoughts. He needed Vivien to know the depth of his feelings, and for once, his usual charm had no part in this.
"I know this might seem like a stunt to some of you," he said, his voice dropping to an almost whisper. "But it's not. This is me—unfiltered. For Vivien, for the one person who's made me see that I can be more than the guy who just coasts through life."
The comments scrolled by faster than he could read, but the sentiment was clear:
"THIS IS ABOUT HER!"
"I'm crying. Ren's actually serious."
"Vivien, girl, PLEASE answer him!"
Ren shook his head, a bittersweet smile playing at his lips. "I don't know if you're watching this, Vivien, or if you even want to hear from me. But I couldn't let things end like this. You deserve to know the truth."
He paused, his hands gripping the edge of the counter as if grounding himself. "You've always seen through me, called me out when I needed it most. You've challenged me in ways no one else ever has. And yeah, that scared the hell out of me. But it also made me want to be better—for you, for us. I'm not perfect. I don't have all the answers. But I'm willing to work for this. I'm willing to work for you."
His throat tightened, but he forced himself to continue. "And if this is the end—if you've decided it's not worth it—I'll respect that. But I need you to know that what we had wasn't fake. Not a single moment of it."
The sincerity in his voice silenced even the most skeptical viewers. Ren let out a shaky breath, his gaze steady on the camera. "That's it. That's all I have to say. Thank you for listening."
With a final, lingering look, he ended the live.
---
The loft fell silent once again, the only sound the faint hum of traffic outside. Ren set his phone down and leaned back against the counter, his head falling into his hands. For all his confidence on camera, doubt crept in like a shadow. Had he done the right thing? Was it too little, too late?
His phone buzzed incessantly as messages flooded in—fans, friends, and even his manager, who seemed equal parts impressed and horrified by his unscripted confession. But none of it mattered. The only person he wanted to hear from was Vivien.
Ren glanced at the blank screen, his heart heavy with uncertainty. He'd laid everything bare, something he'd never done before, and now all he could do was wait.
---
Across town, Vivien sat motionless on her couch, her phone still in her hands. The live stream had ended minutes ago, but the weight of Ren's words lingered, pressing down on her like a physical force. Her mind raced, replaying every moment, every word, every crack in his usually impenetrable demeanor.
Her notifications buzzed nonstop, messages from Chloe, friends, and even some fans pouring in.
Chloe: "Did you see it??? OMG, Viv, CALL HIM."
Friend #1: "Girl, if you don't respond to this man, I swear…"
Friend #2: "Ren Ashford just bared his soul to the internet. What are you waiting for?!"
But Vivien couldn't move. Her heart was a storm of emotions—anger, confusion, hope, and a flicker of something she hadn't felt in weeks: trust. Ren's words had struck a chord she hadn't expected. For all their ups and downs, she couldn't deny the sincerity she'd seen in his eyes.
The sound of a new notification pulled her from her thoughts. It was a message from Ren.
Ren: "I meant it."
Her breath caught as she stared at the screen, her thumb hovering over the reply button. Part of her wanted to call him, to tell him she'd seen the live and felt everything he'd hoped she would. But another part of her hesitated, unsure if she was ready to open herself up again.
Vivien set her phone down on the coffee table, leaning back against the couch as her thoughts swirled. Ren's confession had cracked the walls she'd spent so much time rebuilding. She wasn't ready to let them fall entirely, but for the first time, she wasn't sure she wanted to keep them standing either.
---
Back in his loft, Ren paced the room, the silence gnawing at him. He'd done everything he could, taken the leap he'd spent so long avoiding. And now, all he could do was wait.
But waiting wasn't something Ren Ashford was good at. He grabbed his jacket and keys, stepping out into the cool night air. The city stretched before him, its lights twinkling like the stars he'd admired on so many rooftop shoots with Vivien.
For the first time, those lights felt different—less about glamour and more about hope. Ren didn't know what the next day would bring, but one thing was certain: he wasn't going to give up. Not on Vivien. Not on them.
As he walked aimlessly through the city, he glanced up at the sky, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "One step at a time," he murmured to himself, the words both a promise and a reminder.
---
Vivien stared at the message on her phone for what felt like an eternity before finally typing a reply. Her fingers trembled as she typed three simple words:
"I saw it."
She hesitated for a moment before hitting send, her heart racing as the message delivered. It wasn't a resolution, not yet, but it was a start. And maybe, just maybe, a start was enough for now.