After settling everything between them, Mordred threw himself back into his busy schedule, often forgetting to eat lunch and working overtime. Despite his packed days, he always found time to spend with Nevaeh, even if it meant sacrificing sleep.
One night, Nevaeh visited his penthouse after a long day. She curled up on his couch, slipping into one of his oversized hoodies and putting on his headphones. The soft hum of music lulled her into sleep, and before she knew it, she had dozed off against his chest.
Mordred, glancing down at her peaceful expression, couldn't help but find the sight adorable. A small smile played on his lips as he reached for his phone and snapped a picture. Wanting to share the moment but still protect her privacy, he placed an emoji over her face before posting it on social media.
What he forgot, however, was just how wild his fans could be.
Within minutes, the post went viral. His notifications exploded with comments, some filled with curiosity, others with jealousy, and many with wild speculations.
"Who is she?"
"OMG, Mordred has a girlfriend?!"
"This better be his sister, or I'm gonna lose it."
"I KNEW IT! He's been acting different lately."
Mordred's jaw tightened as he scrolled through the chaotic responses. He had only wanted to capture a sweet moment, but now, the internet was ablaze with theories and accusations. He glanced down at Nevaeh, still peacefully asleep, completely unaware of the storm brewing online.
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Well… this is going to be a mess."
---
The next morning, Mordred arrived at an exclusive celebrity meeting, fully aware that the journalists would not miss the opportunity to interrogate him about the picture. As soon as he stepped onto the red carpet, microphones were thrust in his face, and flashes from cameras nearly blinded him.
"Mordred, who's the mystery girl in your post?" one reporter called out.
"Are you in a relationship?" another pressed eagerly.
"Is she an actress? A model? A secret engagement, perhaps?" someone added, fanning the flames of speculation.
Mordred adjusted his sunglasses, his expression cool and unreadable. "No comments," he said firmly, sidestepping the aggressive questioning.
"Come on, Mordred, give us something! The fans are going crazy!" another journalist pleaded.
He paused, glancing at the swarm of reporters before speaking in a calm but unwavering tone. "I share what I want to share. That picture was personal, and I'm not going to explain myself further."
"So she is someone special?" a voice in the crowd pushed further.
Mordred's jaw clenched slightly, but his voice remained steady. "All you need to know is that she's important to me, and I'll protect her with everything I have."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the reporters buzzing with more questions than answers.
Inside the venue, he let out a slow breath, knowing this was only the beginning. Protecting Nevaeh from the spotlight was going to be harder than he thought.
---
Jade, however, had seen the post and was seething. She stormed into the celebrity meeting, determined to create a scene as if she owned Mordred.
"Mordred, why didn't you tell me about this? I thought we had something special!" she whined dramatically, making sure the cameras captured every second.
Mordred slowly turned to her, his deadpan expression making the air tense. "Jade," he said flatly, "we never had anything special. You just decided we did."
Jade's eyes widened, but she recovered quickly, flipping her hair. "Oh, come on, Mordred. We've always been close. Everyone knows it."
Mordred scoffed, his stare turning sharp. "Close? The only thing close between us is the distance you refuse to keep."
Gasps echoed through the room. The journalists, eager for drama, leaned in, their cameras flashing wildly. Jade's face turned red, but she refused to back down. "Mordred, you can't just ignore me like this! I—"
"Jade," he interrupted, his voice calm but cutting. "The only thing I owe you is a restraining order. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than entertain your delusions."
Jade stood there, stunned, as the entire scene was captured live.
Within hours, the footage spread like wildfire across the internet.
---
Nevaeh watched the video with wide eyes, shock and pride warring within her. She knew Mordred could be blunt, but this level of rudeness? She hadn't expected it.
Her friends, Donna, Teresa, and Lilly, were watching with her, and they were absolutely losing it.
"Oh my god!" Donna shrieked. "Did he just say that to her face?!"
"Mordred did not come to play today!" Teresa cackled, practically rolling on the couch.
Lilly shook her head in amazement. "I knew he could be cold, but this? I'm impressed."
Nevaeh bit her lip, a slow smile creeping onto her face. She was proud of him. Proud that he had shut Jade down without hesitation. Proud that he had chosen to protect her, no matter the backlash.
Still, one thought lingered in her mind: Mordred really does not care about consequences, does he?