***Alissa Blake***
So I asked again. "I mean, he just… took the song and turned it in? Like it was his?"
"Technically, yes. But I don’t think it was malicious." Cyrus paused, choosing his words carefully. "I think he just… didn’t want to get too deep into it. You know how complicated things are between you two."
The way he said it made me feel like there was more to the story.
"Cyrus, how is he? I feel like something’s off with Holden."
Silence stretched on the other end of the line. The answer I didn’t want to hear, maybe.
"He’s handling things in his way."
That meant: not well. A tightness clenched in my chest.
"Does he know I called? I think it’d be good for me to talk to him."
"He’s sleeping," Cyrus answered, too quickly. "And honestly? It’s better this way."
My fingers tightened around the phone. "Why do you say that?"
"Because this isn’t going to lead either of you anywhere, Alissa."
I stayed silent, and Cyrus knew he had my attention.
"You walked away for a reason. He’s burying himself in work because that’s what he knows how to do. And now, your song is out in the world, being celebrated." He paused, letting the words sink in. "Do you really want this to be about you two again? For him to feel that way again—hurt, confused, with his family ties broken all over again?"
My breath caught. I couldn’t say I wanted to see Holden suffering, but… didn’t we deserve proper closure after so many misunderstandings?
"I…" I tried to say something, but Cyrus cut me off.
"Do you want the press to start digging? For them to find out about you? About your life? Do you want every detail of your story turned into a tabloid spectacle? Because that’s exactly what will happen if this song’s backstory gets out."
The fear I’d been ignoring flared up. I didn’t want to hurt Holden, and this could also keep me from finding out more about Morgan.
"No, I don’t want any of that," I said firmly, but the bitterness on my tongue remained.
"Exactly." Cyrus’s voice was gentle but firm. "And neither does Holden."
I wanted to argue, to say Holden never cared what people said about him. But at the same time, I couldn’t deny that he had always tried to keep me away from this world. He had hidden my identity after the accident. He had protected my name when he could.
Maybe Cyrus was right. Maybe Holden had done this impulsively, but deep down, he knew it was for the best.
"So what do you suggest?"
Cyrus’s response came without hesitation, catching me off guard. "A deal."
"What kind of deal?"
"The label is willing to pay you a significant sum to keep your name off the credits."
The idea of giving up my song left a bitter taste in my mouth. "You want me to pretend I never wrote it?"
"It’s not pretending," Cyrus corrected, in that ever-patient tone of his. "It’s simply leaving things as they are—without making a fuss."
There was a pause before he added, "You want to move on, right? Leave all of this behind? This contract ensures that you won’t be pulled back into this world."
I bit my lip, pacing back and forth as I tried to find a light at the end of this tunnel—one that felt more like a maze.
"Does Holden know about this?"
"Not yet."
The answer was too quick. I should have been more suspicious.
"But he will—at the right time."
Something about that felt off, but Cyrus had always tried to keep Holden’s career intact, despite everything.
"Cyrus… would Holden reach out to me if he knew I called?"
I fiddled with the button on my shirt, feeling as anxious as a teenager. My heart pounded, and my stomach twisted into knots. I wanted so badly for the answer to be yes that it made my palms sweat.
But the pause before his response told me everything.
"He doesn’t need any more distractions right now. You wouldn’t believe how hard it’s been keeping him on track, but he’s a good kid. He always remembers how much he wanted this—his dream, after all."
Cyrus didn’t want Holden to know.
He was carefully crafting this narrative, guiding me toward accepting a deal that, deep down, benefited Holden—or rather, his career—far more than it benefited me.
But what if he was right?
What if I was just another distraction?
If Holden took this song and released it because it was the only good thing he had left… should I get involved?
I closed my eyes, trying to untangle my messy thoughts from the word distraction.
"Send me the contract. I’ll read it."
Cyrus smiled on the other end—I could hear it in his voice.
"Good choice, Alissa. And don’t worry—I’ll recommend you for more projects. Send me your location. You know I want the best for both of you, even if that means being apart."
Then he hung up.
Apart. Just the way he had always thought was best.
And as I ended the call, an unsettling feeling remained.
Because deep down, I knew that no matter what I signed, Holden Young would never stop being a part of my story.