Chapter 47: SHE CHANGES THE GAME

Then, she changes the game.

The host’s smile sharpens. “That was Katy Cash, wasn’t it? Your opening act back in the day. Is she the woman you’ve been seen with recently?”

Before I can respond, another clip plays—Katy on stage, her voice powerful as she sings one of her original songs. The audience falls silent, captivated by the footage.

“And then there’s this,” the host continues, her tone light but her eyes piercing. A photo flashes on the screen—Katy, Rainidy, and me at dinner. Rainidy’s small hand is clasped in mine, and I’m looking down at her with a smile that gives everything away.

The host turns back to me, her expression curious but kind. “Rain, the world wants to know... is that your daughter?”

The studio falls silent. The audience leans forward, hanging on my every word. I glance at the host, then at the cameras, and finally at the screen displaying the photo of my daughter. My family.

I take a deep breath, the weight of Derrick’s warnings pressing against me. But then I think of Katy, Rainidy, and the life I want to build. I’m done hiding.

“Yes,” I say, my voice steady despite the emotion swelling in my chest. “That’s my daughter, Rainidy—she was named after me.”

A collective gasp ripples through the audience. The host’s eyes widen slightly, but she quickly regains her composure.

“Wow. That’s... incredible. And Katy Cash? She was with you at the awards, right? When you thanked your new family,” she asks.

I nod, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Yes. Katy is very important to me. She always has been.”

The host beams, clearly delighted by the exclusive revelation. “Well, you heard it here first, folks. Rain Wild has a daughter. He’s now a family man.”

The rest of the interview is a blur. Questions about Katy and Rainidy dominate the conversation, but I answer them all with honesty and pride. By the time the segment ends, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and it feels great.

A huge smile spreads across my face at how good everything feels right now. I’m still shaking with a backlash of emotions, but even so, I start to whistle as I walk out the door and climb into the waiting car.

The driver glances at me via the rearview mirror with a grin. “You seem in a good mood tonight, Mr. Wild,” he states as he pulls into the heavy L.A. traffic.

“I am,” I reply, the satisfaction in my voice unmistakable. “In fact, I haven’t felt this good in a while.”

Back at the hotel, I sink into the oversized chair, phone in hand, and exhale deeply before dialing Katy. When she picks up, I listen for any type of emotion in her voice. “I saw the interview,” she says lightly.

“And?” I ask, holding my breath.

There’s a pause, and then she laughs—a warm, genuine laugh that makes my chest ache. “You were amazing, Rain. I’m so proud of you,” she says, her voice brimming with warmth.

Relief floods through me as I lean back. “I meant every word, Katy. No more hiding.”

“No more hiding,” she agrees, her voice filled with hope.

“What about Rainidy? Is she–”

“She’s thrilled, Rain. I’ve warned her that things may get crazy. What with the paparazzi and reporters. But for now, they don’t know where we are. So she’s safe and staying inside.”

“Good. I would have liked to have warned her, both of you. But this wasn’t planned.”

As we continue to talk, a sense of peace settles over me. “Good night, beautiful. I’ll see you and Rainidy soon.”

My peace is short-lived because there’s a harsh knock on my hotel door the minute we hang up. It’s Derrick.

“I should have known you’d show up–”

Derrick cuts me off as he confronts me, his face a mixture of fury and disbelief. “You made a big mistake, Rain—telling everyone Rainidy was your child.”

“I told the truth, Derrick,” I say, my voice sharp with conviction. “And it felt damn good.”

Derrick’s face is flushed with anger, his jaw tightening as he steps closer to me, his voice sharp and low. “What the hell were you thinking?”

I don’t flinch, meeting his glare head-on. “I was thinking about my daughter. And about Katy–about what really matters.”

“What matters,” Derrick hisses, stabbing a finger toward Rain’s chest, “is the brand I’ve spent years building. You destroyed it all in one interview. It’s going to take a tremendous amount of work to spin this–”

I grit my teeth as my anger bubbles over. “I told the truth, Derrick. There’s nothing to spin.”

“You don’t get it, do you?” Derrick growls, his face a shade darker now. “The industry doesn’t care if you’re happy. Theywant Rain Wild—the bad boy. You’ve killed the brand. You’ve killedus.”

I let out a bitter laugh, advancing on Derrick. “Us? This was about you! You’ve been more concerned about your cut than what’s good for me.”

“Damn right, it’s about my cut!” Derrick snaps. “Because without me, you wouldn’t even have a career to talk about! I built you, Rain. Don’t forget that.”

“You’re done controlling me and my life, Derrick.” I let the words hang in the air, my hands clenched at my sides. “You’re fired.”

Derrick freezes, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. Then, he explodes. “You’re making a huge mistake! You’ll never find someone who can do what I do. Without me, your career is over!”

“Maybe, but at least it’s my decision. Now get out!” I point to the door.

Derrick stomps to the door, muttering curses, but as the door slams shut behind him, all I feel is relief. As the silence settles, I feel the weight lifting off my shoulders. My life is finally mine.

My eyes travel over the hotel room. Suddenly, I long to be back home–without hesitating, I book the next red-eye home. Katy and Rainidy are waiting for me. And I’m done making them wait.