At the time of Kyle’s death, his brothers hadn’t spoken to him once since they paid him a visit to let him know that Mia and the baby were none of his concern. Kole shocked us all when he threatened Kyle to ensure his silence. When Kane told me that Kole had said he would publicly claim Milo, making up something so juicy that the media would eat right out of his palms, I had been shocked. Sure, Kyle could have called his bluff, but I think he knew that with Kole’s popularity, everyone would have believed him.

I asked Kole what he would have done or said. Kole just gave me a lopsided smile and shrugged. But later, Kane told me what Kole was planning if it came to where he had to go public.

Kole had never made it a secret that he would never marry or have children. He enjoyed his life and knew that it would be hard to find a woman who could put up with everything that came with his celebrity status. Not to mention, bringing a child into his world would be dangerous since he currently had one crazy stalker. So he just didn’t want it and had always made it known. But, if it came to it, he was prepared to not only claim Milo, but he would fabricate a story so insanely graphic and juicy about his love triangle with his own brother, it would be like a Lifetime movie being played out for the world to see. He was right. The story of Kyle, the brother who was notorious for avoiding the press, cheating on his wife and fathering a love child would never have held a candle to Kole’s rendition.

It was a risk, but just like the day we decided to keep the identity of Milo’s father a secret, we knew the only thing that mattered was making sure he lived as normal of a life as possible and that it began with as little of a scandal as possible.

For months after Kane’s and my relationship went public, it seemed like we were in the news daily. Pictures surfaced of us on dates, on the set of Impenetrable, even some creepy stalker-type pictures from someone who had followed us when we took a little vacation to the mountains. It was insane. But it was actually exhilarating.

When it became clear that not only was Kane very much in love, but that we also both had a great friendship with Mia, they abandoned their attempts at painting our relationship as some sordid triangle. It didn’t come overnight, but it happened, and for the last two months, we’ve had nothing but support for our relationship.

Of course, the biggest reason for that was probably because of me.

Yup. Me.

When Kyle died, regardless of the fact that Kane had made peace with the fact he would never have a relationship with his brother again, it still cut him deep. He sunk into a depression, and I didn’t know how to help. Weeks of chopped conversations, nightmares, and eventually silence. I had no idea how to help him get past that. Until Mia. She decided I needed to help him see the good things in life, or more specifically, give him something that would shock him enough to move on and remember the happier times.

Kane didn’t even notice that I had left him alone for the first time in weeks, but he sure did take notice when I slapped one of the most popular entertainment magazines down in front of him a week later. Mia had reached out to the editor, a friend of hers, and explained that I was interested in doing an interview. Not just an interview, but also a bare all expose of myself—in lingerie of all things. I had just stood there, sputtering my shock, seconds away from passing out in panic … until she explained to the editor that this would be an inspirational piece that would show the struggles with body image, self-hate, and finally overcoming it. Hearing her put it that way—even though I was still absolutely terrified about being photographed in skimpy underwear—the thought of helping just one person who felt the way I used to pushed me to go through with it.

She had been right, God love her. Not only did Kane snap out of it when faced with his very bare girlfriend on the front page of the most popular tabloid magazine around, but also he had been so turned on by my confidence that he didn’t leave the bedroom for two more days. Locking himself away for a whole different reason. And I enjoyed every rough, sweaty, arousing moment of it.

Since that interview, I had gone from the woman who may have broken up the rumored Kane and Mia relationship to a woman who became the face of learning to love your own skin. It was weird, and uncomfortable, at times, but every single letter I got from someone who told me that my story helped them to heal made it worth every second.

It was then that Ivy and Dominic made their final strike. We knew it would probably happen, especially after his attempt to keep the Logan Agency afloat on Kane’s coattails had failed. Ivy had tried to sell a story to some low-rate tabloid that I had never had my so-called body issues. She claimed the true story was that I had been a bully to her making her so insecure that she paid thousands in plastic surgery to ‘correct’ the things I had told her were ugly.

That backfired terribly when numerous of the employees of the now bankrupt and closed down Logan Agency had come forward to not only deny, but also turn it back on Ivy, Dominic, and even my ex-husband, Brad.

I shouldn’t have been happy that they not only failed but also lost everything. I shouldn’t have spent a whole night drinking with Kane, Kirby, Eddie, and Kole. I probably shouldn’t have cared at all.

But I did. I’m not proud of it, but I celebrated karma’s brilliance in a drunken rage of laughter, facemasks, and nail polish.

So even though the last year and a half has held a lot of ups and downs, I’m so happy that it’s ridiculous.

I was going to pass out.

It’s quite possible I might actually puke, which would be absolutely horrifying given our current surroundings.

I look to my right and take in the calm man sitting next to me. He looks almost bored, which makes no sense because I know he’s been a ball of nervous excitement all day.

This was so much easier the other times we found ourselves seated in a darkened theater, surrounded by the who’s who of the entertainment world. Not once did I feel the need to purge my nerves in a very disgustingly graphic way. Of course, last year we were sitting here for another film for which Kane’s acting had been nominated. It’s so much different now that we’re here for Impenetrable. Not only because it’s a film we’re both insanely proud of, but because for Kane, this is the first time he’s been nominated for his screenplay and directing.

‘Award season’ was like nothing I had expected. The red carpet was a full-speed chaos-filled madness of shouts, flashes, and small interviews. I played my part and stuck by Kane’s side. I smiled when I was told to pose, and I stepped back to the side when Kane’s new PR rep told him to turn on his charm and talk about Impenetrable, a film that climbed the charts in a frenzy of popularity. I don’t think anyone was shocked when the nominations started rolling in.

So now here I sit, waiting as the names are being announced for the director award category. I can’t even enjoy the moment long enough to freak out about the two stars chatting away on stage.

Nope.

I’m about to freak out.

Alessandra had already won the first award of the night, given for Lead Actress in a Motion Picture, just as I knew she would. I swear Kane had tears in his eyes when he gave the younger actress a hug. I know I did. We didn’t win the nomination that the film had in the Lead Actor category. I could tell that Logan was bummed, but the reality is that even though he’s now one of the most lusted over young actors, Alessandra stole the film and everyone knows it. The emotions she was able to bring to the surface, the power in which she broke before she healed were exceptional in their brilliance.