Chapter 57: Crossing the Line

Kimberly sat on the couch, scrolling through the comments on Aaron’s latest Instagram post. A clip from the documentary had gone live, and it was already gaining traction. The video showed a tender moment between her and Aaron at their engagement party, and while most of the comments were positive, a few made her pause.

"She doesn’t seem like his type."

"How did she land him?"

"I give this relationship a year, tops."

She put her phone down, her chest tightening. No matter how much she told herself to ignore the negativity, it was hard not to let it creep in.

The sound of Aaron’s deep voice pulled her from her thoughts. He walked in from the kitchen, shirtless, with a glass of water in hand.

“You good?” he asked, noticing the tension in her expression.

Kimberly forced a smile, not wanting to worry him. “Yeah, just tired.”

Aaron wasn’t convinced. He sat beside her, his hand resting on her knee. “Baby Girl, talk to me. What’s on your mind?”

She hesitated before handing him her phone. “It’s just... some of the comments on your post. I know I shouldn’t care, but they get under my skin sometimes.”

Aaron scrolled through the comments, his jaw tightening as he read. He set the phone down and turned to her, his eyes full of concern.

“Babe, you can’t let these people get to you. They don’t know us. They don’t know you.”

“I know,” she said quietly, her voice wavering. “But it’s hard not to feel like I have to prove something. Like I have to be perfect for you, for your fans, for the world.”

Aaron cupped her face in his hands, his voice firm yet gentle. “You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Not to them, not to me. You’re enough, Kim. More than enough.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and she nodded, leaning into his touch. “Thank you, Aaron. I just... I needed to hear that.”

He pulled her into his arms, holding her close. “Always. Don’t let them take away your joy. They don’t matter. We do.”

---

The next day, Kimberly decided to take control of her narrative. She posted a photo of herself and Aaron from their engagement party with a caption that read:

"Love isn’t about meeting the world’s expectations. It’s about finding someone who sees you, values you, and chooses you every day. That’s what we have. And that’s all that matters."

The post quickly gained attention, with many of Aaron’s fans rallying behind her. Kimberly felt a sense of empowerment she hadn’t expected. For the first time in a while, she felt like she had a voice in the chaos surrounding their lives.

---

Meanwhile, at the studio, Aaron was deep in another meeting with Marcus.

“The documentary’s shaping up nicely,” Marcus said, flipping through some footage. “But we need to address one thing—the backlash Kimberly’s been getting. It’s becoming a hot topic online.”

Aaron’s expression darkened. “What kind of backlash?”

Marcus hesitated before showing him some recent tweets and headlines. Aaron’s jaw clenched as he read through them.

“This is crossing the line,” he said, his voice low and controlled. “I’m not letting anyone disrespect Kimberly like this.”

Marcus nodded. “I figured you’d say that. We could include a segment in the documentary addressing it—showing your side of the story, shutting down the haters.”

Aaron considered it for a moment before shaking his head. “No. I’m not giving them that kind of power. But I will make one thing clear.”

He pulled out his phone and opened Instagram, typing out a post:

"Kimberly is the strongest, most incredible woman I’ve ever known. Anyone who can’t see that doesn’t deserve a seat at the table. Respect her or keep your opinions to yourself."

---

That evening, Kimberly was sitting on the balcony when Aaron joined her. He handed her a glass of wine and sat down beside her.

“I saw your post,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Thank you.”

Aaron shrugged, his eyes softening. “I meant every word. You don’t deserve the crap people say online. And I won’t let anyone make you feel less than what you are.”

Kimberly leaned her head on his shoulder, her heart swelling with gratitude. “You’re really good at this whole fiancé thing, you know that?”

Aaron chuckled, wrapping an arm around her. “I try. And I meant what I said before, Kim. It’s us against the world.”

She looked up at him, her smile growing. “Us against the world.”

As they sat together under the night sky, Kimberly realized that no matter what challenges came their way, they could handle them. Because at the end of the day, they had each other—and that was more than enough.

---

Aaron and Kimberly sat on the balcony in a comfortable silence, the city lights glittering in the distance. The warmth of his arm around her shoulders and the glass of wine in her hand provided a much-needed sense of calm. But Kimberly couldn’t help feeling like there was something unspoken lingering between them.

“Aaron,” she began softly, her voice cutting through the quiet. “I need to ask you something.”

He glanced down at her, his brow furrowing slightly. “What’s on your mind, Kim?”

She hesitated, swirling the wine in her glass. “Do you ever regret bringing me into all of this? The spotlight, the scrutiny... everything that comes with being with you?”

Aaron’s eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly shook his head. “Regret? Kim, no. Never. If anything, I regret not meeting you sooner.”

She smiled faintly at his sincerity but pressed on. “It’s just... sometimes I feel like I’m not cut out for this life. Like I’m holding you back.”

Aaron set his glass down and turned to face her fully, taking her hands in his. “Kimberly Monet, you listen to me. You’re not holding me back. You’re the reason I’m able to do what I do. You keep me grounded. You remind me why I work so hard in the first place. If anything, you’re my biggest strength.”

Her throat tightened, emotion welling up as she looked into his earnest eyes. “I just... I don’t want to let you down.”

“You couldn’t let me down if you tried,” Aaron said firmly. He lifted her hands to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “We’re a team, Kim. And I’m not going anywhere. No matter what.”

Kimberly felt a tear slip down her cheek, but this time, it wasn’t from doubt or fear. It was from the overwhelming love she felt for the man sitting in front of her.

“Okay,” she whispered, her voice shaky but steadying. “Okay.”

Aaron smiled, brushing away her tear with his thumb. “Good. Now, let’s finish this wine, and then I’m taking you to bed. You need some sleep, and I need to hold you.”

Kimberly laughed lightly, the tension easing from her shoulders. “You always have a way with words, don’t you?”

He smirked, picking up his glass. “Only when it comes to you, fiancée.”

---

The next morning, Kimberly woke to the sound of Aaron moving around the kitchen. She stretched, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and something sweet wafting into the bedroom.

Curious, she padded out to find him shirtless again—his muscular frame moving effortlessly as he plated pancakes and bacon.

“Good morning, chef,” she teased, leaning against the counter.

Aaron glanced up, a proud grin spreading across his face. “Good morning, queen. Breakfast is almost ready. Thought you deserved a little pampering.”

Kimberly raised an eyebrow, impressed. “I could get used to this.”

“Good,” Aaron said, setting the plates on the table. “Because I plan on spoiling you for the rest of our lives.”

As they sat down to eat, Kimberly couldn’t help but feel a sense of hope she hadn’t felt in weeks. No matter what challenges lay ahead, she knew they could face them together.

And as Aaron reached across the table to hold her hand, she realized that no amount of negativity or outside pressure could ever shake the foundation they had built.

Because in their world, love always came first.