The Rapper's Favorite || An Eminem Fanfiction

Chapter 13: Breaking the Silence

Marshall's POV

As soon as we step into the apartment, the weight between us is heavy. Aria drops onto the couch, her hands gripping the edge like it's holding her together. She's not scared of Evan. She's angry, and I can feel it burning inside her.

I sit across from her, waiting for her to let it out. She's been carrying this for too long, and she needs to say it.

"You're not afraid of him, are you?" I ask, cutting through the silence.

Her eyes snap up to meet mine, blazing. "No. I'm not scared, Marshall. I'm fucking angry."

Good. That's what I needed to hear.

"Good," I say, leaning back in my chair. "Anger's something you can use."

She scoffs, running her hands through her hair, trying to press the frustration out of her mind. "He never lets up. Every time I think I'm finally free, every time I feel like I've gotten my life back, he shows up to remind me that I'm still stuck. No matter how far I go, I'm still in his shadow."

There's more she hasn't said yet, and I can tell it's eating at her.

"You haven't told me everything, have you?" I ask, keeping my voice calm but firm. "What are you holding back?"

She hesitates, her hands tightening around the fabric of the couch. But I don't push. She needs to let this out when she's ready.

"We weren't just working together," she finally admits, her voice quieter now. "We were in a relationship."

That lands heavy between us, but I stay quiet, letting her keep going.

"I was 18 when I met him," she continues, her voice tightening. "I was young, stupid, and I thought I loved him. He made me feel like I was special, like I was the only one who mattered. He promised me the world, and I believed him. But by the time I was 21, I saw through it. I realized it wasn't about me. It was about control."

Her voice wavers slightly, but she pushes forward, the anger fueling her.

"He controlled everything—my music, my career, my life. And when I pushed back, he threatened me. He had photos, videos—things I never agreed to. He used them to make sure I did what he wanted. And when I finally left, he made sure no one else would work with me. He blacklisted me. For the past 10 years, I've been stuck in the shadows because of him."

Her words hit hard, the weight of that decade pressing down on both of us. Ten years of living in the dark because of one man's control.

"I've written for some of the biggest artists out there, Marshall. Some of the biggest hits in the industry. But no one knows it's me. I'm invisible, because he made sure I stayed that way."

I feel my fists tighten, but I keep my voice steady. "He didn't erase you, Aria. You've been in the shadows, but you've been shaping the industry all this time. And now? You're stepping into the light. You're putting your name on this album, and with my name behind yours, there won't be a household that doesn't know who you are."

She stares at me, the weight of everything she's been holding back still in her eyes.

"Marshall, I..."

I don't let her finish. "No. Listen to me. You've already spent 10 years letting him keep you hidden. But that ends now. This album? It's your way out. With your name on this, and with me behind you, there's no stopping you. You're going to take back everything he tried to steal."

Her fingers tremble slightly as she looks down at her hands. "What if he tries to ruin everything again? What if he comes after the album? After you?"

"Let him try," I say, leaning forward, my voice firm. "I've dealt with worse. And so have you. This time, you're not alone. You've been in the background, but now? You're about to take over."

She lets out a shaky breath, the tension in her shoulders starting to ease. "I just... I don't want to feel powerless anymore."

"You're not powerless, Aria," I tell her, leaning closer. "You've been shaping the music industry, even if no one knows it yet. You're about to get the credit you deserve. And no one—not Evan, not anyone—is going to stop you."

Her lips twitch into a small, hesitant smile. "I want to believe that."

"Then believe it," I say, standing up, my voice firm. "Because you're about to show the world who you really are. And Evan? He won't have any power over you anymore."

She looks up at me, her expression softening, but I can still see the doubt lingering. "Okay," she says, her voice quiet but steady. "Let's do this."

———

Later that night, after she's gone to bed, I sit alone in the living room, staring out at the city lights. The anger's still burning inside me, but I'm focused now. Evan Stone isn't going to win this. He doesn't get to erase her anymore.

I pull out my phone and scroll through my contacts until I land on Paul's name. We need a plan. This isn't just about some industry asshole trying to pull strings. This is personal, and I'm not letting him control her any longer.

The phone rings twice before Paul picks up. "Marshall? What's going on?"

"We've got a problem," I say, my voice tight but steady. "It's about Aria. And Evan Stone."

There's a pause on the other end, and then Paul's voice drops, serious. "Alright. Tell me what we're dealing with."