Katseye: Forbidden Hearts | laraxmacs | gxg

Chapter: The Fallout

For two months, Abby and Lara had carefully danced around the edges of the public eye, savoring stolen moments and whispered promises. Their love felt like a secret treasure, hidden away from a world that would never understand. Late-night phone calls, anonymous rendezvous in unassuming cafés, and a shared playlist they both listened to when apart had become their routine. Despite the risks, they had found a way to exist together, even in secrecy.

But all it took was one slip—a single moment caught on camera—to unravel everything.

The paparazzi photos hit the internet like wildfire. Abby and Lara leaving an upscale LA restaurant, laughing, arm in arm. The image was intimate, almost tender, and the tabloids wasted no time spinning their narrative. Speculation ranged from harmless mentorship to accusations of scandal, but the headlines all screamed the same thing: Hollywood Star and K-Pop Idol: A Forbidden Romance?

Abby’s team moved quickly, issuing vague denials and framing their relationship as professional. “A simple dinner between friends,” the official statement read. But the internet wasn’t buying it. Trolls swarmed Abby’s social media, calling her “predatory” and “disgusting.” Hashtags like #ProtectLara and #CancelAbby trended for days. Abby, used to the scrutiny of fame, tried to shrug it off, but the words cut deep—especially the ones that painted her as a monster for loving someone who had brought so much light into her life.

Lara’s management, however, was far less forgiving.

The day after the photos leaked, Lara was summoned to an emergency meeting. Her phone was confiscated, and she was told in no uncertain terms that her career was at stake. “Do you realize what you’ve done?” her manager had yelled, pacing the room. “This is Korea, Lara. Your fans don’t want to see you in love—they want to see you perfect. Untouchable. And now you’ve tied yourself to a Hollywood actress ten years older than you. Do you think they’ll forgive you for that?”

Lara was confined to her dorm, cut off from the outside world. Her groupmates tried to comfort her, but the isolation was suffocating. Every day, she was reminded that her actions had not just jeopardized her own career, but also her bandmates’ futures. And yet, even as the pressure mounted, Lara couldn’t bring herself to regret her love for Abby.

Abby, on the other hand, was relentless. She refused to let their connection be severed, no matter how hard the world pushed against them. Through a mutual friend, she smuggled a hidden phone to Lara. It was risky, but it was the only way they could stay in touch.

On the first night Lara received it, a single text came through:

“Are you okay? I miss you. I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes.”

Lara clutched the phone to her chest, tears streaming down her face. She felt trapped, torn between the life she had worked so hard to build and the person who made her feel truly alive. Abby’s words were a lifeline, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, she wasn’t alone.

Late at night, when everyone else was asleep, Lara would text Abby. They talked about everything—memories of their secret dates, Abby’s latest projects, Lara’s struggles with her management. In those stolen moments, they built a world of their own, far away from the judgment and noise.

But the weight of the scandal lingered. Abby’s reputation continued to suffer, and Lara’s every move was scrutinized by fans and the media alike. Each day brought new challenges, but their love remained a stubborn flame, refusing to be extinguished.