From Reject to Legend

*** Another large chapter with 4800+ words. Check the disclaimer at the end .***

The next morning broke with a hushed whisper, as if the world itself was reluctant to wake them. A thin veil of golden light crept over the horizon, casting long shadows across the white walls of the hotel. The breeze was gentle, warm, and fragrant—carrying the smell of the ocean and the sweet, scent of blooming hibiscus that lined the walkway .

Adriano and Kate stepped out through the arched entrance of the resort, fingers laced together. The early hour lent the scene a strange intimacy, like they were the only two people awake in the entire world.

Her sunglasses sat crookedly atop her head, half-forgotten in the rush of morning, while his hoodie sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, revealing sun-kissed skin and the soft press of veins under muscle.

Both had travel bags slung over their shoulders, worn canvas and leather softened by use. In their free hands, they carried paper cups of coffee—Kate's with a sleeve stained by an accidental drip, Adriano's still steaming faintly in the cool air.

For a moment, they paused at the top of the steps, just outside the hotel doors. The driveway stretched before them, lined with low palm trees swaying lazily in the breeze. Beyond it, the sea murmured, hidden just past the dunes, its rhythm as familiar now as a heartbeat.

Adriano took a deep breath, the scent of saltwater and roasted espresso filling his lungs. He glanced sideways at Kate, who was fiddling with her phone one-handed, squinting at the screen.

"No more photos, please," he said with a mock sigh, nudging her shoulder with his own.

She laughed, looking up at him. "I was checking the weather. But fine, Mr. World-Class Athlete. No selfies. Not even one?"

He gave her a slow grin, then leaned in and kissed the top of her head. "Maybe one. But only because you're cute when you're bossy."

She rolled her eyes but smiled, tucking her phone away. "We've got ten minutes before the car comes, right?"

"Unless your agent forgot how to tell time," Adriano said, fishing the car keys from his pocket. They swung idly from his finger, glinting in the sun like a metronome marking the final seconds of peace before reality resumed.

They began walking slowly toward the curb, the wheels of their bags softly bumping over the stone path. A valet nodded to them as they passed.

Kate sipped her coffee and looked around. "It's weird," she said softly, "how normal everything feels. Like… yesterday didn't even happen."

Adriano nodded. "I know. It's like the world's pretending we're still invisible."

She gave him a sideways look. "Do you wish we were?"

He didn't answer right away. "Sometimes. It was easier. Quieter. But then…" He stopped walking, gently tugging her hand to pause her too. "If we were invisible, I wouldn't have you. Not like this."

Her lips parted slightly, caught off guard by the earnestness in his voice.

"You think we're ready for what's coming?" she asked, suddenly serious.

Adriano looked at her, really looked—eyes behind dark lashes, hair tousled from sleep, the sea wind teasing strands around her face. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I'd rather face it with you than hide from it alone."

A silence settled between them, not heavy, but thoughtful.

Kate squeezed his hand. "Then let's do it right. No drama. No lies. Just… us. Against the world."

"Deal," he said, his voice quiet and resolute.

A soft chime from her phone interrupted the moment. Their car had arrived.

They continued down the steps, now side by side in both step and purpose. Adriano opened the trunk while Kate climbed into the passenger seat, waving off the driver's attempt to help with a polite smile. Once the bags were loaded, he slid in beside her, pulling the door shut behind him with a dull thud.

The car eased away from the hotel, rolling slowly past the gate and out onto the sunlit coastal road

But the illusion shattered the moment the first camera shutter clicked.

Then another.

And another.

A volley of clicks like gunfire, erupting across the sidewalk.

Flashbulbs exploded in rapid succession, turning the quiet morning into a surreal frenzy of light and noise. A swarm of paparazzi emerged as if conjured from the shadows—ducking out from behind parked cars, leaping over hedges, crouching behind valet stands.

Photographers in wrinkled T-shirts and battered sneakers surged forward, their long lenses like rifles trained on the couple.

"There they are! Adriano! Kate! Is it true you're moving in together?"

"Kate! Are you pregnant with Adriano's child? What's going on with you and Adriano?"

"Smile for us! Don't run, c'mon, just one look—!"

The calm they'd built like a bubble around themselves—so carefully, so tenderly—burst in an instant.

Adriano didn't hesitate. His arm moved instinctively, wrapping around Kate's shoulders and pulling her close as he shielded her body with his own. Her hand gripped his shirt tightly, knuckles white. A microphone was suddenly in her face, too close, and she flinched as the man holding it barked her name again and again.

"Back off," Adriano growled, his voice low and hard, and pushed them toward the car.

They half-jogged, the sound of camera shutters snapping louder than ever, a mechanical chorus chasing them down the drive.

"Get in," Adriano said, yanking open the passenger door.

Kate scrambled inside, ducking her head, her coffee cup hitting the floor of the car and spilling its contents unnoticed. The moment the door shut, the glass muffled the screams, but flashes still burst outside—blinding, relentless.

Adriano shoved their bags into the backseat, jumped into the driver's seat, and slammed the door behind him. The sudden quiet inside the car felt unnatural. A shellshock kind of silence.

"Jesus," Kate whispered, her voice trembling as she reached across the center console to find his hand. "How the hell did they even know we were staying here?"

"I don't know," Adriano said, already backing out of the lot, tires crunching over the gravel. "Doesn't matter. They know now."

They drove in stunned silence, the coastal road stretching ahead like a ribbon they couldn't quite hold onto.

Kate stared at the dashboard, chest rising and falling too fast. "They were waiting for us,

Adriano. Waiting like they knew everything."

He nodded tightly, jaw set. "Probably tipped off by someone inside. A staff member. Valet. Anyone for a few hundred bucks."

She ran a hand through her hair, still trying to process it. "So much for flying under the radar."

Adriano's grip on the wheel tightened. "So much for peace."

A sudden chime broke the silence—then another. Then a rapid, insistent cascade. The car's dashboard lit up with notifications from Adriano's phone. Kate's buzzed relentlessly in her lap.

Kate reached for her screen, her brow furrowing. "What the hell…"

She opened one of the alerts. Then another. Her eyes scanned headlines, hashtags, chaotic snippets of news.

Her expression changed instantly—her face drained of color.

"Adriano… you need to see this."

He glanced sideways. Her hand was trembling as she held out the phone, its screen filled with screaming headlines:

#Massive Leak of Celebrity Photos Stuns the World

Private Images of Dozens of Celebrities Flood the Internet in Unprecedented Scandal

He took it from her, scanning quickly. A collage of names jumped out—actors, singers, influencers, athletes. Blurred thumbnails filled the screen. Enough to understand. Enough to be disturbing.

Kate's voice broke through the haze. "People are just… posting them. Making jokes. Ranking them like it's entertainment."

Adriano's lips pressed into a grim line. "It's disgusting. A goddamn violation."

Kate unlocked her phone again, her face twisting in horror. "They've got people I know… My old co-star, a girl I met at that press tour in Washington. Her nudes are out there. There's one with Jennifer Lawrence and Hervey Weinstein. Even Scarlett has some videos and photos leaked."

Adriano read aloud a new headline from his own screen:

"Hollywood's Darkest Hour: Global Scandal Erupts as Leaked Celebrity Nudes Flood Internet"

He threw the phone onto the dashbox, muttering a curse. "How the hell does this even happen?"

Kate looked out the window, as if trying to ground herself in anything that wasn't this. Her voice was quieter now, but shaky. "You think… they'll come for me, too?"

He looked at her sharply. "Do you have anything compromising online?"

"No," she said quickly, then hesitated. "I mean—nothing like that. But who knows what's backed up in some cloud account I forgot existed? I had some swimsuit photos, a few stupid selfies from years ago. I deleted them all. I think."

Adriano reached for her hand, squeezing it with calm authority. "Okay. First, breathe. We'll deal with this. I'll call Paul, have him loop in Mendes and your agent. We'll get a cybersecurity team, go through everything—every account, every device."

Kate nodded, swallowing hard. "And what if something is out there?"

"Then we stand together," he said, firm and clear. "We don't run from it. We don't hide. Whatever happens—we face it. On our terms."

Kate leaned in and kissed his cheek. " Thanks for being with. You look more attractive when you get serious, dear."

The car grew heavy with the weight of the morning. The glitz and magic of Disneyland, the warmth of whispered promises, all seemed so distant now.

"We'll get through this," Adriano said softly, reaching across the console to take her hand. "You're not alone in this, Kate. Not now. Not ever."

She gave a tight smile, eyes shimmering. "Thank you. I'm just… God, I feel so sick for those poor people. It's like the whole world forgot they're also human."

"I know," he whispered, bringing her hand to his lips. "They'll remember eventually. But until then—we stick together."

As Adriano turned off the engine, the car settled into a hush broken only by the ticking of the cooling engine. Outside, the Florida sun cast long shadows over the quiet mansion.

Kate looked at the house she grew up in and sighed. "Think they're ready for this?"

Adriano smiled. "As long as I don't mention stealing you to Manchester, I should survive."

Kate chuckled. "Yeah, maybe save that for next time."

They stepped out, the gravel crunching beneath their shoes. Kate hesitated a moment, just long enough to absorb the calm of this street, so distant from the chaos they'd just left behind.

Then the front door opened. Kate's mother

Shelly Upton emerged first—still in her garden gloves, curly auburn hair pulled into a messy ponytail. Her eyes lit up the second she saw her daughter.

"Oh, welcome back honey!" she called out, rushing down the steps.

Kate barely managed a smile before being pulled into a tight, grounding hug. Shelly's arms wrapped around her, and the tension that had clung to Kate's shoulders all morning melted just slightly.

Her father Jeff followed more slowly, his reading glasses still tucked into the collar of his polo shirt, a calm presence in the doorway.

"Hello Adriano, how are you?" Shelly said, pulling back from Kate and turning her attention to the man beside her. "You've had hectic few days, I mean your face was blasted across every screen in America this week along with Kate."

Adriano chuckled, " That's quite alright ma'am. I'm used to the attention. Although it kinda ruined the peaceful vacation I hoped for."

Kate's father Jeff remarked dryly, " well, you are in luck. After the shitstorm this morning, I don't think media will care much about you guys. They got bigger news to exploit."

"Lets go inside and talk over some snacks.," Shelly said. "We made cookies, but I'm not sure they'll help with what's going on out there."

Inside, the house smelled warm and familiar. They all sat in the sunroom, where the light came in soft through the windows. For a moment, no one said anything.

Shelly finally broke the silence. "We saw the news. It's awful, what's happening."

Kate nodded. "We weren't expecting it to blow up like this. But we're okay."

"You sure?" Jeff asked. "Because if it's too much… you don't have to keep doing this, Katie. Acting, I mean. It's not worth it, getting hounded by media every day, losing your privacy, and god forbid if they find any compromising photos.

You could take time off. Even stop altogether if it's not worth the stress. "

Kate looked down, then at Adriano, who gave her hand a small squeeze. She turned back to her parents.

"I appreciate that," she said, "but I'm not ready to give up yet. I've worked hard to get where I am. I checked—there's nothing in the leak about me. Not yet. And even if something does come up… I'm not going to let it scare me into quitting. I'll quit when I feel the time is right."

Shelly reached over and touched her arm. "We'll support you no matter what."

"And you have our blessing about dating our daughter," Jeff added with a nod toward Adriano. "Just so you know."

That made Kate smile, a real one this time. "Thanks, Dad."

Adriano gave a small laugh. "That's a relief."

Shelly added with a smirk, " You better not break my daughter's heart."

He smiled, " I won't ma'am. She's in safe hands." Kate smiled happily watching them bond.

The tremors from The Fappening—Hollywood's most infamous breach—had shattered the industry's golden façade long before the evening conversation unfolded in Kate's childhood living room. By the time Adriano and Kate sank into the worn, familiar couch, the scandal had exploded from leaked nude photos into an all-consuming crisis that exposed not only intimate images but also the deep vulnerabilities of modern digital privacy.

Adriano's voice was low, edged with a mix of disbelief and urgency. "They're calling it the biggest digital breach in entertainment history," he said, scrolling through a reputable news feed that recounted the details.

"It's not just about explicit images anymore—there are hacked emails, personal diaries, even snapshots of behind-the-scenes moments. The breach wasn't a random act by a few obsessed fans; it was a deliberate, coordinated attack."

Kate, still reeling from the constant pings on her phone, tightened her grip on the couch's armrest. "I can't believe how far this has gone," she murmured. "We're talking about private therapy logs, personal correspondence… It's like someone pried open the very soul of Hollywood."

Adriano sat beside her, jaw clenched, fingers flicking across his own device like he was trying to scrape the truth out of it.

"They got in through iCloud," he muttered, not even looking up. "Used a combo of social engineering and brute force. Passwords like '123456' and 'iloveyou'—can you believe that shit?"

Kate gave a slow, disbelieving shake of her head.

"You mean to tell me," she said, her voice brittle, "a hundred careers just got torched because people still use the same passwords they used in high school?"

Adriano finally looked at her, eyes sharp. "It's bigger than that. This wasn't just some creep with a Reddit thread. This was surgical. Precise. They knew who to target—Jennifer Lawrence, Scarlett Johansson, Megan Fox, Brie Larson—every name, every image, every goddamn file had a purpose."

Kate's phone buzzed. Another message. Another shaken friend. Another "Did they get me too?"

She didn't reply. Couldn't.

"I remember the photos of Jen getting passed around like she wasn't even a person anymore," she said quietly. "And now it's emails. Diaries. Therapy logs."

Adriano nodded grimly. "Scripts. NDA settlements. Surveillance from private parties. They didn't just steal images—they cracked the skeleton of the machine and laid it bare."

[TV screens flickering in the background. News anchors in black suits. Breaking: The Digital Collapse of Hollywood.]

Adriano scrolled through headlines.

"What the hell," he muttered. "They found footage. Private party stuff. Secret cameras. Some of those kids didn't even look eighteen."

Kate sat frozen.

"That can't be real," she said, but her voice betrayed her. She knew. Somewhere deep down, she always had.

"One of the files had time stamps going back ten years," Adriano continued. "And the people in them… they weren't just actors. Politicians. Agents. Directors with billion-dollar names."

Kate gripped the couch cushion like it might keep her grounded. "This wasn't about attention. This was a reckoning."

Adriano looked at her seriously," Do you know now why I don't want you to get involved in Hollywood? It's a world filled with darkness. It's just not worth it."

Kate nestled into his arms, " I feel so stupid about all the imaginations I had about Hollywood. It looks like moving away from this after my contract ends was the right decision."

"Operation Spotlight," Adriano said, showing her the manifesto. Black screen, white letters. Chilling clarity.

We are not here for fame. We are not here for pity. We are here to burn the rot from the inside out.

The temple of deception will fall—brick by golden brick.

"They're promising more," he added. "More names. More files. The next wave's coming."

Kate's eyes scanned the page. Her hands were shaking again.

"And what then?" she asked. "Do we watch it burn? Cheer as everything collapses? Or are we just next in line?"

"Jennifer Lawrence gave an interview after the first leak," Adriano said. "Called it a sex crime. Said it felt like the whole world had taken something from her."

He paused, " What a load of crap. It's always the victim play. As if she couldn't bite his dick off if he shoved it in forcefully or coerced her, she did it to get ahead. When it suits their careers, these people would sell their dignity, yet when found out , they act innocent. Disgusting."

Kate leaned forward, burying her face in her palms.

"It used to be about image," she mumbled. "Now it's about survival. Even Scarlett lost some endorsement deals over her private video. Her agency is handling it well, but can't say the same about the rest."

Adriano reached over and placed a hand on her back, grounding her.

"This is a war," he said simply. "And wars have casualties. But they also end."

Kate looked at him, eyes raw and searching.

"And if it doesn't?"

Adriano's voice didn't flinch.

"All wars end when the goal is achieved."

The glow from the phones cast strange shadows on their faces.

Somewhere far away, more names were being typed into forums. More truths decrypted.

And somewhere even further—Hollywood was crumbling.

Not loudly. Not with screams.

But with a quiet, irreversible shift.

By the next week, three major studios had paused productions. PR teams scrambled to respond to media inquiries. Some celebrities deleted their social media accounts entirely. Others fled the country.

Still others released statements—some tearful, some defensive. A few disappeared into silence.

And in the heart of it all, Hollywood began to convulse under the weight of its long-ignored sins.

The living room, cozy and dimly lit with the familiar patina of years gone by, had transformed into an impromptu strategy room. Outside, the digital maelstrom—buzzing headlines and heated debates—raged without pause. Yet inside, a measured calm settled among Kate, Adriano, and her parents.

Sitting in his favorite recliner, her father's eyes held equal parts wisdom and concern as he leaned forward, hands folded in a quiet gesture of attentiveness. Beside him, Kate's mother rested on the couch, her brow drawn in worry, silently absorbing every word.

"Manchester?" her father repeated slowly, his tone thoughtful. "You mean, right now?"

Kate, sharing the opposite sofa with Adriano, nodded gently. "Yeah, Dad. Just for a few days. I need to get away from all this—just step back from the chaos and clear my head." She let her gaze drift between Adriano's steady eyes and her parents'. "My agent thinks it's exactly what I need. I can just return before shooting starts, and it might help me stay off the radar for a while."

Her mother tilted her head, voice soft but laced with concern. "It's not that we don't trust you or Adriano, sweetheart. It's just… with everything going on, with all the tension and upheaval, it feels like you're running away rather than facing things.

Nothing came up about you, so some might take it you are going away before it comes up."

Adriano leaned forward, his tone warm yet firm. "It's not running—it's recovering. Processing what's happened. We're not hiding; we're taking a moment to breathe, to figure out our next move. And you know, Kate won't be alone in Manchester."

He squeezed Kate's hand lightly, a reassurance that resonated in the quiet room. Her parents exchanged a long, silent glance—a mixture of apprehension and understanding—before her mother exhaled slowly, her face softening into reluctant acceptance.

"Alright," she said, her voice gentle but resolute. "Just promise you'll keep in touch. If another bomb drops on the news, we need to hear it from you first—not from some tabloid headline."

Kate leaned forward, crossing the coffee table as she wrapped her arms around her mother in a warm embrace. "Thanks, Mom. I really promise. And it's only for a few days, okay?"

Her father managed a wry chuckle, the tension easing ever so slightly. "Maybe Hollywood could use a break without you being dragged into its mess."

For a long moment, a peaceful silence lingered in the room—a soft truce among worried hearts. In that quiet space, the weight of the outside world seemed to lift just enough to make room for hope, understanding, and the promise of a brief respite from the relentless drama.

The suitcase lay sprawled open across Kate's bed like a crime scene of fashion—shirts tangled with chargers, socks hiding under cosmetic bags, and half a hair straightener hanging off the edge. The room, a warm bubble of familiarity, buzzed with the low hum of her playlist in the background. Outside, the world still frothed with scandal, but here—just for a moment—there was room to breathe.

Adriano leaned against the dresser, watching her with a smirk that deepened every time she muttered to herself while rifling through drawers.

"Okay," Kate announced, holding up two near-identical crop tops—one ivory, the other a pale champagne. "Be honest. Which one screams 'I didn't try too hard but also I'm effortlessly hotter than anyone else in the room'?"

Adriano tilted his head, pretending to study them seriously. "They look exactly the same."

She rolled her eyes. "Wrong answer. One has a slightly looser neckline."

"Then definitely that one. The neckline adds... character." He grinned.

Kate scoffed. "Coward. I'm packing both."

He chuckled as she tossed them in, then crossed the room with an exaggerated stretch and dramatic sigh. "You know," he said, looking around, "for someone claiming this is a getaway, you're packing like you're prepping for Fashion Week."

"I don't do half-efforts, Adriano," she said proudly. "Even in exile."

She turned, opened her vanity drawer, and pulled out a soft velvet pouch. Her movements slowed as she weighed it in her hand, eyes glittering with something playful. Then, with a grin, she walked to the bed and spilled its contents over the comforter.

Delicate lingerie slid across the surface like silk whispers—lace-trimmed panties, sheer bodysuits, and slinky bralettes in moody tones of plum, midnight, deep crimson, and pale blush.

Adriano blinked, stiffening ever so slightly. "Um. Okay."

Kate smirked. "Now comes the real test. Help me choose."

He gave her a skeptical look. "You want *me* to decide what lingerie you're packing?"

"Yes," she said, crawling onto the bed beside the silky sprawl, propping her chin on her hand. "Pick what you think is sexiest. Be thorough. Use your manly instincts and taste."

Adriano stepped forward cautiously, like the bed had become a sacred ritual site. He picked up a sheer black lace thong between two fingers, turning it like he was examining an alien artifact.

"Is this… supposed to be underwear or a headband?" he asked.

Kate burst into laughter, falling sideways onto the bed. "It's high end fashion. You wouldn't understand."

"I understand the absence of practicality," he muttered, then lifted a strappy wine-colored set. "How does this one even go on? It has more geometry than my high school calculus book."

"You'd be surprised what the right angles can do," she murmured slyly, sliding closer until she was perched on her knees beside him.

He raised an eyebrow. "My spider senses are tingling."

"It's not a trap," she whispered, leaning in close. "But if you want something more daring to spice things up, you can always pick it out for me. Or… buy it yourself."

Her breath brushed his neck, and he swallowed hard, pulse jumping just enough for her to notice. She pulled back slightly, just enough to grin at the effect she had on him.

" Woman, You are playing with fire." he said while exhaling slowly.

"Life's more fun with a little danger." She winked, then plucked two sets from the pile—one a sultry deep violet, the other a minimalist champagne lace—and folded them neatly into her suitcase.

He shook his head, grinning. "You're trouble."

Kate looked over her shoulder. "The best kind."

The flirting lingered in the air, warm and charged, as they finished packing together—her tossing things in with casual chaos, him following behind her and organizing everything into some semblance of order.

By the time she zipped up the suitcase, the clock on the nightstand glowed 12:52 AM. A sleepy stillness began to settle over the house.

Kate turned to him, brushing her hair back as she kicked off her slippers. "You're not sleeping in the guest room tonight."

Adriano raised an eyebrow. "And your parents won't mind?"

She shrugged, smirking as she pulled out her sleep shirt. "They won't care. And besides, it's not like we're gonna do anything scandalous. I just…" Her voice softened. "I want you close tonight. After everything today... I don't want to be alone."

He nodded, gaze warm and understanding. "Alright." Then he smirked again. "But if I wake up and find you on top of me, I'm filing a complaint."

Kate laughed. "Oh please, I'm the one who should be worried. Can you even control yourself?"

He dramatically placed a hand over his heart. "I am a gentleman."

She gave him a wink. "A dangerously cute one."

They changed into their sleepwear—Kate in an oversized tee and soft shorts, Adriano in a faded t-shirt and sweats—then climbed into the bed, drawing the sheets around them. She pressed into his side, her arm draped across his chest, head nestled into the crook of his neck.

Adriano wrapped his arms around her without hesitation, holding her like a lifeline.

They talked quietly for a while—about nothing and everything. Childhood memories, bucket lists, stupid celebrity rumors, and what breakfast they'd demand in Manchester. The noise of the world faded behind their whispered stories and shared warmth.

Eventually, sleep crept in, soft and slow.

The door cracked open with a gentle knock. Kate's mom peeked in, already dressed and smiling a little too knowingly.

"Good morning, lovebirds." She stepped into the room. "Just wanted to make sure you didn't miss your flight. Also—" she arched an eyebrow, "I'm not ready to be a grandmother yet, so... maybe take precautions, yeah?"

Kate groaned, burying her face in the pillow. Adriano blinked like he'd been tasered.

"God, Mom!" Kate muffled into the sheets. "We're just sleeping!"

Her mom grinned as she backed out. "Mhm. Sure. Just sleeping. I was young once too. Ah youth." She sighed wistfully as she closed the door behind her.

When the door clicked shut, Adriano looked over, face red with embarrassment.

"So... breakfast?"

Kate laughed, rolling toward him. "After we convince my parents we haven't conceived a child overnight, yes."

"Well," Adriano said, rubbing his eyes. "I feel officially welcomed into the family."

Kate rolled into him, giggling. "You'll survive. Barely."

And just like that, the day began—cloaked in tension but laced with intimacy, connection, and the quiet promise of escape.

*** I'm setting up Patreon after this month. I've explored the payment options, I will pick something affordable.

I will post all my stories with rewrite there , even continue some dropped ones if possible. I should have done this long ago rather than trying to be a guy providing free entertainment for with his hard work.

I'll rework the earlier stuff and then upload there, cz I want decent quality and standard If I'm gonna ask people to pay for stuff. It should be less than 10 bucks.

I said before, we basically have around 8 months , so I want to wrap things up as much possible before it ends. That's not gonna happen if insects keep buzzing in my ear everyday. ***