Blake Lively sat in her kitchen, the glow of her phone screen casting sharp shadows on her face. The words "Megyn Kelly Critiques Blake Lively" blared across every news site, followed by snippets of Kelly’s biting commentary.

“This isn’t accountability,” Kelly’s voice echoed from a clip Blake couldn’t bring herself to watch again. “This is performative victimhood. If you’re going to name names, back it up with more than vague accusations.”

Blake set her phone down and stared at the cold cup of tea in front of her. The air was thick with silence, broken only by the distant hum of the fridge. She felt like the walls were closing in, the weight of the public’s gaze pressing down harder than ever.

Her husband, Ryan, walked in, his expression carefully neutral. He’d seen the headlines, of course. Everyone had. He placed a hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”

“Define okay,” Blake muttered, her voice brittle. She glanced at the phone again. “I thought… I thought speaking up was the right thing to do. But now it’s like the whole world’s turned on me.”

Ryan sat across from her, his fingers drumming on the table. “The world’s loud, Blake. But it doesn’t mean they’re right.”

Blake’s mind flashed back to the conversation that had started all this. Justin Baldoni, a name she’d hesitated to say aloud for years, finally slipping from her lips in an interview. She hadn’t gone into detail—she wasn’t ready for that—but she’d said enough to stir the pot. Enough to draw Kelly’s ire.

“It’s not just her,” Blake said quietly. “The comments… the articles. They’re all saying I’m just trying to stay relevant. That I’m making it up. It’s like I’m the villain now.”

Ryan leaned forward, his voice steady. “You told your truth. That’s what matters. People like Kelly? They thrive on tearing others down. It’s not about you—it’s about her staying in the spotlight.”

Blake wanted to believe him, but the noise outside felt deafening. Every social media post, every headline, every whisper of doubt threatened to drown her. She’d stepped into the light, hoping it would bring clarity, but all it had done was cast new shadows.

“What if I made it worse?” she whispered.

Ryan shook his head. “You didn’t. The truth always shakes things up. But it’s worth it. Even if it’s messy.”

Blake met his eyes, searching for reassurance. “You think people will believe me in the end?”

He smiled softly. “The ones who matter will.”

The phone buzzed on the table, another notification flashing across the screen. Blake didn’t look at it. Instead, she picked up her tea and took a sip, the warmth grounding her. She wasn’t sure where this road would lead, but for now, she’d keep walking.