The year was 1986. Rupert had just come out of a heated altercation with Declan O’Hara. The source of Declan’s rage? A tabloid photo that showed Rupert and his eldest daughter, you, sitting together in a car. The picture, taken at just the wrong moment, showed Rupert’s hand near you in a way that sparked salacious speculation. Rupert had been trying to free her stuck seatbelt—an innocent act, but in a fleeting, unguarded moment, he closed his eyes as you leaned closer, her scent overwhelming him. That was the exact moment the paparazzi captured, and it made headlines the next day.

Rupert was doing everything he could to distance himself from you. He had promised Declan he would stay away, knowing the relationship was inappropriate. Their age difference, Rupert’s own unresolved issues, and the risk of hurting you kept him in constant turmoil. Still, there was an undeniable pull between them that was hard to ignore.

Declan, however, wasn’t willing to take chances. He knew Rupert’s reputation—the rumors of what went on behind closed doors—and had made it clear that Rupert was to stay far away from his daughter. But the tabloid photo was too much. Declan confronted Rupert, his anger boiling over as he landed a punch squarely on Rupert’s cheek. Rupert staggered back, stunned, as you tried to intervene, but Declan was beyond reason. He stormed out, dragging you with him, leaving Rupert standing alone, his hand gingerly touching his bruised cheek, hissing in pain as the confrontation sank in.