Chapter 6: The Villain Again

                                    

                                          
March 1983
Sweden


****AGNETHA


"You've got to see this," I said, breathless, thrusting the newspaper into Björn's hands. My fingers trembled slightly as I handed him the paper. The headline screamed: "Benny Andersson Divorces Again—A Serial Philanderer?" The tabloid had gone all out, plastering Benny's name and face across the front page, alongside photos of Mona looking teary-eyed and distressed. My heart ached for him; I knew how much this was going to hurt.


Björn glanced at the front page, brows furrowing as he scanned the words. "This is nuts," he muttered, shaking his head. "They're exaggerating everything."


I sat down across from him, watching as his eyes darted from one headline to the next. The story was ruthless, twisting Benny's personal struggles into salacious gossip, painting him as a man who couldn't keep his life together. People were sympathizing with Mona, labeling Benny with cruel titles—philanderer, womanizer. The tabloids were in a frenzy, capitalizing on his second divorce in as many years. The speculation was relentless.


"I don't get it," I said softly, half to myself. "Why now? Why did Mona have to make everything so public?"


Björn sighed, folding the paper and placing it on the table. "Because people love drama. And Mona... well, she must've felt like she needed to control the narrative." He paused for a moment, clearly frustrated. "It's not fair to Benny. I spoke to him last night, and he didn't even mention that today was the day he was filing the papers. This must have blindsided him too."





I bit my lip, feeling the tension rise between us. Benny had always been a private person, despite his fame. To see his life splayed out like this—his failures, his personal struggles—made my stomach turn. The media had a way of turning every crack into a chasm, every mistake into scandal.


"I can't imagine how he's feeling right now," I said. "He already went through the ringer with his first divorce, and now this."


Björn leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "I talked to him for a while. He was calm, but I could tell he's torn up inside. He cared about Mona, but... I guess he knew things weren't working for a while."


I nodded. Benny had been different lately. More withdrawn. Even when we were in the studio, there was a heaviness to him, a weight he was carrying that none of us could really touch. It wasn't just the music; it was everything. His personal life had been unraveling, and it was taking its toll on him.


"We need to be there for him," I said, my voice steady. "No matter what the press says, no matter what people think—they don't know him like we do. This is the worst kind of attention he could get right now."


Björn looked at me, his expression softening. "You're right. Benny needs us, now more than ever."


The doorbell rang, startling us both. Björn stood to answer it, and moments later, Benny walked in, looking weary and drained. He gave us a weak smile as he entered the room, his shoulders slumped with the weight of the world on them.


"Sorry for barging in," Benny said, his voice low. "I needed to get away for a bit."


"You're always welcome here," I said, standing to greet him. I wrapped my arms around him in a quick hug, feeling the tension in his body. He was like a man on the edge, barely holding himself together.


"Have you seen it?" Björn asked, gesturing toward the newspaper on the table.


Benny nodded, his eyes downcast. "Yeah, I've seen it. Can't say I didn't expect it. I just... I thought it would take a little longer before they tore me apart again."