Kate Cassidy recalls final goodbye with late boyfriend Liam Payne

When Kate Cassidy left Argentina to return to Florida, she thought she was just saying goodbye to her boyfriend for a week or two. But the universe had other plans—twisted, tragic ones.

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Liam Payne, 31, One Direction’s brooding bad boy turned solo heartthrob, had stayed behind in Buenos Aires. Days later, Cassidy, curled up on the couch with their dog Nala, got a call that turned her world upside down. It was a friend of Liam’s. The question? “Is Liam OK?” The rumour? That he had fallen from a hotel balcony. Cassidy initially dismissed it as nonsense—until the brutal truth hit her like a freight train: Liam was gone.

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Liam Payne’s death reason

A few weeks later, toxicology reports confirmed that a combination of cocaine, alcohol, and antidepressants may have rendered him unconscious when he fell. It was a devastating cocktail with an even more devastating outcome.

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In her first sit-down since the tragedy, on On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Cassidy recounted how her home turned into a safe haven of chaos—housekeeper turned therapist, friends pouring in, and her mother flying in to hold her up. But the pain? Still sharp. Still surreal.

Late Liam Payne’s last conversation with girlfriend Kate Cassidy

And then came the memory that still gives her chills. Their final day together had been picture-perfect: countryside breakfasts, horseback riding, and heartfelt talks about their future. Cassidy had told friends she felt they were starting a new chapter—new house, new dog, and a fresh start in America after living in England for two years.

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She had gushed to Liam on the couch, saying she could not wait for him to join her back in Florida. And just when she was being a little too emotional, Liam had laughed.

According to Cassidy, he had gently teased her, saying she was acting like it was the last time they would ever see each other. Now, looking back, Cassidy finds that moment "chilling yet oddly comforting.”

The funeral was the first one she had ever attended—something she said was beyond cruel. At just 25, she had imagined trying on a wedding dress, not sobbing in front of a mirror wearing black. Since Liam's passing, Cassidy says everything reminds her of him—from McDonald’s Happy Meal toys to songs, scents, and signs. She believes he is still with her, listening, just a little out of reach.