Liam Payne‘s partner Kate Cassidy flew back to Los Angeles from Argentina two days before the former One Direction vocalist died after falling from a balcony.

Payne, aged just 31, suffered a fatal accident on October 16 when he fell from Casa Sur Hotel’s third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires.

The former X Factor star sustained severe injuries that proved fatal. The dad-of-one had been on holiday with his girlfriend of two years when she decided to head back to the States alone, following an extension of their trip.

Reports now claim that before leaving, Kate presented him with a stark choice: end his drug use or risk losing her.

A source told the New York Post: “His drug use was causing a lot of drama. So she gave him an ultimatum: her or the drugs. He chose the drugs, so she had no choice but to remove herself from the situation. She thought she was doing tough love.”

Reportedly, Liam, who was believed to have been sober in recent months, relapsed into drug use and drinking shortly before the tragedy.

An early toxicology report indicated the presence of “alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants” in his system, reports the Mirror.

In the lead-up to his tragic death, Liam shared snapshots of his holiday with Kate on Snapchat, including one with the caption: “Lovely day in Argentina [heart emoji].”

Liam Payne (L) and Kate Cassidy
Kate and Liam were together for two years (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

However, their time together was cut short as Kate felt compelled to return to Florida, expressing her urgency on TikTok with the phrase: “I need to go home”. Just two days before the incident, she explained in a video: “I was so ready to leave. Love South America, but I hate staying in one place for too long and we were supposed to be there for five days, turned into two weeks and I was just like, ‘I need to go home’.”

Liam, on the other hand, decided to remain at the hotel.

A source, claimed to be a friend, provided some context to the New York Post, voicing concerns that Liam might indulge in excessive partying if left alone. They remarked: “She can’t leave, or else who knows what will happen? And if she leaves, what will he do? But she has other responsibilities, other things that she’s supposed to be doing.”

The source elaborated on the tension, saying: “They’re in Argentina and it’s like a hostage situation. So she tells him she wants to leave, this is after a week. He begs her to stay. She keeps extending her trip, a day, two days. And he just wants her to stay, stay, stay’.”

Liam Payne and Kate Cassidy
Kate and Liam started dating in late 2022 (Image: Instagram/Kate Cassidy)

They also mentioned Kate’s longing to be “wanted to be home in her own bed with her dog”.

The allegations about Kate’s ‘ultimatum’ emerged after an Argentinian waiter, Braian Nahuel Paiz, 24, who is accused of being the ‘dealer’ supplying drugs to Liam, vehemently denied all charges. He insists that they were friends and indulged in drug use together.

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