Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy had been in Argentina with him, but flew home a few days before the One Direction star tragically fell to his death from a hotel balcony

Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy is still ‘in shock and disbelief’ at his death.

The 25-year-old social media influencer had been in a relationship with the One Direction star since 2022 when the pair met at a bar in Charleston, South Carolina. At the time Kate was working as a waitress at the high-end establishment and was Liam’s server for the night.

Love blossomed and the pair later became an item – with Liam even saying he wanted to get engaged or marry her within the next year during one night the couple spent manifesting their dreams. She says she still carries around the note he gave her stating his intentions for their future as preparations for the 31-year-old’s funeral get underway in the UK.

Although details are still under wraps, it is believed that Liam’s funeral will take place in his native Wolverhampton this week. The singer’s final send off is expected to be held at either St. Peter’s or St Paul’s Church, Pendeford, which is closer to Liam’s childhood home.

Kate and Liam had planned to get engaged or marry within the next year ( 
Image:
Instagram)

A source told Entertainment Tonight how Kate is still struggling to come to terms with what happened to Liam. They said: “She’s still in shock and disbelief. It’s been a very difficult time for her. Kate is trying her best to process everything and surround herself with loved ones. She is trying to be involved in plans to honour and remember Liam’s life and memory.”

In a heartfelt post, Kate shared never-before-seen photos of her and Liam together. She said: “A few weeks ago we sat outside on a beautiful evening manifesting our lives together. I keep your note close, even though you told me not to look at it. It said: ‘Me and Kate to marry within a year/engaged and together forever 444.”

Calling him the ‘love of my life’, she continued: “Liam, I know we’ll be together forever, but not in the way that we planned. You’ll always be with me. I’ve gained a guardian angel. I will love you for the rest of my life and beyond, carrying our dreams and memories with me wherever I go. Forever yours, Katelyn, 444.”

Kate explained the phrase ‘444’ is the number of Angels. On her Instagram she said: “More often, you will see the number 444 when you are feeling down. In simple sense, the number 444 reminds you that your angels are always there to support you. When you see this number you will be reassured that you are protected and loved by the angels.”

Liam had reportedly been clean from drugs in his final months. But he appears to have fallen back into drinking alcohol and taking drugs shortly before his death. Alcohol, cocaine and antidepressant medication were found in his body at the time he died, an autopsy found.

Before flying back home to the US, Kate reportedly gave him an ultimatum – stop taking drugs or lose her. Speaking to the New York Post, a source, who is allegedly a friend, said: “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.”

Although photos from their Argentinian holiday appeared idyllic, a friend of Kate’s has compared her stay to a ‘hostage situation’. The unnamed pal continued to tell the publication how Kate had harboured concerns Liam was preparing to go on a bender – but she couldn’t stay any longer.

They explained: “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.”

“I get what people are saying, that she should just stay with her rich, famous boyfriend, but she wanted to be home in her own bed with her dog. She wanted to come home. So eventually she says she’s going home.

“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. So she finally had to make a decision.”