Page 58 of You. Me. Us.

He loved Hillary.

As the scene ended and Vera called “cut,” Julius took a deep breath, schooling his features into a neutral expression. He approached Hillary, his steps measured and calm, belying the turmoil within.

“Hey,” he said softly, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Can we talk? Maybe go for a walk?”

Hillary looked up at him, her green eyes searching his face. She must have seen something there, some flicker of the emotions he was trying so hard to conceal, because her brow furrowed in concern.

“Of course,” she replied, her voice gentle. “Is everything okay?”

Julius forced a smile, but it felt tight and unnatural on his lips. “Yeah, I just need air. And I thought you could use a break, too.”

She nodded, slipping her hand into his as they made their way out of the sound stage. Her touch was warm and familiar, grounding him even as his thoughts raced and his heart hammered in his chest.

As they stepped outside, the cool breeze a welcome respite from the stuffy soundstage, Julius tried to gather his thoughts.He didn’t want to come across as jealous or petty, didn’t want to make a big deal out of something that was just part of the job.

But he also couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more between Hillary and Ethan, some spark that went beyond the demands of the script. And the thought of losing her, of watching her slip away into someone else’s arms, was almost too much to bear.

“Hillary, I...” he began, his voice rough with emotion. “I know this is probably stupid, but seeing you with Ethan just now... it got to me. More than it should have. I shouldn’t have lied, but I was rattled that it upset me so much.”

She looked up at him, her eyes wide and surprised.

“But it made me realize something. Something I’ve been trying to figure out, something about us.”

Hillary’s hand tightened in his, her fingers intertwining with his own. “What is it?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of his heart.

Julius took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say. For the truth he could no longer keep locked away.

“I love you, Hillary. I’m in love with you. And I know that’s probably the last thing you want to hear right now, with everything else going on, but I needed you to know.”

She gave nothing away in her expression.

“I love the way you think I don’t know you’re blushing when you look away from me after a compliment. I love how you give everything your all, no matter what the task is. I love the way you don’t ever seem to curse or belittle another person. Most importantly, I love the way you look at me, and the way I look at you.”

The words hung in the air between them, heavy and momentous. For a long, breathless moment, Hillary simply stared at him, her green eyes searching his face as if trying to read the truth behind his confession.

Then, slowly, a smile began to spread across her face. A smile that held equal parts relief, joy, and wonder. “Julius,” she breathed, her voice trembling slightly. “I love you too. I realized it a week ago, that what I felt was so much more than just wanting to be with you. I was afraid to say it. Afraid of what it might mean, of how it might change things between us. Afraid as usual.”

A rush of glee so intense it nearly knocked him off his feet filled his body with her words. He reached out, pulling her into his arms, holding her close as if he never wanted to let her go. “I’m sorry,” he murmured into her hair, inhaling the sweet, familiar scent of her. “I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner. That I let myself get so caught up in the work, in the role, that I missed what was happening right in front of me.”

Hillary pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a tender, understanding smile. “It’s okay,” she said softly, reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead. “I know how easy it is to lose yourself in a character, in a story. And I know how much this film means to you, to both of us.”

Julius nodded, feeling a rush of gratitude for her kindness, her patience, her unwavering support. “I do go all in,” he agreed, his voice rough with emotion. “But not as much as you do. Not as much as this, right here, right now.”

Hillary smiled, her eyes shining with a mix of happiness and exhaustion. “I couldn’t agree more,” she said, stifling a yawn. “But as much as I’d love to stay here with you all night, we should probably split up and actually sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be a big day, and we both need to be on our a-game.”

Julius chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “You’re right, as usual,” he said, reluctantly releasing her from his embrace. “But just so you know, I plan on making up for lost time as soon as this shoot is over. I’m talking candlelit dinners, long walks on the beach, the whole nine yards.”

Hillary grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’m going to hold you to that, Theon,” she said, poking him playfully in the chest. “But for now, let’s just focus on getting through tomorrow in one piece. And then, who knows? Maybe we’ll have our own happily ever after to look forward to.”

twenty-four

. . .

“Cut!That’s a wrap on Starborn Alliance!” Vera’s voice echoed across the set, followed by a burst of applause and cheers from the crew.

Hillary stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest as the adrenaline and excitement coursed through her veins. The weight of her accomplishment settled on her shoulders, a mix of pride and disbelief. She had done it. She had actually filmed a movie, bringing to life the words and characters that once only existed in her imagination. Everything was so much more than she’d expected—the process, with her co-stars, with the story itself. This was more than just a job or a project. It was a passion that had consumed her whole being and left her feeling both exhausted and exhilarated.

And along the way, amidst the chaos and long days on set, she had fallen head over heels in love and never wanted to go back to the days when she felt unacceptable for someone like Julius.

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