Page 68 of You. Me. Us.

Ethan smiled, a genuine warmth softening his features. “Anytime, Hillary. I’m here for you whenever you need me.”

With a final nod, he turned and melted into the night, leaving Hillary alone on her doorstep. She watched him go, a strange mixture of emotions swirling within her. Gratitude, confusion, and a small, flickering spark of something she couldn’t quite name.

Inside her apartment, Hillary leaned against the closed door, her mind reeling. Ethan’s words echoed in her head, mingling with the memories of Julius, of their shared passion for storytelling. She loved Julius, there was no denying that. And her love for writing, for uncovering the truth, would always be a part of her. But acting...acting had ignited something within her, a thrill she couldn’t ignore.

Maybe there was more for her than a single movie, a fleeting brush with the spotlight. Maybe, just maybe, she had the strength to chase her dreams, to reach for something greater. The possibilities stretched out before her, vast and untamed, and for the first time in a long time, Hillary felt a flicker of genuine excitement for what the future might hold.

Her fingers itched to reach for her phone, to tap out a message to Julius. To ask him to meet, to talk things through. He had promised to help her navigate this new world, to be herguide and her support. But the memory of his anger, the way he had walked away without a backward glance, stopped her short.

No.

She couldn’t go bothering him, not now. Not when she was just beginning to find her own strength, her own voice. Julius had left her to fend for herself, and while a part of her ached at the thought, another part whispered that maybe, just maybe, it was for the best.

Hillary pushed herself away from the door, her steps carrying her further into the apartment. She paused by the window, gazing out at the city lights that twinkled like stars against the velvet sky. A world of possibility lay before her, and for the first time, she felt ready to face it head-on.

“I don’t need him,” she whispered, the words a quiet affirmation in the stillness of the night. “I can do this on my own.”

It was time to step into the spotlight, to claim her place in the world, and to let her own light shine. Julius gave her a gift with his love, and she wasn’t going to lose it just because he was gone from her life.

twenty-nine

. . .

Hillary clenchedand unclenched her hands as she slid off the interview couch. Despite the countless interviews she had conducted, talking about herself as the subject left her more than a little uncomfortable.

She glanced over her shoulder, catching a glimpse of Julius’s chiseled profile as he laughed with one of the cameramen. It was such an easy laugh, the same kind they’d shared before everything had gone to hell and never come back.

Three weeks ago he’d left her in his London apartment, and she’d spent every night crying her eyes out like some damsel. She didn’t want to be one, but with him so close again, she was barely more than the reporter who’d dared to talk to him at comic con fourteen months ago. They’d never even gotten to a year dating anniversary.

Stop it.

Trying to make a quick escape she unclipped the mike from the collar of her shirt and set it on the table, forcing her feet to carry her out of the studio. She didn’t want to be in the same space as Julius if he was going to stare at her with empty eyes the way he had sitting next to her during that interview.

Outside, get home. Breathe.

Outside, get home. Breathe.

Hillary continued the chant as her heels clicked over the linoleum studio floor as she moved toward the building’s exit. Hillary’s steps quickened as she finally reached the exit of the studio, taking the back way as Ethan and even Julius had often said were safer to stay off the radar. She took a deep breath, relieved to feel the cool air against her skin.

“Hillary! Oh my God, it’s really you!”

A deep, masculine voice jolted her from her reverie, and she turned, uncertain what to expect. A man, taller than her but not a giant, with eyes wide and intense, walked toward her. Instinctively, she took a step back, wondering if she made a run for it if she could get inside before something went wrong.

“I’m your biggest fan! I’ve read every article you’ve ever written and even made a fan edit already of the Starborn Alliance trailer.” he exclaimed, invading her personal space. His breath was hot against her cheek, his gaze bordering on manic.

“T-thank you,” Hillary stammered, trying to sidestep him. “That’s very kind of you to say.”

But the man moved with her, blocking her path. “No, you don’t understand. Your words, they speak to me. It’s like you’re writing just for me.”

Hillary’s heart thumped wildly in her chest, and she could feel beads of sweat forming on her forehead. The sudden rush of adrenaline made her body feel cold and clammy as she tried to calm herself down.

This wasn’t just an overzealous fan. There was something off, something dangerous in his demeanor. Her eyes darted around, searching for an escape as he’d come to stand between her and the building’s door.

“I really must be going,” she said, her voice wavering. “If you’ll excuse me...”

The man’s hand shot out, gripping her wrist with bruising force. Hillary gasped, panic rising in her chest. Without thinking, a name tore from her throat.

“Julius!”

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