Page 70 of Exile

DARWYNN

four months later

The set was small—almost too small for a production, but that’s how Caspian wanted it.

No big studios.

No overwhelming crowds.

Just a handful of crew members, a few passionate actors, and an indie film that felt as raw and real as the story he was telling.

Exile, his script, had transformed into a humble production, far from the gloss of Hollywood.

But it was his, completely and utterly his, without anyone breathing down his neck.

The set was small—far from the polished, glamorous worlds I had imagined when I first thought about what it might be like to be involved in filmmaking. I knew it wouldn’t be too fancy, but this was different from what I imagined. Better. Much better.

There were no extravagant lights or sets, no high-budget crew. Just a handful of people scattered around a quiet rural town in Canada, each of them with multiple tasks. The sound engineer also did the lighting. The makeup artist doubled as the costume designer. And Caspian? He was doing it all. Acting, directing, producing. He even had his hands on the camera sometimes. It was chaotic and stripped down, but it felt real. More real than anything I had ever experienced.

And I was here, by his side, watching him in his element. Caspian had created this film. A story based on his life, his heartache, his loss. And somehow, watching it unfold around me, I felt like I was watching him reclaim something he had thought he had lost forever.

I sat off to the side, notebook in hand, occasionally writing down observations or ideas for him. I wasn’t exactly “on the team,” but Caspian made me feel like I was. He was always glancing my way, seeking my approval, offering me quick smiles between scenes. And those smiles—God, they did something to me every time. They were full of warmth and quiet confidence I’d never seen in him before.

The crew worked tirelessly, moving quickly between takes and adjusting lights and cameras. It was all happening so fast, but it was so full of life. There was an energy here that I could feel in my bones, and it wasn’t just from the cast and crew—it was mostly from Caspian.

I’d never seen him like this, so fully present, so full of purpose. His movements were deliberate, his voice steady and authoritative as he gave direction. And I knew, deep down, that he was finally doing something that mattered. Something he had longed to do again, even if he hadn’t realized it until recently.

The scene they were filming was intense, full of raw emotion. I felt my chest tighten as I watched Caspian coach the actor, pulling something out of him that wasn’t scripted. It was as if the actor had become a vessel for Caspian’s own pain. It wasn’t just a performance, it was real.

The break between scenes came, and I sighed in relief as I got up from the chair, setting my notebook on it. I stretched, glancing out at the sun setting in the distance. The light was beginning to face the golden hour spilling over the hills. It was one of those rare moments when everything seemed to slow down—even on a busy set like this.

I smiled at him as he approached me, and he nodded to the notebook on the chair. “Got some new observations?”

I nodded, pursing my lips. I couldn’t touch him out here. Not with everybody watching. To all of them, I was Caspian’s granddaughter.

Which…I was. But they didn’t know about our relationship. Even if we trusted these people enough, we couldn’t risk letting our secret come to light.

“I got a few things. You’re great out there. As always,” I told him. “I’m so proud of you.”

He smiled, pushing his hands into his pockets. I knew he wanted to touch me. To kiss me. But he couldn’t. It was hard for both of us.

“Thank you, Darwynn. You know that means a lot to me. And you know how glad I am to have you here with me.”

I nodded, assuring him that I knew what my presence meant to him.

He took me in carefully, and an emotion—no, a need—I knew all too well flashed in his eyes.

“Fuck,” he murmured.”

“What is it?”

“We have one more scene before we’re done for the day, but I can’t stop thinking about burying my face between your thighs and tasting your sweet pussy.”

My eyes widened, and I looked around to make sure nobody could hear us. Luckily, nobody was close enough to hear him say those naughty words.

“I, uh…” I laughed nervously.

It was incredible how exciting our relationship was, even after so many months.

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