Chapter 88: The Moment They Stop Pretending
The tension did not disappear. It settled.
It lingered in the quiet spaces between words, in the glances that lasted a second too long, in the silence that neither of them tried to break anymore.
Scarlett noticed it in everything.
The way Julian no longer completely avoided her, but did not fully approach either. The way his presence felt closer, yet still carefully measured. As if he was standing at the edge of something he refused to step into.
And somehow, that was worse.
Because now, she knew.
He felt it too.
That evening, filming wrapped earlier than expected. The set slowly emptied, leaving behind a rare calm that felt almost unfamiliar.
Scarlett stayed behind.
She told Amanda she needed a moment. That she wanted to review the script again.
It was only half true.
She needed space. Not from the world, but from the noise in her own mind.
