Weeks had quietly rolled by since the last time Tristan appeared around H-Star Studios, and those silent weeks had been the calmest Lila had known in months. Without him lurking in the hallways or sending her mixed glances, she could finally focus on her work. Her days were peaceful-early mornings with coffee, long afternoons filled with creative meetings, and evenings spent exchanging soft messages with Adrian.
The air at the studio buzzed with life now. The first movie project she had written and directed was finally coming to life. Today was the day they would begin filming the official clips-the day everyone had been working toward.
Lila stood in front of the mirror in the dressing room, adjusting her blouse and taking a deep breath. She looked radiant, but her heart was racing. This was more than just another workday-it was the beginning of everything she had dreamed of.
Mrs. Claire Bennett entered the room, her clipboard pressed to her chest and that signature proud smile lighting her face. "Ready, Lila?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Lila said with a nervous laugh.
"You've done a beautiful job with this script. I know the actors are excited. Even Manager Collins said this might be our best production yet."
Lila smiled, warmth spreading in her chest. "Thank you, ma'am. That means a lot."
They walked together to the set. The cameras were positioned, lights perfectly angled, and the sound of chatter filled the air. Crew members hurried across the floor while makeup artists did final touches on the actors.
But the moment Lila stepped onto the stage, her breath caught in her throat.
Tristan was there.
He stood among the cast members, casually going through his lines, his expression unreadable.
Lila froze for a heartbeat before forcing a smile and walking forward as if nothing had happened. Inside, however, her peace began to crack. She had known this day would come-he was one of the leading actors-but seeing him again stirred something unpleasant deep inside her.
I won't listen to him, she told herself firmly. He's just another actor. This is my project. My space.
The director called for everyone's attention. Cameras rolled, the clapperboard snapped, and filming began.
Scene after scene unfolded beautifully. The actors were confident, the lighting perfect, the dialogue natural. But throughout it all, Tristan's gaze never left Lila. Even while acting, even while smiling at his co-stars, his eyes kept drifting toward her.
At first, she ignored it. But as hours passed, she started feeling the weight of his stare pressing against her back. Every time she looked up from her notes, she caught him watching her. His expression wasn't mocking or playful-it was intent, searching, as though he was studying her every move.
It made her skin prickle.
"Lila, are you okay?" Mrs. Claire Bennett asked softly, noticing her distracted state.
"Yes, I'm fine," Lila replied quickly, forcing a small smile. "Just tired, I guess."
By the time they wrapped up the final clip, it was well past nine. The studio lights dimmed, leaving only the glow of computer screens and cameras blinking red. Everyone was exhausted but thrilled.
The first movie clip went live at ten sharp. Within minutes, comments started flooding in online. People were praising the story, the emotion, and especially the mysterious writer behind it-Lila Harts
The name was suddenly everywhere.
"Congratulations, Lila!" Manager Collins exclaimed, shaking her hand. "You've outdone yourself. The response is incredible!"
Mrs. Claire Bennett smiled warmly. "You've made us proud, dear. This will put H-Star on a new level."
Lila's face flushed with happiness. "Thank you, ma'am. I couldn't have done it without everyone's support."
Around them, laughter filled the room. Some of the artists were playing the clip on their phones, showing her comments that praised her script. Everything felt perfect-until a familiar presence approached from behind.
"Impressive work," Tristan's deep voice cut through the celebration.
Lila stiffened instantly. She turned slowly, her professional smile in place. "Thank you. But if you'll excuse me, I need to-"
"I need to talk to you," Tristan interrupted, his eyes locking onto hers.
Her jaw tightened. "Not now, Tristan. It's late."
He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "It's important."
"No," she said firmly this time. "Whatever it is, it can wait."
A few heads turned in curiosity. The air shifted uncomfortably. Tristan, clearly not expecting her sharp refusal, hesitated. His expression darkened slightly, embarrassment flickering in his eyes as several crew members exchanged surprised looks.
Lila adjusted her bag, ready to walk away. But then his next words froze her in place.
"If you don't want everyone here to know you're Mrs. Wolfe," he said quietly, "you'll listen."
Her heart stopped.
She turned sharply, eyes wide. "What did you just say?"
Tristan smirked slightly, leaning closer so only she could hear. "You heard me. Mrs. Wolfe. Adrian Wolfe's wife."
Lila's pulse raced. "You have no proof," she whispered quickly, trying to mask her panic.
Tristan tilted his head and, with a slow smile, pulled out his phone. The screen lit up with something that made her stomach drop. It was a photo-blurry but clear enough-showing her and Adrian leaving a restaurant late at night weeks ago.
Her throat went dry.
He whispered, "Now... will you listen?"
For a moment, she couldn't move. She felt like the air had been stolen from her lungs.
Turning quickly, she forced a polite smile toward Mrs. Claire Bennett and Manager Collins, who were still chatting nearby. "Excuse me, please. I just remembered something important."
"Oh, sure, dear," Mrs. Claire said. "We'll wrap up here."
Lila clutched her bag and her phone, her fingers trembling. She began typing a message to Adrian-We need to talk. It's Tristan. He knows.
But before she could hit send, Tristan's hand shot out and gently took her phone. His smile was sharp and calm. "Let's not do that here," he murmured, pocketing it before anyone could notice.
Lila's eyes widened. "Give me my phone back!" she hissed.
"Later," he said softly. "Let's walk."
"Walk where?"
"Somewhere private."
Her voice trembled slightly. "We can talk right here."
Tristan's gaze hardened. "Follow me... or I'll post that photo right now. Along with your little marriage secret."
Lila froze again. Her chest ached, panic twisting through her veins. Slowly, she nodded. "Fine."
They walked out together, and to anyone watching, it looked like two colleagues discussing something work-related. No one noticed the tension in her eyes or the fear beneath her calm expression.
Outside, the air was cooler, the night quiet except for distant city sounds.
Meanwhile, far from H-Star Studios, Adrian was on his way home. The city lights blurred past the car windows as Nathan drove silently.
Nathan's phone buzzed with a notification. Glancing at it, he smiled slightly. "Sir, the movie your wife wrote-it's trending already. People are loving it."
Adrian glanced over. "It's out already?"
"Yes, sir. Just released an hour ago. Look."
He passed his phone over, and Adrian tapped the screen. The first thing that appeared wasn't the movie-it was the thumbnail of Tristan standing among the cast.
Adrian's expression changed immediately. His jaw tightened. "Tristan is back."
Nathan blinked, surprised. "You know him?"
Adrian's eyes darkened. "Drive to H-Star. Now."
"Yes, sir."
The car sped up. Adrian kept scrolling, searching for any sign of Lila. Something in his chest twisted uncomfortably. He had a bad feeling-a quiet unease that refused to go away.
He dialed her number once. No answer.
He tried again. Still nothing.
By the third call, her phone went straight to voicemail.
Adrian's grip on the phone tightened. "Why is her phone off?"
Nathan looked at him through the mirror. "Maybe she's still in a meeting. The movie just came out, after all."
"No," Adrian said firmly. "Something's wrong."
The car sliced through traffic, heading straight toward the H-Star building. By the time they arrived, the parking lot was half-empty, but a few staff members were still standing outside, chatting excitedly about the release.
The moment Adrian's black car pulled in, the chatter stopped. Heads turned. No one expected to see him there-Adrian Wolfe, the CEO, stepping out with that cold, sharp expression that carried authority.
He walked straight into the building.
Inside, Mrs. Claire Bennett and Manager Collins were just leaving the office, talking about the film's success.
"Mr. Adrian Wolfe?" Manager Collins said in surprise when he saw him. "You're here-"
"Where's Lila?" Adrian cut in, his tone low but commanding.
Mrs. Claire blinked. "She left a little while ago. About thirty minutes back, I think. With Tristan."
Adrian's entire body tensed. "What?"
"Yes, with Tristan," Manager Collins confirmed. "They said they needed to discuss something. Is... something wrong?"
"Damn it," Adrian muttered under his breath, spinning on his heel and storming toward the exit.
He didn't answer them. He didn't need to. His heart was pounding, anger and fear rising together.
When he got back to the car, Nathan looked up. "Sir?"
"Drive," Adrian ordered, his tone colder than ice. "Find her-now."