Song for this chapter: Taylor Swift – Exile (feat. Bon Iver) on the multimedia.

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Nat

I stood under the bright lights of the studio, trying to focus. It was my first day back in L.A., and we were filming a promotional video for our upcoming movie, set to hit theaters in late June. The energy in the room was palpable, with cameras positioned at every angle, capturing every expression, every word. The other cast members, Linc included, were gathered around, waiting for the cue to start.

"Alright, everyone!" the director called out. "We're rolling in three, two... one!"

I plastered on a smile, leaning slightly toward the camera. "Hey everyone!" I greeted with enthusiasm, "We're so excited to share False Play with you. You've been waiting, and it's almost here!"

Linc stood beside me, his usual composed self, though his arms remained crossed as if shielding himself from the spotlight. "We've poured everything into this film," he said coolly, his deep voice carrying weight. "And we can't wait for you all to experience it."

One of our co-stars, Jenny, chimed in from the other side of Linc, flashing a bright smile. "Action, suspense, and a lot of surprises. This one's for the books!"

The director signaled for us to keep the energy going. I nodded, glancing briefly at Linc. It was strange being this close to him again after everything that had happened with Sign. My thoughts flickered briefly to Juls too—my mind was still juggling everything, but I shook it off. Focus. This was work.

"So, don't forget," I continued, "Last week of June, in theaters worldwide. Mark your calendars!"

"Mark them twice," Linc added with a hint of charm that was rare for him, his eyes briefly locking with the camera. He was good at this—so much so that sometimes it was easy to forget how cold he could be off-camera.

"Cut!" the director called. "That was perfect! Let's do a quick reset for a few close-ups."

As we waited for the camera crew to reposition, I could feel the tension ease a little. Linc turned slightly toward me, though he didn't say anything. That was Linc—never really one to make small talk.

"You know, I think we nailed that," Jenny said, tossing her hair back and grinning. "The fans are going to love this."

"Let's hope," I replied, pushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I glanced toward Linc, curious if he'd engage, but he stayed silent, gazing at the floor, lost in thought as always.

As the cameras resumed, the mood shifted back to professional. We each took turns speaking directly into the camera for close-up shots, adding our personal messages to the fans. When it was my turn, I smiled and leaned forward.

"Hi, I'm Natalie Taylor," I said, my voice softer now for the close-up. "We're all so grateful for your support, and I can't wait for you to see the film. It's been a journey, and I think you'll love where it takes you. See you at the movies!"

The session wrapped up shortly after, and we gathered around, exchanging polite nods with the crew. As I stepped off the set, I felt a wave of exhaustion hit me. But at the same time, there was something exhilarating about it—about being back here, doing what I loved, even if my personal life felt like a chaotic mess.

I turned to Linc, who was packing up, his face unreadable. "Good job today," I said, trying to break through that wall he always had up.

"Yeah," he said without much enthusiasm. "You too."

I gave him a small nod, knowing that was the most I'd get from him.

***

Sitting on the couch, I scrolled through my phone, feeling my stomach churn with every notification that flashed across the screen. Social media was blowing up with pictures of Juls and Sign. The plan was working—people were eating it up. The staged photos of them attending events together, smiling at each other like they were an old couple rekindling their love, had hit the mark. Public sympathy was on our side now.

But as I stared at the photos, my heart clenched. Seeing Juls, my Juls, standing next to Sign, the woman he used to love, was harder than I thought it would be. Even though I knew the truth—that it was all just a show to save me and Linc—I couldn't shake the sinking feeling in my gut.

Linc was sitting next to me, silent. He had been scrolling through his phone too, looking at the same photos. His expression was tight, unreadable, but I could tell something was off. He hadn't said a word about it since the news broke.

I hesitated before speaking. "Linc?" I asked softly, trying to break the tension. "Are you okay?"

He didn't look at me, just kept staring at his phone. For a second, I thought maybe he hadn't heard me, but then I saw his thumb pause on the screen.

"It's all over the news," I continued, my voice cautious. "But... it's working. People are supporting us now."

Linc didn't respond. His blue eyes were fixed on the pictures of Juls and Sign, his jaw clenched. I wasn't sure what to say. I had to be careful—he didn't know the truth. He didn't know that this whole thing was a carefully crafted lie to protect his career and mine.

"Linc?" I tried again, this time reaching out to touch his arm lightly. "What are you thinking?"

He finally lowered his phone but didn't look at me. "How are you handling it?" he asked quietly, his voice tight.

I forced a smile, even though my heart was racing. "I'm fine. I mean, it's not easy, but... it's part of the plan, right? To keep our careers safe."

He gave a small nod, but it was clear something was bothering him. "Yeah, I guess."

I bit my lip, unsure of how to navigate this. I wanted to be honest with him, but I couldn't. I had to protect the lie, even if it was killing me inside. I couldn't tell him that Juls and Sign weren't really together, that the whole thing was just a staged act for the cameras.

"You and Juls are close," I said, trying to ease the tension. "It must be hard to see him like this, with Sign."

Linc's jaw tightened, and I could feel the frustration radiating from him. He glanced back at his phone, where yet another picture of Juls and Sign stared back at him. "I'm not thinking about that," he said flatly, his voice clipped. "I'm just... trying to focus on work."

"Of course," I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "We'll get through this. Together."

But even as I said it, I wasn't sure if I believed it myself. Linc was distant, more than usual, and I could feel the weight of everything pressing down on both of us.

He stood up suddenly, pacing the room. "I don't know, Nat. Something about this feels... off."

My heart skipped a beat. Did he suspect something? "Off? What do you mean?"

"I don't know." He ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear on his face. "It's them. Juls and Sign... together. It just doesn't sit right with me."

I felt my stomach twist into knots. He was getting too close to the truth. I had to steer the conversation away, keep him from questioning too much. But seeing him like this, torn between confusion and anger, made me want to tell him everything.

He turned to face me, his eyes searching mine. "Is this what we wanted? All this lying and pretending?"

I stood up, moving toward him slowly. "Linc... this is what we had to do. For us, for our careers. You know that."

He sighed heavily, dropping back onto the couch. "Yeah, I know. I just... I don't know if I'm okay with it anymore."

I sat down beside him, wishing I could make this all go away. But the damage was done. We were in too deep now. The photos were out there, the world believed the lie, and we had no choice but to play along.

"We'll get through this," I said again, trying to sound convincing. "Whatever happens... we'll be okay."

Linc's gaze finally met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw something in his eyes—a flicker of doubt, or maybe guilt. He sighed again, leaning back. "I hope you're right, Nat. I really do."

As I sat beside him, the weight of the lie pressing on my chest, I couldn't help but wonder if we were already too far gone.

***

As soon as Juls picked up, the noise from Sapphire Haven hit my ear—a bustling symphony of plates clinking, orders being called, and the soft murmur of conversations. His voice came through a second later, but it felt hurried, almost like an afterthought.

"Hey, Nat," he said, breathless. "Can we talk later? It's really hectic here right now."

I smiled reflexively, though the heaviness in my chest weighed it down. "Of course," I replied, trying to sound lighthearted. "I just wanted to hear your voice. I miss you."

There was a slight pause on the other end. "Yeah, I miss you too," he said, but his words were clipped, lacking the warmth they usually carried. It hit me like a small jolt of cold air. Juls has always been busy—it came with the territory of running a restaurant. But this was different. His voice wasn't just hurried—it was distant.

"Juls," I said softly, biting my lip as I tried to choose my words carefully. "Is everything okay? You sound... I don't know, a little off."

There was another pause, longer this time, like he was debating how to answer. "No, no. I'm fine," he finally said, but the uncertainty in his voice was obvious. "Just, you know, the usual. Work stuff. It's... a lot right now."

I could feel the anxiety building, tightening around my chest. "Okay," I murmured, unsure how to push further without sounding like I was prying. "Well, I'll let you get back to it. I just wanted to check in and... I don't know, remind you I'm here."

"Thanks, Nat. I'll call you when I get a break," he said, but even that promise felt hollow. Another quick goodbye, and the call ended before I could say anything else.

As I lowered the phone from my ear, I stared at it for a long moment, feeling the unease settle deeper. Something was wrong—something beyond the stress of running a busy night at the restaurant. His tone was too distant, too... detached. I'd heard him tired before, overwhelmed by work, but this? This felt different, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't just about the restaurant.

I leaned back on the couch, staring out of the window, trying to silence the growing anxiety gnawing at me. Was it Sign? Was their fake relationship stirring up old feelings between them? I had been supportive of the plan Travis concocted. It was for my career and Linc's too, after all. It made sense at the time, but now, seeing the pictures of Juls and Sign together on social media, faking dates and moments, was harder to ignore.

I had seen the way Juls looked at her when we were all together. Sure, they were pretending, but were they really? I couldn't help but wonder. They had history—a deep, complicated history—and no amount of fake dates could change that. They'd been in love once. Who's to say that old love couldn't resurface, especially now with all the time they were spending together?

I pushed the thought away, forcing myself to breathe deeply, but it kept creeping back. What if Juls was falling for her again? What if pretending to be with her stirred something in him that he hadn't felt in years?

I clenched my phone tighter, willing the thoughts to stop. I loved Juls. I knew he loved me too, but I couldn't deny the growing unease in my chest. The distance in his voice tonight, the way he had brushed off my concern—it all pointed to something deeper. Something I wasn't ready to confront.

I had to trust him, I reminded myself. I had to believe in what we had. But even as I tried to convince myself, the nagging doubt wouldn't let go.