Song for this chapter: Taylor Swift - Clean (Taylor's Version) on the multimedia.

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Juls

It was late—way too late for visitors. I was about to crawl into bed, hoping for a quiet end to the day when I heard the knock at the door. At first, I thought maybe I was imagining it, the day catching up to me in weird ways, but the knock came again. Firm. Urgent.

When I opened the door, there stood Sign and Ivy. My heart immediately sank. The look on Sign's face said everything. There was a problem, and it wasn't the kind you could just brush off.

"Ivy," I said gently, crouching down to meet her tired eyes. "Go to my room, okay? You can sleep there tonight."

She gave me a small, sleepy nod before heading inside. Once she disappeared down the hallway, I turned back to Sign. She was still standing there, not even moving, her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to hold everything together. I didn't push her, just motioned for her to come in and sit.

As soon as we were in the living area, she sat on the edge of the couch, hands shaking slightly as she rubbed her temples. I sat beside her, waiting. It didn't take long.

"It was him, Juls," she blurted out. "Linc. I'm almost sure it was him who Ivy saw tonight."

My mind immediately went on high alert. Linc? Here? Now? I hadn't expected him to just show up like that. "What did he want?" I asked, my voice calmer than I felt.

She shook her head, eyes wide with worry. "I don't know. I wasn't there. Ivy said he asked for me, but she told him I was in the bath. She said he asked her age, Juls. He asked how old she was." Her voice broke, and I saw the panic that was swirling inside her start to bubble up to the surface.

I leaned forward, trying to process everything. "And you think he's figured it out?"

"I don't think," she said, shaking her head with more intensity. "I know. I know he has. Ivy's turning five. It doesn't take a genius to do the math. He's going to put everything together, Juls. And when he does..."

I could see the fear in her eyes, the worry that Linc might go after Ivy. But Linc? Do something like that? I knew he wasn't the most straightforward guy, but taking Ivy from Sign? I didn't want to believe it. Yet, the more I thought about it, the more I understood where her fear came from.

"Sign," I said softly, "why do you think he would try something like that?"

She looked down at her hands, her voice barely above a whisper. "Because I remember. I remember him telling me, back when we were dating, that he promised himself something. I asked him what it was, and he told me... he said he would always be there for his child. That he'd be the kind of father his dad never was. He said he would never leave his child the way his father left him. That he'd be present every step of the way."

Her words hung heavy between us.

"And now, if he finds out... I've already made him break that promise. The moment I decided to keep Ivy from him, I forced him to become exactly what he swore he wouldn't be. I took that chance away from him, and if he knows... if he really knows... Juls, he'll hate me for it. He'll hold it against me, and I don't know what he'll do." Her voice cracked, and I saw the tears threatening to spill.

I reached out and took her hand, trying to offer some kind of reassurance. "You did what you thought was best at the time, Sign. No one can fault you for that."

But I could see it in her eyes—she wasn't convinced. "He won't see it that way. Linc always wanted to prove himself, to be better than his father. And now I've taken that from him. I'm terrified, Juls. What if he tries to take Ivy from me? What if he thinks that's the only way to make things right?"

The idea of Linc swooping in and taking Ivy was unthinkable. But I could feel the fear in Sign's words, the desperation in her eyes. She wasn't just afraid of losing Ivy—she was afraid of losing control of her life, of everything she'd built, everything she'd sacrificed.

"He won't take her," I said firmly, squeezing her hand. "He can't. You've been there for Ivy from the beginning. You've done everything. You're her mother."

But the truth was, if Linc really did figure it out, there could be complications. Legal battles. Custody fights. And Linc—he wasn't the same guy I used to know back then. He had power now. Influence. He could make things difficult.

Sign was staring at the floor, her body tense, her breath shaky. "Juls, I'm scared. I've worked so hard to give Ivy a good life, to raise her on my own. I can't lose her. I just can't."

I nodded, not sure what else to say. The weight of what she was facing felt crushing, and no matter how much I wanted to tell her everything would be fine, I wasn't sure if I could promise that. All I could do was be here for her. And Ivy. Whatever came next, we'd face it together.

For now, that had to be enough.

***

I woke up feeling stiff, my back sore from the couch. I blinked my eyes open and realized Sign was still asleep, her head resting on my shoulder. I held my breath, trying not to move too quickly. She looked peaceful, but I knew it was a fragile peace, one that would shatter the moment she woke up and remembered everything that happened last night.

I carefully shifted, sliding out from beneath her without waking her. Once I was free, I stretched out my aching limbs and made my way to the bathroom to wash up, splashing cold water on my face to shake off the remnants of sleep. My mind was still foggy from everything that had happened, but I knew we'd have to face it soon.

In the kitchen, I started to prepare breakfast, trying to focus on something simple. Coffee. Eggs. Anything to keep my hands busy and my mind steady. That's when my phone buzzed on the counter.

Nat.

I hesitated, surprised to see her name flash on the screen, especially since things between us had been... rough, to say the least. We hadn't really talked much in the past few days, and I figured she needed space, just like I did. But why was she calling now?

I answered. "Nat?"

Her voice was tense, and I could hear the urgency. "Juls, I know this might not be the best time, but... I had to tell you something. I was informed by my manager earlier this morning that Linc is holding a press conference. I'm not sure what it's about, but I have this strong feeling it's connected to Sign. You need to let her know."

My chest tightened. A press conference? This couldn't be good.

"I—thanks for letting me know. I'll tell her."

"Just... make sure she's ready for whatever's coming," Nat said quietly before hanging up.

I stood there for a second, letting her words sink in. Something was happening, and it involved Linc. I had to wake Sign up.

Rushing back to the living room, I gently shook Sign's shoulder. "Sign, wake up."

She stirred, blinking in confusion. "What's going on?"

"You need to see this." I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, flipping through the channels until I found the news. They were already covering it, the headline flashing at the bottom of the screen:

LINCOLN SMITH TO HOLD URGENT PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY.

Sign sat up, her face draining of color. Her hands gripped the edge of the couch. "Juls... what's he going to do?"

I didn't have an answer. All I knew was that something big was about to unfold. Something we might not be ready for.

As the press conference started, I watched the tension in Sign's face build with each passing second. Linc stood in front of the cameras, looking more composed than I expected, but there was something different about him—a determination I hadn't seen before. The reporters quieted down as Linc began to speak.

"Good morning," he said, his voice steady. "I know there have been a lot of rumors and speculations going around, and today I'm here to clear the air."

Sign's fingers gripped the couch cushion, her knuckles turning white. I could feel the tension in the air, thick and unrelenting.

"The truth is... the relationship between Juls and Sign was a cover-up. A decision we made to protect certain aspects of my and Nat's careers. It wasn't real," Linc said, his words dropping like bombs.

Sign gasped quietly beside me, her wide eyes glued to the screen. I felt a knot tightening in my stomach as everything we had been working to protect was unraveling in front of us.

Linc continued, "But today, I'm here to announce that Sign and I... are getting married this week."

The room fell into silence, the sound of our breathing the only thing breaking it. Sign's face was frozen, her mind racing, trying to process what Linc had just said.

"I don't care what the public thinks," Linc added, his voice growing more passionate. "I don't care about the impact this will have on my upcoming film or my career. If my fans decide to cancel me for this, then that's their choice, and I'll accept it. But I have to be honest. My priority now is Sign... and Ivy."

Sign inhaled sharply, her whole body tensing beside me. I could feel the weight of those words hit her—Ivy.

"I need to make things right," Linc finished, his eyes blazing with a conviction that was almost terrifying. "That's why we're getting married. I'm not running from this anymore."

It was a brief statement, but the gravity of it was enough to make the world stop.

Linc's words echoed through the room, cold and calculated. "And one more thing," he added, his voice steady but devoid of warmth, "I'm in love with Sign."

The phrase hit like a punch to the gut. The public would buy it, believe the picture he was painting, but I could see through it—the way his tone lacked any real affection, the way he delivered the words with such detachment. It was just another part of the story, another move in the game he was playing to save face.

Sign, sitting beside me, didn't react outwardly. But I knew. I could see it in her eyes—the heartbreak, the confusion, and the bitter realization that he had just thrown those words out to dodge a bullet. He said he loved her, but it was hollow. Empty. A lie crafted for the cameras, not for her.

I could almost hear her thoughts as she stared at the screen, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Linc had said he was in love with her, but the way he said it made it clear: he wasn't doing this for love. He was doing this to take control, to shape the narrative before it spiraled out of his hands.

"He... he doesn't mean it," Sign whispered, almost to herself, her voice trembling.

I didn't need to respond. We both knew it.

And then he wrapped it up, his cold declaration hanging in the air like a chill. "We're getting married," he repeated, this time like it was a business transaction more than a heartfelt decision. "And I'm going to be there for Ivy. I need to make things right."

Sign's face crumbled as those last words slipped from Linc's mouth, and I felt helpless. Everything had shifted, and Linc wasn't just threatening to take her away—he was threatening to take Ivy, too.

I placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently. "Sign," I said quietly, but she didn't respond. Her world had just been turned upside down, and the reality of what Linc was capable of doing was crashing down on her.

The screen flashed back to reporters scrambling with questions, but Linc was already walking away from the podium, leaving the press in a frenzy.

She sat frozen, her eyes fixed on the screen long after Linc had walked off. I could see the battle waging inside her—fear, anger, disbelief. But most of all, heartbreak. He'd said he loved her, but only to serve his purpose. And now, more than ever, she knew he was going to do whatever it took to win.

"He's going to take her," she whispered again, her voice barely audible.

And for the first time, I wasn't sure how to reassure her that he wouldn't.

I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to stop the panic flooding her eyes. Everything had just changed in a matter of minutes, and we were standing in the aftermath of a storm that neither of us saw coming.

Ivy's soft footsteps approached the living room, her eyes still groggy with sleep. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, looking at me and then at her mom, who had just switched off the TV a little too hastily. "Mom, what's going on?" she asked innocently, her voice small in the heavy silence that hung between us.

Sign turned away, the panic evident in her movements as she grabbed her jacket and started pacing. I knew she was trying to figure out how to protect Ivy, how to keep her safe, but she didn't have a plan. She didn't have time.

"Ivy," Sign started, her voice trembling as she fumbled with her words. "We need to go. Somewhere far away. Somewhere... that no one knows us. Somewhere safe where Linc won't—"

"Stop, Sign," I interrupted, stepping in front of her before she could spiral any further. "You can't just run away. Not again. You need to think about Ivy."

She froze, her eyes darting between me and Ivy, who stood in the doorway, now fully awake and sensing the tension. She didn't understand what was happening, but she knew something wasn't right. I could see the fear creeping into her little face.

"I'm doing this for her," Sign whispered harshly, her voice shaky. "I won't let him take her from me."

"And I get that," I said gently, my voice steady even though inside I was fighting to stay calm. "But running isn't the answer. Ivy's going to get caught in the middle of this. She already is."

Sign's eyes glossed over with tears, but she still shook her head. "I can't... I can't let him near her, Juls. He'll take her."

"You have to tell her the truth, Sign," I insisted, my voice firmer now. "There's no running from this anymore. Ivy deserves to know who her father is, and she's going to find out one way or another."

Sign swallowed hard, her whole body trembling as she stared at me, torn between her fear and the truth. I could see the weight of it all crashing down on her—the lies, the secrets, the guilt. She had been protecting Ivy all these years, but now, the truth was closing in on them both.

"I don't know how to tell her," she finally admitted, her voice breaking. "How do I tell her... everything?"

I glanced at Ivy, her wide eyes darting between us, her small hands clutching at the hem of her pajamas. She was too young to understand the complexities of what was happening, but she wasn't too young to feel the gravity of it.

"Mom?" Ivy's voice was soft, uncertain, as she took a few steps forward. "Why are you scared? Why do we have to go?"

Sign knelt down in front of Ivy, her hands trembling as she reached out and gently took Ivy's hands in hers. She was holding on so tightly, as if afraid that the truth would tear them apart.

"Ivy, baby..." Sign's voice cracked, and she closed her eyes, trying to find the strength to say the words she had avoided for so long. "There's something I need to tell you... about your father."

Ivy blinked, confused but patient, waiting for her mom to continue.

Sign's shoulders shook as she exhaled, finally opening her eyes to look into Ivy's innocent face. "Your father... was the man who came by last night."

Ivy's face scrunched up in confusion. "Is he a bad person?"

Sign swallowed hard, tears pooling in her eyes. "No, sweetheart, he's not a bad person. He just... he didn't know about you. And now, he's found out, and he might want to be a part of your life."

I could see Ivy's mind trying to wrap around what her mother was saying. "But why didn't you tell him?" she asked, her innocent question cutting deep into the silence.

Sign looked like she was about to crumble under the weight of that question, but before she could respond, I stepped in, trying to bridge the gap. "Your mom was trying to protect you, Ivy. She's always done what she thought was best for you."

Ivy looked between us both, confusion still etched on her face. "So... he is my dad," she said, trying to convince herself. I know it had always been her dream to know about his father, but it broke my heart knowing that she had to learn about it this way.

"Yes, Ivy," Sign whispered, her voice barely audible. "He's your father."

The room fell silent, Ivy's small face filled with so many questions, none of which we could answer right now. But one thing was clear—we couldn't keep running. The truth was out, and no matter how much Sign wanted to shield Ivy from the storm that was about to hit, there was no more hiding.