Song for this chapter: Taylor Swift - Welcome To New York (Taylor's Version) on the multimedia.

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Juls

It was June 19, just another Monday—a rest day for me and the Sapphire Haven team. Tony and I decided to take advantage of the clear weather, stepping out for a walk around Manhattan. The city's rhythm was as familiar as ever, the hum of traffic and the chatter of people filling the air. Despite everything that had happened recently, moments like this reminded me that life went on, even when it felt like mine had been stuck in limbo.

As we strolled, we passed countless posters of False Play, plastered across every bus stop and billboard, reminding the city that the movie would hit theaters next week—June 25, to be exact. I felt a slight pang in my chest every time I saw Nat's face staring back at me from those posters. She looked stunning as always, her smile as radiant as I remembered, but now it was like she belonged to another world, one I wasn't a part of anymore.

Tony nudged me with his elbow, a teasing smirk on his face. "So, you're not missing her? I mean, c'mon, you two were together for a while. You haven't talked at all since the break-up?"

I gave a small, tired laugh, shaking my head. "No, we haven't talked. Not since... you know. Even at Sign and Linc's wedding, we just gave each other a nod. That's it. There was nothing more to say."

Tony raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Nothing? Not even a little chat for old times' sake?"

I shrugged, trying to ignore the way my stomach tightened at the mention of her. "What's there to talk about, Tony? It's over. We both know that. She's moving forward, and so am I. Sometimes things just... end."

Tony went quiet for a moment, his usual boisterous energy subdued. He looked at me, studying my expression. "If you say so, man. But I know you—better than most, in fact. If you need to talk about it, I'm here."

I appreciated Tony's concern, but I didn't want to dive into that well of emotions again. It was like revisiting an old wound, one that had mostly healed but still ached every now and then. "Thanks, Tony," I said, keeping my voice steady. "But really, it's fine. There's nothing left for us to talk about. We've moved on."

The posters of False Play kept popping up everywhere, like a reminder I didn't need. I couldn't escape it, but maybe that was for the best. A part of me needed to confront this—face the reality that Nat's life was moving in a different direction. She had a whole career ahead of her, and I had my restaurant. Our worlds just didn't align anymore.

Tony clapped me on the back, his familiar grin returning. "Alright, enough of that serious stuff. Let's grab a coffee and talk about anything but love lives. I'm starving, and I heard there's a new bakery around the corner."

I laughed, grateful for the distraction. "Lead the way, chef."

We kept walking, the weight of the conversation lifting slightly as we focused on the simpler things. Still, every now and then, I'd catch another glimpse of her on those posters, and I'd wonder—just for a second—what it would've been like if things had turned out differently. But then I reminded myself, life wasn't about what could've been. It was about what was, and I was okay with that.

As we walked into the new bakery, the warm scent of freshly baked bread and sugar greeted us, filling the small space with a sense of comfort. I glanced around, taking in the cozy atmosphere. The decor was simple, with wooden tables and soft lighting, a stark contrast to the busy city outside.

But then, my eyes landed on a familiar figure standing at the counter. The same woman I'd seen before at Sapphire Haven. Mid-50s, short gray hair that was regrowing, as if she'd been through something heavy. There was something about her that felt almost... familiar, like I'd seen her in another lifetime. She stood a few feet away, ordering a cake.

I didn't think much of it at first, but then I heard her voice as she spoke to the woman behind the counter. "Can you write 'Happy Birthday Garry' on the cake, please?"

The name struck me like a jolt of electricity. Garry. I immediately remembered who she was. That woman—she was the same one whose picture Garry kept in his wallet. I thought about Garry often, more than I cared to admit. Even after all these years, I never stopped searching for his family, trying to piece together the parts of his life he left behind. So when I heard his name, it wasn't just some distant memory—it hit me hard, like it always did, as if he were still here, still waiting for the answers neither of us had found.

I didn't approach her. Something told me not to. Maybe I just wasn't ready. Instead, I ordered a couple of coffees and a pastry to share with Tony, then returned to my seat across from him.

Tony, oblivious to my distraction, launched into a funny story about some mishap at the restaurant. His voice was animated, hands gesturing wildly as he tried to reenact the moment. Normally, I would've been all in, laughing along with him, but my attention kept drifting back to the woman seated at the table next to ours.

She sat quietly, waiting for the cake, her fingers tapping absentmindedly on the table. Her face was worn, lined with years of life's struggles, but there was a calmness about her, almost a sadness. And I remembered—it was Garry's birthday today. He would've been... what? In his sixties now? But Garry had been gone for years, and his family—well, they had abandoned him long before he passed. They'd left him to live out his final days alone.

So why was she here, ordering a birthday cake for a man who'd been dead for so long? It didn't make sense to me. Had she forgiven him? Or was this some twisted tribute, a way to cling to something long gone?

Tony kept talking, but I couldn't focus. My mind was too busy processing the weight of this strange encounter. I hadn't thought about Garry or his life in years, yet here I was, confronted by his memory in the form of this woman—someone I hadn't even known existed until now. And I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this story, something that I wasn't seeing.

"Juls, are you even listening?" Tony interrupted, giving me a quizzical look as he caught me zoning out.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm listening," I replied, though my voice was absent, my eyes still fixed on the woman.

But I wasn't listening. Not really. I was too busy piecing together the past, wondering what had brought her here today.

The woman got her cake and left the bakery, and without a second thought, I grabbed Tony's arm, pulling him along as I discreetly followed her down the street. "What the hell, man?" Tony whispered, confused, but I didn't explain. My eyes stayed fixed on the woman ahead, my heart racing with every step.

She walked slowly, carrying the cake like it was something fragile—something important. I kept a safe distance, careful not to draw attention, though my mind was spinning with memories of Garry and the unanswered questions that had haunted me for so long.

After a few blocks, she stopped in front of a modest house. The door opened, and two younger people, a man and a woman—probably in their early twenties—stepped out. They embraced her, their movements slow and tender, like today carried a weight too heavy for all of them. The look on their faces said more than words could.

And then it hit me.

"I finally found them," I muttered under my breath, the realization sinking in.

Tony gave me a sidelong glance, utterly confused. "Found who?"

But I didn't answer him. My mind was elsewhere, focused on the scene unfolding in front of me. Garry's family. After all this time, I had finally found them. The people I'd been searching for, the missing pieces of a life that had left so many things unresolved.

Now, I knew what I had to do.