Song for this chapter: Taylor Swift - The Way I Loved You (Taylor's Version) on the multimedia.

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As the soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains, I stirred awake, feeling the warmth of Linc still beside me. His arm was draped loosely around my waist, and for a moment, everything felt quiet and peaceful. But then, I caught a glimpse of movement at the foot of the bed.

There was Ivy, sitting up with her legs tucked beneath her, her bright eyes staring at us with a mischievous grin on her face. She didn't say anything at first, just kept watching us with a knowing smile. Linc stirred too, his eyes fluttering open, and soon he noticed Ivy as well. We both sat up, slightly startled, wondering how long she'd been sitting there.

"Finally!" Ivy said, her voice bubbling with excitement. "Mommy and Daddy slept in the same room and in the same bed."

I blinked in surprise, exchanging a quick glance with Linc before looking back at her. I couldn't help but laugh. "Sweetheart, we've been sleeping next to each other ever since we moved in together," I said gently.

But Ivy shook her head, her grin widening. "No, you haven't. I knew you were just pretending to sleep in the same room. You always sneak out of Daddy's room and go to your own bed when you think I'm asleep."

Linc and I stared at each other, completely taken aback. She knew? We had been so careful, always tiptoeing around, thinking we had fooled her. But kids are smart—smarter than we give them credit for sometimes.

"You knew?" Linc finally spoke, his voice laced with surprise.

Ivy nodded proudly. "I knew the whole time," she said, her small voice confident. "But it's okay. I'm just happy Mommy's happy now." Then, with a softness I hadn't expected, she added, "And I'm glad Daddy's making Mommy happy."

My heart clenched, but it was her next words that stopped both of us in our tracks.

"Daddy," she said softly, looking directly at Linc. The word hung in the air, a sweet sound that had so much meaning behind it.

Linc froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. For a moment, I didn't think he knew how to react. This was the word he had been waiting for, hoping for, ever since Ivy came into his life. And now, she was saying it with so much love and innocence.

I could see the emotion welling up in his eyes, and it mirrored my own. Ivy had always called him Linc, and though we had never forced her to call him Daddy, I knew how much it meant to him. I reached out, placing a hand on his arm, feeling the tension and emotion coursing through him.

"Ivy..." Linc's voice was thick with emotion, and he blinked rapidly as if trying to hold back tears. "You... you called me Daddy."

Ivy nodded, her smile soft but genuine. "Because you are my Daddy," she said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I couldn't hold back anymore. My eyes filled with tears, and I quickly wiped them away. It was such a simple moment, but it held so much weight—this little girl, the center of our world, finally acknowledging Linc as the father figure he had become in her life.

Linc reached out, pulling Ivy into his arms, hugging her tightly, his face buried in her hair. I wrapped my arms around them both, feeling the warmth and love that connected us.

In that moment, I realized how far we had come. It wasn't just the act of pretending to be a family anymore—it was real. Ivy had opened a door, and in doing so, she had brought us even closer together.

***

The night was electric with celebration, the room filled with applause as Linc stood on stage, beaming as he received his award. I couldn't take my eyes off him. He looked so proud, so in his element, but I knew what made him truly happy wasn't the award in his hand—it was the fact that Ivy, Karen, and I were sitting here, watching him. I could feel Ivy's excitement beside me, her small hands clapping with all her might, her face lit up with pride.

Sitting at the table next to us was Linc's team—Travis included, grinning as he cheered for his best friend. Nat, looking radiant as ever, had received an award too. But there was a silent storm in the room, one that only a few of us knew about.

Rick Mahone sat a few tables over, his presence powerful and unspoken. He was a legend in Hollywood, his name alone drawing whispers across the room. No one knew he was Linc's father. No one, except for me, Karen, and Travis. I glanced at Karen, who kept her face composed, but I could see the faint tension in her eyes.

He took a deep breath, glancing briefly at the golden statue before addressing the crowd with a soft, humble smile. Linc took the microphone for his acceptance speech, his voice, usually so reserved, carried a warmth that seemed to surprise even him. "I want to thank everyone who's supported me from the beginning. I wouldn't be here without you," he began. "To my management, my co-stars, my team—everyone who's worked tirelessly on False Play and all the projects leading up to this moment," Linc began, his eyes sweeping over the room. "This isn't just my achievement; it's all of yours. I've been lucky to work with some incredibly talented and patient people, and believe me, I know I can be...difficult at times."

He chuckled lightly, the audience responding with soft laughter. "So, if I've ever been hard to deal with—and let's be honest, that's probably more often than not—I sincerely apologize. I appreciate each of you for sticking with me and putting up with my...well, let's just say, my moodiness."

There was a pause as Linc gathered his thoughts, his expression softening as he glanced toward Travis, sitting among the crowd. "I need to give a special shoutout to my manager, Travis. He's been with me not just in the professional sense but in life, way before he was officially my manager. He's been my best friend through it all, even when I didn't deserve it. He's had my back in ways most people wouldn't even begin to understand. So, Trav, this one's for you, man. Thank you. You've done a lot of terrible things, but if you hadn't, I wouldn't be who I am today." There was a small laugh from the crowd, but I knew Linc was speaking with gratitude.

The room filled with applause, and Linc gave Travis a nod before continuing. "To everyone else, from the actors I've shared scenes with, to the crew behind the cameras, and the people who've worked tirelessly behind the scenes—you make this possible. Every single one of you. And I know I don't always say it, but I'm so grateful for everything you do."

"And of course, to my wife," Linc continued, his eyes finding mine. I felt my heart swell. "Sign, you've given me more than I could ever ask for. To my daughter, Ivy, who's my light every single day. And to my mom, for loving me and raising me all on her own."

The crowd applauded again, but I knew Linc wasn't done. His expression shifted, his eyes locking onto Rick Mahone. The room had no idea who Linc was about to address, but I could feel it in the air. He was about to say what he'd held inside for years.

"I also want to thank my father," Linc said, his voice unwavering, though he never said Rick's name. "The man who was never there for me. The man who gave me the drive to pursue this career. It was because of him that I dreamt of being an actor, and I worked hard to get to where I am today. But it was also because of him that I wanted to be acknowledged."

Rick Mahone didn't flinch, but I could see the tension in his body. Linc stared at him, not breaking eye contact as he continued. "I never got the chance to work with him, because he made sure that would never happen. But I still thank him for that, because it made me push harder. And even though I started acting because of him, I ended up loving it on my own terms."

The room was silent. Linc looked down at the award again, his grip tightening around it for a moment as if it symbolized more than just the recognition of his work. "This means a lot," he said earnestly. "It really does. But I've realized that the most important part of all this—the thing that truly sticks with me—isn't just this award or the success. It's the people. The ones who've been with me on this journey, who've helped me grow, and who've made all of this worthwhile."

The crowd fell into a hush, hanging on his words.

And then came the part that none of us expected. "With that being said, tonight, I want to share that I'm stepping away from acting. It's time for me to focus on the people I love. I'm grateful for everything I've achieved, but now it's time to find something else that fulfills me. Something that matters as much as this did."

I could feel a lump in my throat. Ivy looked up at me, confused but still smiling, while Karen wiped away a tear discreetly. Linc's words echoed through the room, and the crowd sat in stunned silence before erupting into applause.

Linc was stepping away from the career he had worked his whole life for.

***

As we walked toward the car after the event, Travis turned to Linc, shaking his head with an exasperated grin. "You really haven't changed, have you?" he said, his voice tinged with both amusement and frustration. "You still love dropping these bombshells out of nowhere. Early retirement? Really? You should've warned us."

I couldn't help but nod in agreement, shaking my head as I caught Linc's eye. "Travis is right, Linc. You should've consulted us before announcing something like that. What were you thinking?"

But Linc, ever nonchalant, shrugged and smirked. "It wouldn't be much of a surprise if I told you first, would it?"

I sighed, feeling the weight of his decision. As much as I admired his independence, this wasn't something to be taken lightly. "Linc, if you're doing this because of me and Ivy, you don't have to. Don't make this decision for us."

He stopped walking, turning to face me. His expression softened, and he reached for my hand. "Sign, I love acting, I really do. But I'm tired of the spotlight. It's not because of you or Ivy. I just... I want something different now. A normal life. I crave that more than anything."

His words hung in the air, and I could see the sincerity in his eyes. He wasn't running away from anything—he was running toward something. A life that felt more real, more grounded. And though it was hard to process, I knew this was what he truly wanted.

Later, as we drove home, the quiet of the car surrounded us. Ivy had fallen asleep on Linc's lap, her small, peaceful face resting against him, the soft rhythm of her breathing filling the air. The night outside was calm, but inside me, a storm of emotions brewed—gratefulness, relief, and a sense of love that was almost too much to bear.

Linc glanced at me from across the seat, his voice breaking through the stillness. "Sign... I love you."

It hit me harder than I expected. My breath caught in my throat, my chest tightening as the words finally reached me. I'd been dying to hear those three words directly from him for so long. And now, out of nowhere, in the most unexpected moment, he said it.

Tears welled in my eyes before I could stop them. I turned slightly, my gaze meeting his, but the weight of those three simple words shattered whatever composure I had left. A sob escaped me, quiet but full of all the emotions I'd kept hidden for so long.

Linc's face softened, his expression tender as he reached out, brushing a tear from my cheek. "Hey...," he whispered, his voice low and soothing. "Why are you crying?"

"I've just... I've waited so long to hear you say that," I choked out, my voice trembling. "I didn't know if you ever would."

His thumb stroked my hand as he smiled, the kind of smile that made everything feel right. "I should've said it sooner."

"I love you too, Linc," I whispered, my voice raw with emotion. "I love you so much."

We shared a quiet moment, just staring at each other, both of us feeling the weight of what had been left unsaid for too long.

But then, to our surprise, a small, sleepy voice interrupted us from Linc's lap. "I love you too, Mommy... Daddy..."

Both of us looked down at Ivy, her eyes still closed but her little words filled with so much warmth and love that it overwhelmed me again. We thought she was fast asleep, but somehow, she had felt what we all felt in that moment.

Linc chuckled softly, his hand gently resting on her head. "We love you too, Ivy," he said, his voice tender, filled with all the love he could give.

I leaned in, pressing a kiss to her forehead, my heart swelling with an overwhelming sense of love and peace. "Always, baby girl," I whispered.

And in that moment, everything else faded away. The fears, the uncertainty, the doubts—they all disappeared. We were a family, finally complete, bound together by love in ways I couldn't have imagined. This was what I had been waiting for, what we had all been waiting for, and it was more perfect than I ever thought it could be.