CHAPTER 268

As we returned home from the theme park, life fell back into its usual ways, although there was an unmistakable change between William and me. We still had a long way to go, but that night on the balcony had laid a new beginning—one built on mutual hope and a shared desire for happiness, both for us and for Lucas.

A few days passed in a blur of rehearsals and meetings, a routine I welcomed for its predictability. Lucas had returned to school, and I found myself back on set, diving into my work with a renewed sense of purpose.

Despite the hectic schedule, William and I made time for each other in small, meaningful ways. He would bring me coffee in the morning, his smile a reminder of the warmth that had started to bloom between us.

Sometimes, he would surprise Lucas with little notes in his lunchbox or pick him up after school, small gestures that showed just how much he wanted to be a father figure in Lucas’s life.

One afternoon, William sent me a message just as I was wrapping up a