CHAPTER FOUR

The sound of the crowd faded as Leo and I walked past the sea of reporters, their questions now drowned out by the buzzing of my thoughts. The stares, the flashes, they all felt like they were happening to someone else. I was numb, my pulse steady despite the tension that still clung to the air.

“You’re alright?” Leo asked, his voice low but full of concern.

I didn’t look at him. I kept my gaze forward, focusing on the grand theater doors ahead. “I’m fine.”

He didn’t press me further, but I could feel his eyes on me, sensing the storm still brewing beneath my calm exterior.

We stepped into the theater, and the noise from the press outside was replaced by the low hum of conversation, laughter, and clinking glasses. The velvet-lined interior of the Valmont Grand Theater shimmered under the golden lights, its opulence reminding me of everything that had changed in my life. I didn’t belong in the shadows anymore. I was part of this world, the world that once felt foreign to me—the world I had to claw my way into.

Leo guided me through the throngs of people, our steps measured and deliberate as we made our way to the VIP area. It wasn’t until we were seated at a private table, the chaos of the crowd a distant murmur, that I finally allowed myself to breathe.

“I can’t believe he showed up,” I muttered, rubbing my temples as if the action would somehow erase Adrian’s presence from my mind.

Leo, ever the calm one, sipped his champagne, his eyes watching me carefully. “You handled it better than I thought you would.”

I snorted, leaning back in my seat. “There’s nothing to handle. He’s just another ghost from the past.”

“Is that how you see him?” His voice was soft, probing, like he wanted me to say more.

I didn’t. Not tonight.

“Yes,” I said simply, and that was all I was going to give him.

The waiter came over, interrupting the heavy silence between us. He took our orders, his polite smile nothing more than a distant echo of the tension in the air. As soon as he left, Leo leaned in slightly, his gaze locked onto mine with a knowing glint in his eye.

“You don’t need to explain yourself to me, Sienna,” he said quietly. “But whatever you’re running from, you don’t have to do it alone.”

I felt a wave of something—something unrecognizable—wash over me at his words. Leo was a star, a damn good one, but he wasn’t the one who had hurt me. He wasn’t the one who had broken me and then walked away without a second glance.

“That’s the problem,” I replied, my voice tight. “I never asked for help. I don’t need anyone. I never did.”

The words left my lips harder than I intended, and a flicker of something—guilt, maybe?—passed through Leo’s expression. But he didn’t push. He just nodded, taking another sip of his drink as if it was nothing.

I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or the weight of the evening, but the tension started to bleed out of me. I let my shoulders drop, exhaling deeply.

“We should enjoy the night,” I said, a new resolve settling over me. “I didn’t come here for this.”

Leo’s eyes softened, and he gave me a small smile. “That’s the spirit.”

The theater lights dimmed, signaling that the show was about to start. The crowd shifted, excitement rippling through the air as people found their seats. The rustle of programs, the shuffle of shoes against the floor—all sounds I had learned to tune out over the years of premieres, galas, and red carpets.

But tonight, for some reason, the weight of the past lingered. And no matter how hard I tried to push it away, I couldn’t ignore the pull of Adrian’s eyes on me, the unspoken history between us that still had a grip on my heart.

Leo reached over, lightly resting his hand on mine. His touch was warm, comforting in a way I didn’t expect. I looked at him, startled by the gesture, but he only smiled again, as if it was second nature to him.

“Let’s just get through this, Sienna,” he said, his voice steady. “It’s about time you enjoyed the spotlight, not just for your past, but for everything you are now.”

I nodded, the tightness in my chest easing slightly. For the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to breathe a little easier, even if just for the moment.

The lights faded completely, and the stage illuminated, bringing the curtain up on the night’s show. I didn’t look at the crowd. I didn’t look at the reporters waiting for me to slip up.

Instead, I focused on the performance unfolding before me—my escape, my reprieve from the ghosts of my past.

But even as the applause echoed through the theater, one thought gnawed at me, a constant reminder of the man who had ruined everything.

Adrian may have left me three years ago, but somehow, he was still here. Still watching. Still waiting for something he didn’t deserve.

And that, more than anything, pissed me off.

The premiere finally came to an end, the flashing cameras slowly dying down as the crowd dispersed into their smaller clusters. The glamour of the red carpet was replaced by the quieter hum of people shuffling toward the after-party, eager to celebrate.

I had managed to smile, laugh, and play my part, but beneath it all, the encounter with Adrian lingered in the back of my mind like an unwelcome shadow. I forced the thoughts away as my manager, Cara, approached me with her signature professional smile.

“Sienna!” she said, her voice bright and welcoming. “You were absolutely stunning tonight. You handled the press with grace.” She leaned in for a brief hug, her scent of floral perfume wrapping around me.

“Thanks, Cara,” I replied, my voice steady but inwardly still battling the tension. “I just need to get through the night, you know?”

“You always do.” She smiled, glancing behind me. A few of the crew members, including some of the cinematographers and producers from Whispers of the Night, came up to congratulate me.

“You were incredible out there, Sienna,” one of the cameramen, David, said with a grin. “That final scene? I’ve never seen anything like it.”

I nodded, offering a genuine smile. “It was a great team effort, David. Couldn’t have done it without all of you.” I turned to the rest of the crew as they gathered around, exchanging pleasantries, their voices gradually drowning out the lingering hum of the evening’s chaos. Their excitement, their praise—it all served as a pleasant distraction from the thoughts that kept threatening to creep into my mind.

“Don’t let it go to your head,” one of the producers teased lightly, shaking her head. “You’ve got a whole career ahead of you, miss star.”

I laughed, the sound easy, but in reality, it was all a mask. The tension still hadn’t left me—especially not after the encounter with Adrian. Still, I played along, knowing that this was part of the job. I had to keep up appearances.

As the last of the crew members filtered off into the after-party, Cara guided me away from the crowd toward a quieter corner of the venue. “Listen, I’ve got a few things to discuss with you,” she said, all business now. “First of all, there are several publication deals lined up for you. We’ve got the Whispers of the Night press release scheduled, and some shows for publicity. It’s looking like it’ll be a busy month, but we can manage it.”

I nodded, my mind shifting into work mode, grateful for the distraction. “Sounds good. I’ll review the contracts and let you know.”

“Perfect,” Cara said, flipping through a folder of papers she had pulled from her bag. “Also, there’s a talk show offer for next week—perfect timing, given the buzz from tonight’s premiere. And then, the post-production interviews, of course. We’ll need you to be available for those too.”

I felt the weight of it all settling on my shoulders—this was the life I’d chosen. It was exhausting, but it was mine. And in that moment, the overwhelming reality of it somehow made me feel more grounded. I wasn’t the woman who’d let Adrian knock me off balance anymore. I was Sienna. Independent. Focused.

But Cara wasn’t done. “Now, I know you’ve had a long night, but the rest of the crew is heading to the bar for an after-premiere drink. It’s a chance to celebrate, to unwind… Come with us. I promise you’ll have a good time.”

I hesitated, glancing toward the exit. The idea of a drink sounded tempting, but there was something in me that screamed to stay home. Away from the chaos. Away from the shadows Adrian had once cast over me.

“I appreciate the offer, but I think I’ll pass tonight,” I said, my tone polite but firm. “I need to get back to the kids.”

Cara raised an eyebrow but didn’t push further. “Alright, Sienna. If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure,” I said, offering a smile that I hoped conveyed my appreciation. “You and the others enjoy yourselves. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”

With a small nod, Cara gave me one last encouraging look and headed toward the bar, leaving me standing alone for a brief moment.

Just as I began to turn, preparing to make my way out, a voice interrupted my thoughts. That voice. Smooth, familiar, and all too clear.

“What kids?”

I froze.

I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. The cold rush of recognition flooded me as my body stiffened involuntarily.

Adrian.