Chapter 18 Kendrick didn't miss a beat . His arm slid around my waist , firm , possessive . " You heard the lady . She's scared . Let . Her . Go . " I pressed closer to him , my voice steady now , laced with acid . " Mr. Huntman , have some respect for my fiancé . Yes , I'm a rising actress . But more than that , Mr. Kendrick and I have been engaged for a year . In Switzerland . So no , I am not that Claire you're so desperate to drag back into your cage . I am Kendall Scott . Remember that name . Burn it into your skull ." Kendrick's smirk was a quiet blade , warm for me but mocking Beckley . He didn't even speak , just tightened his arm around me and steered me away . We moved like a wall he could never break through . And Beckley ? He stayed rooted there in the hall , alone , choking on the name he'd just lost . The second the door shut and Beckley's shadow was gone , I exhaled so hard my lungs hurt . I turned straight to Kendrick . " I'm sorry , " I blurted , my voice low , guilty . " I dragged you into that without asking . I shouldn't have- " He didn't smile this time . His eyes had gone sharp , serious in a way that made my stomach knot . He stepped closer , " Don't apologize . I know Beckley . I know his type . He's not going to stop . He'll circle , push , obsess , until he gets what he wants . " I lifted my chin , meeting his gaze . " I know . Let him come . I can handle it ." My hands trembled a little , but my voice didn't . Kendrick studied me like he was peeling me open . Then he said , quiet but cutting , " I know you're hiding something . A secret deeper than whatever that man thinks he owns . But I'll say this - I'm glad you used me . Making me your fiancé in front of him ? That was the smartest move you could've made . He'll back off for a while . At least enough for you to breathe . " The way he said it , calm but certain , sent a flicker of unease through me . Did he already know ? Or was he just guessing? " Thank you ... for earlier . I mean it . You didn't have to step in , but you did . I owe you for that . At least a coffee . " His mouth curved just slightly . " Then let's grab one tomorrow . No cameras , no noise . Just us . " nodded slowly , surprised at myself . " Alright . Tomorrow . " He leaned back against the wall , finally letting the tension roll off his shoulders . " By the way , filming starts next month . You ready for it ? Once it begins , there's no turning back . " His Choice Was Her 1/3 61.9 % 9:11 Thu , Oct 16 96 I straightened , something steel - hard rising in me . " I'm ready . I'm done being a shadow . Done being trampled on . This is my second life , Kendrick . And I'm going to live it the best way I can . " His smile this time was softer , almost proud . " I know . That's why you need to cherish it more than anyone else . Don't let anyone take it from you again . " I froze , confusion slipping under my ribs . The way he said it - like he knew . Like he already saw through the name , the mask , the careful lies . I didn't press , though . I just let it sit , nodded once , and walked away . But inside , one question wouldn't leave me . How much does Kendrick really know about me ? KENDRICK'S POV I sat in my study long after she left , staring at her name printed bold on the script . Kendall Scott . I muttered it under my breath , but in my chest it burned with another name . Claire . My Claire . I could still see the confusion in her eyes when she looked at me tonight , like she was starting to wonder just how much I knew . And the truth was - everything . I knew too much . I leaned back in my chair , let my head fall against the leather , and memories came crashing like a tide . College . God , she was sunshine back then . Always glowing , always kind . Everyone wanted to be near her . And me ? I was the quiet one . Ambitious , yes , but always with my nose buried in books , scripts , film reels . Too damn serious . Too damn slow . I remember whispering to myself one night , watching her laugh across the quad , Beckley's arm already draped over her shoulders . " If I tell her now ... will she even accept my feelings ? " And my roommate back then , smirking at me , clapped my shoulder . " You're too late , Ken . You're always too late . Beckley already got her . Face it ." I never answered him . I just clenched my jaw and told myself ambition mattered more . But watching them , it gutted me . Now , years later , I sat in my study , my fists curled so tight my knuckles ached . I whispered into the quiet , voice breaking , " I let you go once . Never again . This time , Claire ... this time I'll fight . Even if I have to burn everything ." Paris came next in my head . Film school , years of grinding , endless nights editing until my fingers cramped . Women came and went , none of them lasting more than a season . I told myself I didn't need them . Love was a distraction . Work was steady . Cameras never abandoned me . Women always did . Chapter 18 2/3 63.1 % 9:11 Thu , Oct 16 96 Award shows . Red carpets . Interviews where they called me the young genius director . Billionaire by thirty . None of it mattered , not really . I thought I'd finally buried her . Until that day . I'll never forget it . That morning , headlines screaming on every screen : " Claire Huntman killed in fatal car accident . " I remember saying out loud , hoarse , " No. Not her . Not Claire . " I dropped everything . Booked a ticket under a fake name. I had to see for myself . I stood at the back of that funeral , cap pulled low . Watched as the coffin was lowered . My chest cracked open and all I could do was whisper , " Goodbye ... my first love . " Then I turned and walked away like a coward . Drowned myself in films again , working until I couldn't feel . One year later . My sister called . She was a doctor , always nagging me to visit . I brushed her off until one night I caved . She met me at the hospital doors , hugged me too tight , then said , " Come . I'll show you something you'll thank me for . " I rolled my eyes . " What now ? You're pulling me from work for what , new equipment ? " " No ," she said , dragging me down the corridor . " Something better ." We stopped at a door . She looked at me , lips twitching like she wanted to laugh . " Remember your high school crush ? Your college heartbreak ? Claire Huntman ? Beckley's wife ? " My throat closed . " Yeah . She died last year . Don't joke about that ." Her eyes gleamed . She pushed the door open and pointed . " Then who the hell is that ? " Chapter 18 3/3 64.3 % 9:11 Thu , Oct 16