He waved me over . " Hey . " I slid into the seat across from him , trying to sound casual . " Sorry I made you He leaned in , eyes holding mine . " You're worth waiting for . " wait . " 96 I blinked . Heat shot up my face , and he chuckled like he knew he'd gone too smooth . " Okay , maybe that was corny . But it's still true ." I laughed softly , staring at the menu to hide my blush . We ordered coffee , started with small talk about the film shoot , about life . He cracked dry jokes , and I surprised myself by laughing . For a moment , I almost forgot everything . I felt lighter . Safe . And then the bell above the door chimed . My hands froze on the mug . I didn't even have to look . I felt it . The air shifted . And when I turned , my face turned cold . Beckley . He looked wrecked . Eyes wild , face pale , like he hadn't slept in days . And the second he saw me , his whole body locked . " Claire ," he breathed , already moving . My fingers curled tight around the cup . I forced my voice calm . " You've mistaken me again , Mr. Huntman . " He stopped right at the edge of our table . " Stop this . Don't play with me . Look at me . I know who you are . The mole . The birthmark . You can't erase that . You're my wife ." Kendrick leaned forward , voice sharp . " She's here with me . Watch your tone . " Beckley cut him a glare . " This has nothing to do with you , Savatier . She's mine . My wife . Mine . " My stomach twisted but I held my head high . " I'm not your anything . You have a wife already . A son . Why don't you go back to them ? Or are you so desperate you need to ruin my coffee date with my fiancé too ? " His face cracked . His hand shot out , grabbing my wrist hard across the table . " I lost you once . I won't again ." Pain burned into my skin . My chest spiked with panic , but my voice stayed cold. " Let go of me . " Kendrick's chair scraped back loud . In a blink , he yanked Beckley off me , grip like iron . " Touch her again ," he said low , dangerous , " and I'll break you . Don't test me . " The whole café went silent . People were staring , phones out , snapping photos . Chapter 20 2/3 70.2 % 9:12 Thu , Oct 16 96 I stood , breath shaking , but I forced my chin up . My eyes cut into Beckley's . " Listen carefully . Even if I died and came back , I would never choose you . You disgust me now . " He froze , color draining like I'd gutted him . Then , with a sharp breath , he stumbled back and stormed out , but his eyes burned with a promise . This wasn't over . Kendrick sat back down slowly , fists still tight . His eyes softened as he looked at me . " You okay ? " I swallowed , straightening . " Yeah . I told you . I'm not scared of him anymore . " Something flickered in his expression , almost a smile , but deeper . Fierce . " Good . Because I'm here for you . Always ." The words stopped me . My stomach flipped . " You ... knew ? " My voice cracked , and I hated it . His eyes didn't leave mine . " Knew what ? Whatever I know , it's not my right to say it out loud . Just act like I'm your protector , not just your director . Whatever your secret is , it stays safe with me ." My throat tightened . I couldn't hold back the smile this time . " Thank you ," I whispered . He only nodded , but I swear I saw his chest rise like he'd just won something bigger than a fight . FRESCA'S POV I am fucking boiling . Judas comes in with that stupid calm face like he hasn't ruined my whole night , and I snap before he can breathe . " Where the hell are the posts ? Where the damn screenshots ? Why is everyone deleting everything ? " I hiss , pacing the living room . My nails dig into my palm and it helps , just a little . Judas raises his hands like a lovesick saint , " I already paid people , Fress . I paid them all . I got trolls , fake accounts , I paid the men to push the clips . We planted things on forums and blogs . They posted , and then bam , taken down or banned . Somebody's cleaning after us fast . Somebody hates you more than they hate me , and that is saying something . " I laugh , but it's sharp and ugly . " Cleaning ? Who the hell is cleaning after us ? Who has that kind of reach ? That witch is spreading like a virus and the internet's eating her like she's the only story that matters . " " They do not deserve you getting hurt , " he says , voice low and urgent . " I cannot stand it . If anyone dares touch you , I will- " He stops himself . Then he smiles , ridiculous and unreadable . " I will make them regret it for the rest of their lives . I promise you , Fress . I Chapter 20 . 2/3 70.2 % 9:12 Thu , Oct 16 live for this . I live for you . " 96 " Enough with your promises , idiot ! " Then I called Beckley . " Where are you ? Come back now . Bennett's in the hospital! " " I'm not a hospital . " Beckley hung up. " See ? See ? He's with her a hundred percent . He still thinks I'm fragile . He thinks that makes me easier to own . Well guess what ? I am not fragile and I am not going to sit here like some background actress while she steals everything ." Judas pads closer , the kind of closeness that made my skin crawl when he first started doing it and that now , for some reason , I let . " You are not fragile to me . You are the only thing that is sharp and whole in this world . I hate that he sees you any other way . I hate that anyone looks at you and does not bow . I will make them bow . " " You promised a lot already , " I cut him off , teeth bared . " Your paid trolls got banned like ants hit by a boot . The posts vanish the second we push them . Someone is protecting her . Or someone is burying our stuff . " I laugh again , and it sounds like the sound of someone breaking . " Either way , I am done playing dumb . I am going to Europe . I will find her . I will show her what happens when you steal my man . " I call the nanny into the nursery like I'm signing a death warrant . " Watch Bennett . Don't let him out of your sight . If anything happens , call Beckley , call me , call Judas . Do you hear me ? " The nanny nods , scared and dutiful , and I toss a silk scarf around my neck like armor . I'm already packing a dozen dresses , three pairs of heels that will induce fear in anyone who looks at them , and my patience . This is war . I barged into Beckley's suite like I owned the damn place . My heels clicked on the marble and Beckley spun around , eyes black , voice like a whip . " What the hell are you doing here ? " I tilted my chin up , like nothing could touch me . " Relax . Bennett's fine . I'm just meeting a friend . Judas is with me . And ... I heard there's some actress here who looks exactly like Claire . " His face went cold . His jaw clenched so hard I swear I heard it crack . " Stay the hell away from her . " My blood boiled . " She's dead , Beckley ! Dead ! Don't you remember ? Your wife is rotting somewhere . She cheated on you , she tried to kill me before , she was a snake , a whore " The slap came out of nowhere . Chapter 20