" I just thought he was shy, but maybe he was in love with her the whole time ? " ! " So this song is for Chloe ? This is better than the show ! The real story is so much more romantic ! " " Fake actress ( but really a CEO ) and the soulful musician who was secretly in love with her ? I ship it so hard ! " Reading the comments , I felt a strange sense of dislocation . I pulled up the song again , this time focusing on the lyrics . " My world was a downpour , soaking every landscape , until you appeared , holding an umbrella , leaving a patch of blue sky just for me . " I remembered a day during filming . An outdoor activity was cut short by a sudden thunderstorm . Everyone ran for the vans , but I'd stayed behind to rescue a terrified kitten trapped in the deluge . I was soaked to the bone . And then Leo had appeared , silently holding his umbrella over me and the kitten . I had been so preoccupied I'd barely registered it beyond a quick thank you . But he had put it in a song . My heart did something it hadn't done in a long time . It skipped . My phone rang . It was him , " Listening to my song ? " he asked , a smile in his voice . " Yes . It's beautiful . " " I'm glad you like it . " Leo , I paused . " Did you write the lyrics ? " 16-23 Chapter 2 The line was quiet for a moment . " Yeah . " " Is it ... about your own experience ? " Another silence . Just when I thought he wasn't going to answer , he said softly , " I wrote it for you ." My breath caught in my throat . IN 10:22 " Chloe , " his voice came through the phone , clear and steady . " Can I be the one who leaves a patch of permanent blue sky in your world ? " Before I could answer , he continued . " Tomorrow night . Seven p.m. The L.A. Forum . I'm playing my first concert . Just for you . I'll be waiting . He hung up . stood there , holding my phone , completely stunned . A private concert ? For an audience of one ? He was serious . The next evening , when I arrived at the L.A. Forum , the massive arena was dark and empty , except for a single spotlight illuminati- ng the center of the stage . Leo was sitting on a stool in the middle of the light , holding his guitar . He saw me and stood up , a small smile on his face . " You came . " I walked down the aisle and took a seat in the very front row . " You actually rented out the entire Forum ? " " Yeah , " he nodded . " I wanted you to be able to listen without any interruptions . " He didn't say anything else . He just began to play . The familiar opening chords of " Fireworks " echoed through the vast , empty spa- ce . With just the two of us there , his voice was even more raw , more honest than in the recording . When the last note faded , he looked at me , his eyes shining in the spotlight . " Chloe , from the first day on set , I knew you were different . You had this cool , detached exterior , like nothing could touch you . But then I'd see you risk getting soaked in a rainstorm for a stray cat . " " It felt like you lived behind this high , thick wall , keeping everyone out . But I knew , on the other side of that wall , was someone incr- edibly kind . " " I never dared to get close , because Liam was always there . I thought you loved him . So I just put everything I was feeling into my songs . " " Then I saw you on that live stream , " he laughed softly . " Taking control , owning everything . And I realized , you don't need anyone to protect you . You're your own queen " " But , " he said , his voice softening , " even a queen needs someone to sing her a song when she's tired , right ? " He set down his guitar , walked to the edge of the stage , and hopped down , closing the distance between us . " Chloe , I'm not famous like Liam , and I'm definitely not rich like you . " 10 ) 27 Chapter 2 " All I have is this guitar , and an endless supply of songs . " " From now on , I only want to write them for you . " " Will you ... give me a chance ? " He held out his hand . His palm was warm , and his eyes were filled with a nervous hope . I looked at him , at his open and honest face , and I felt that high , thick wall inside me finally begin to crack . Light streamed in . I smiled . And I placed my hand in his . 10:22 We never tried to hide our relationship . A few days later , a paparazzo snapped a photo of us having lunch , visiting an art gallery walking along the Santa Monica Pier . The pictures went viral . #ChloeAndLeo This time , the comment section was filled with nothing but joy . " YESSS ! MY SHIP HAS SAILED ! I KNEW ' FIREWORKS ' WAS FOR HER ! " " This is a real power couple . A brilliant , talented musician and a badass , genius CEO . They're perfect for each other ! " The Queen and her personal Bard ! I love this story ! " " Just get married already ! I'll bring the rice ! " I couldn't help but laugh as I scrolled through the posts . Leo wrapped his arms around me from behind , resting his chin on my shou- Ider to look at my phone . " What are they saying ? " They're telling us to get married . " His ears turned a shade of crimson I found delightful . " Well ... " he mumbled into my shoulder . " Should we ... give the people what they want ? " I turned in his arms and playfully flicked one of his hot ears . " Is that a proposal , Mr. Maxwell ? You don't even have a ring . " He looked genuinely panicked . " I'll go buy one tomorrow ! " Seeing his earnest face , my laughter bubbled up , light and free . Life was finally finding its proper rhythm . As for Liam and Ava , I heard snippets of their fate from Mr. Davies's reports . Liam , unable to pay the astronomical breach - of - contract fees , had all his assets seized . He was buried in debt . Rumor had it he was hiding out in some small town in the Midwest , working odd jobs to survive . Someone recognized him once and posted a photo online . He was unshaven , with dead eyes , a ghost of the superstar he once was . Ava had a complete mental breakdown after being blacklisted . Her mother took her from doctor to doctor , burning through all their savings . She tried to marry Ava off to some wealthy older man , but her name was now so toxic that no one would touch her . The last I heard , they had sold their house in LA and moved back to their hometown in shame . They chose their own endings . It had nothing to do with me . 17 May 10.22 Chapter 2 The old phone , the one with the original recordings , still sat in a drawer in my desk , but I had wiped it clean long ago . Its purpose- to fuel that single , decisive counterattack - had been served . Now , with the dust settled , it was just an empty piece of hardware . Leo's new album was a massive success , winning him a handful of Grammys and cementing his status as a major force in music . But he remained grounded , rarely participating in commercial events outside of his tours . He said he needed to save his time for writing my songs . And me ? After a period of intense house - cleaning in the industry , I gradually stepped back , handing the day - to - day operations of Starstream to my trusted executive team . It left me with more time to do the things I really wanted to do . Like going to the park with Leo to feed the stray cats . The sun was warm , the breeze gentle . He strummed his guitar , singing a new song he was writing for me . Lleaned against his side , watching the kittens play in the grass . This , I thought , was what winning really felt like .