#Chapter 24: The Hard Truth

Logan I swirled the last of the wine in my glass, watching the deep red liquid catch the light like spilled blood. Across from me, Emily had gone quiet again. Something about her had closed tonight. As soon as she saw the flash of a camera, she shut down. And she shut me out. I knew it was my fault. The theater had been a mistake. Not the show itself. That part had been real. I’d chosen it for her. I’d chosen the soft music and the romantic hush of the Moonview Theater because it reminded me of her. It was quiet, rich, and layered. It was something beautiful not everyone took the time to see. The rest of it, including the attention, the flashing cameras, and the whispers in the foyer, wasn’t part of the plan. Yet, I hadn’t stopped it. Now I was paying the price. I’d watched her light dim inch by inch all night. I could barely taste the food. When the last course arrived, a delicate pear tart dusted with lavender sugar,