Chapter 10

In the blink of an eye, it'd been three years since Declan and I got married. One evening, after a moment of shared intimacy, he held me close, his voice a soft murmur against my hair. "Tell me, Julie, do you still wish to dance?" The question caught me off guard. The answer was a resounding yes. Dance had been a major part of my life and had long since become a part of me. Even in my dreams, I would see myself standing on a stage, spinning beneath the lights. But… Declan seemed to read my hesitation. "Julie, you're far braver than you know. After everything that happened, you were the victim. You were never the one at fault. The shame isn't yours to carry." The conviction and gentleness in his gaze gave me immense courage. Finally, I pushed through the last of my fears and nodded. … Three months later, I put on my ballet attire and stood on stage once more. The internet had long moved on. The scandals from three years ago were long forgotten. Now, when I looked out int