The Beard

- Thirteen-

- Two Months Later-

The pain from the breakup with Taylor still lingered, but Y/N was beginning to move on. It had been hard.

So much of her life had been intertwined with Taylor's—the late-night talks, the laughter, the quiet mornings spent together. But now, all of that felt like a distant memory. The relationship had become sour, and all Y/N could recall was the pressures of fame, The PR, Taylor cheating with Travis.

After the break up Y/N had stayed with Toni.

She needed a safe space away from Taylor and Taylor minions and Friends,away the pressure and the heartbreak.

Toni had been there for her, as always, offering a shoulder to cry on when the pain of losing Taylor seemed unbearable. But it was clear to Y/N that she couldn't keep living in limbo forever. She needed to find her own space again.

After weeks of searching, Y/N found a house in Brentwood. It wasn't extravagant, but it was hers. Her own space, her sanctuary, a place where she could heal. It had a quiet charm to it—soft neutral walls, large windows that let the sunlight pour in, and just enough room for her to breathe.

Toni helped her move in, her presence both comforting and practical. They spent the entire afternoon together, hauling boxes and furniture, making sure everything was just right. Y/N couldn't help but feel a little guilty about leaning on Toni so much, but Toni never once complained. She was there, as she always had been, for support, for guidance, and to remind Y/N that even in the darkest moments, she was never alone.

The house smelled like fresh paint and cardboard as Y/N walked around, trying to take it all in.

It was the first time in ten years that she had lived on her own. After growing up with her grandparents, Celia and John, she had spent her teenage years living with Toni. Their relationship had been one of those rare, deep connections that shaped the way Y/N viewed love. From 20 to 27, Toni had been her everything—her lover, her best friend, her safe place.

When they had broken up, Y/N had moved in with Levi Wood, her best friend, who had been a constant in her life since she was 8 years old.

Levi had been there when things with Toni ended, when Y/N's world had been turned upside down.

And then a year later Y/N met Taylor. The love they had shared felt real, even when the world around them tried to tear them apart.

They moved in together almost immediately, their first house was an apartment in New York, and after a while Taylor and Y/N decided to go back to Los Angeles where they had bought the Villa together.

The Villa that they had lived in together was a dream—full of memories, laughter, and the warmth of knowing someone had your back.

But that too had fallen apart, and now, there she was—alone for the first time in years.

"I can't believe this is real," Y/N said, sitting down on the couch and looking at the walls as if they might offer her some comfort. "After everything... I'm actually alone."

Toni, sitting across from her on the floor, glanced up from the box she was unpacking. "You're not alone, Y/N. You're just starting a new chapter. It might feel weird now, but it's going to be good for you. You've needed this. You need your own space and some alone time."

Y/N sighed. "I just... I don't know how to do this. I've never been on my own. Not like this. Not really."

Toni smiled softly, her expression gentle. "You'll figure it out and you will love it."

—————————

Later that evening, after Toni had helped her finish settling in, Y/N found herself standing in front of the mirror in her bedroom. She had always hated being alone with her thoughts, but it was different now.

There was no one to hide from, no one to pretend for. She was just Y/N—no labels, no expectations. Just her.

But as she stared at her reflection, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. It wasn't just Taylor's absence—it was the sense of belonging, the sense of family, the sense of connection and comfort that she had grown used to.

In that moment she wished more than anything to have Celia and John by her side, it was moments like those that she missed her grandparents.

It was then that she heard a soft knock at the door.

Y/N stepped out of her room and opened the door to find an older man standing in front of her.

He was tall, his silver hair neatly combed, a cane in one hand, and a warm, smile on his face. His age was evident, but his eyes held a sharpness that made him seem more ageless than he looked.

"Good evening," he said, his voice rich and welcoming "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"No, not at all," Y/N said, startled but smiling politely. "Can I help you?"

"I'm Don Adler," the man said, his eyes studying her with interest. "I live just across the street. I couldn't help but notice you earlier, when you were outside. You remind me so much of someone I met years ago and I had to stop by and talk to you."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, curious. "Really?"

Don nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "You remind me of Celia St. James. An actress I had the pleasure of knowing when she was young... she was a friend of my ex wife. Evelyn Hugo"

Y/N's heart skipped a beat.

"I—" Y/N's throat tightened, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm Celia's granddaughter. I knew Evelyn too, she was a very close friend of my grandmothers. They were roommates for the longest time, Evelyn basically helped Celia raise me."

Don's face lit up with recognition. "Well, I'll be damned," he said, stepping forward slightly. "No wonder you remind me of her. You have the same look in your eyes. The same quiet strength. She was a remarkable woman, your grandmother. A true icon."

Y/N felt a strange mixture of pride and sadness wash over her.

"Thank you," Y/N said, her voice thick with emotion. "You have no idea of how much I needed that and how thankful I am."

Don smiled warmly. "She was a force. If you're ever interested in hearing more, I'd be happy to share."

Y/N smiled and opened the door a little wider.
" Mr.Adler, would you like to come inside for a cup of coffee?"

He smiled " Of course my dear, and you may call me Don."

A/N: For those of you who have read the 7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo, just know that in this book Don Adler was married to Evelyn but he was never the sort of jerk that he was in the book, also, Celia and John never got divorced. And yeah... I hope you enjoyed it.