▌𝘔𝘈𝘚𝘖𝘕 𝘛𝘏𝘈𝘔𝘌𝘚
❛ do you know how 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 frustrating it is? ❜ he cut her off. ❛ to have to 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 you? to pretend like i don't feel 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 when i look at you?❜
starr's breath caught in her throat.
❛ because i do...
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chapter FORTY why go this far? .
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starr lounged on the couch of her hotel suite, scrolling aimlessly on her phone as the low hum of the television filled the room. her mind was a mess of emotions she couldn't quite name—anger, betrayal, and confusion swirling together in a toxic cocktail. dylan had just stepped out to grab some coffee, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
she scrolled past another headline, this one reading: "mason thames' explosive fight with starr akai leaked: the end of hollywood's secret romance?" starr groaned, tossing her phone onto the cushion beside her. the words felt like they were mocking her.
a knock at the door startled her, and she hesitated before crossing the room. dylan stood on the other side, holding two coffee cups and wearing that same easy smile he'd perfected.
"thought you might need a pick-me-up," he said, stepping inside and handing her one of the cups.
"thanks," she muttered, taking a sip.
dylan set his cup down on the table and flopped onto the couch, glancing at the muted tv. "you okay?"
starr shrugged, her gaze fixed on the steam curling up from her drink. "i don't even know what to feel anymore."
"it's understandable," dylan said, leaning back and stretching his arms across the top of the couch. "mason's a piece of work, starr. you deserve better."
she shot him a look, her brow furrowing. "dylan, don't. i don't need you trashing him right now."
he raised his hands in mock surrender. "sorry, sorry. just saying you shouldn't let him get in your head."
starr sighed, setting her cup down on the coffee table. "he already has. and i don't even know why i'm surprised. it's not like he hasn't done this before—putting his career first, letting his team dictate everything."
dylan studied her for a moment, then reached out, his hand grazing hers. "look, you're stronger than this. you don't need mason thames or his drama. focus on you, okay?"
