tle faster. That morning, as I stepped onto the balcony with a steaming cup of coffee in hand, I felt it. The city stretched before me like a ca

earsing, pouring every ounce of myself into the character. She was raw, vulnerable, and strong all at once-a refl

ant you? What if you

'd been through worse. Rebuilding myself after years of n

tale coffee and polished wood hit me as I walked into the waiting room. It was filled with othe

ung assistant calle

the narrow hallway, I felt every step echoing with the weight of my decision to be here

arp features and an intensity in his eyes that mirrored the characters he broug

I replied, my voice steady desp

rted rolling, I let everything else fade away. In that moment, I wasn't Evelyn Hart, the actress

re was a brief silence. T

We'll be in

I'd just shed a layer of doubt. For the f

aying softly in the corner. Viktor was already seated at a table, his presence commandi

nning," he said, pull

a slight blush creep up my cheek

out Viktor that was both comforting and exhilarating. He had a way of making

" he asked, leaning forwa

ted," I admitted. "I

elyn Hart. The world has been

went on, our conversation shifted to lighter topics-travel, favorite books, the quirks of

zed with a text from Viktor: "You're extra

and unsettled me. He was unlike anyone I'd ever met, and while part of me wanted to dive headfirst into whatever th

me I had gotten the part. "They were blown away, Evelyn," h

what I'd been working toward, but it also meant stepping into the

response was immediate: "Celebrate wit

g windows offered a breathtaking view of the city, and soft music played in the back

he said, clinking h

ays I hadn't with anyone else. I told him about Daniel, about

e said, his voice soft but firm. "And you'r

glimpse of something deeper beneath his polished ex

certainty. Viktor was becoming an undeniable part of my life, but I couldn't shake the feeling that he was more complex th

victories-my comeback, my rediscovery o