Minra’s breath was uneven.

  Shuun’s words still hung in the air, thick and heavy, suffocating.

  “Who are you, Minra?”

  Not casual.

  Not playful.

  Not something she could brush off.

  Because he knew.

  Maybe not everything.

  Maybe not the full story.

  But enough.

  Enough to push her toward the edge.

  And the worst part?

  He wasn’t going to stop.

  .

  Minra tried to dodge it.

  She exhaled, forced herself to relax, tried to put on an indifferent expression.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

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  Shuun’s lips twitched.

  He wasn’t buying it.

  “No?” he mused, voice low, smooth. “Then why do you keep avoiding me?”

  Minra swallowed. “I don’t.”

  Shuun took a step closer.

  Not touching. Not yet.

  But close enough to make her want to step back.

  She didn’t.

  She couldn’t.

  Because then—she’d lose.

  So instead, she forced herself to hold her ground.

  But he saw that too.

  And he leaned in just slightly, his voice dropping.

  “You knew the lines before they changed.”

  “You saw my mistakes before anyone else did.”

  “You knew exactly how to correct the acting, like it was second nature.”

  Minra’s stomach twisted.

  Damn it.

  Damn him for being so sharp.

  For noticing too much.

  For not letting go.

  She inhaled sharply, shaking her head.

  “You’re overthinking it.”

  Shuun chuckled.

  Low. Soft. Dangerous.

  Then, with no hesitation—

  He took another step forward.

  Too close.

  His presence was overwhelming.

  The heat of it, the sheer weight of his gaze.

  And when he spoke again, it wasn’t a question.

  It was a statement.

  “You’re not just a crew assistant.”

  Minra’s pulse jumped.

  .

  She had to get out of this.

  She had to lie better.

  She had to—

  Shuun’s head tilted slightly, watching her struggle.

  And then, softly—

  “What are you hiding?”

  That was it.

  The words—the calm, quiet, certain words—

  They shattered the last bit of her control.

  And before she could stop herself—

  Before she could think—

  She blurted it out.

  “I’m the writer.”

  Silence.

  The room froze.

  Minra’s own breath caught in her throat.

  She barely registered the way Shuun stilled.

  The way his gaze sharpened.

  The way his smirk faded completely.

  Because she had just—

  She had just—

  Said it.

  The secret.

  The truth.

  The one thing she wasn’t supposed to say.

  And now—

  Shuun knew.

  .

  For the first time, he was silent.

  No teasing.

  No games.

  No smirks.

  Just pure, quiet realization.

  Then—

  His eyes darkened.

  And Minra knew.

  There was no turning back now.

  .

  Chapter 11: The Moment He Let It Go