Chapter 78

Zoya's POV

The faint hum of the coffee machine filled the silence as I sat cross-legged on Sebastian's plush couch, nursing a steaming mug between my hands. He was pacing the room, his brows knitted together in a way that told me his mind was racing.

"Seb, you're going to wear a hole in the carpet," I said, trying to inject some humour into the tense atmosphere.

He stopped mid-step, turning to me with a frown. "You're not worried? About Olivia?"

I hesitated, staring into the swirling steam of my coffee. "Of course, I'm worried. She's... she's been under so much pressure lately. Between Elijah, the rumours, and the show—it's a lot for anyone."

Sebastian sat down across from me, his elbows resting on his knees as he leaned forward. "That's what I mean. Everything feels off. These rumors—they're too perfect, you know? Like someone's pulling the strings to make sure the story keeps going."

I looked up at him, my grip tightening on the mug. "You think someone's doing this on purpose?"

He nodded, his expression grim. "Think about it. Every time something starts to die down, another piece of gossip pops up. And it's not random stuff, Zoya. It's calculated. Like whoever's behind, it knows exactly how to keep the public hooked."

I bit my lip, a sense of unease settling in my chest. "But who would do that? And why? Olivia doesn't deserve this. She's been nothing but kind to everyone."

Sebastian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "That's the thing. It's not about Olivia. It's about the show. The ratings are higher than ever. The press is eating up every scandal, and it's driving attention straight to the project."

My stomach churned at the implication. "Are you saying... someone from the production is behind this?"

He didn't answer right away, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I hate to say it, but... it's possible. And if that's the case, there's only one person who stands to gain the most."

"Ezra," I whispered, the name falling from my lips like a curse.

Sebastian didn't answer immediately, but his silence spoke volumes. He sat down across from me, elbows on his knees, and ran a hand down his face. "I don't want to believe it, but who else would benefit this much from all of this? The show is at the centre of every headline, and the ratings are higher than they've ever been."

I stared into my coffee, my fingers gripping the mug tightly. "Even if it is Ezra... it doesn't change anything."

Sebastian frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean?"

I met his gaze, my voice firm, despite the turmoil in my chest. "It doesn't change the fact that Olivia made her choice. She chose to stay with Elijah, to keep up appearances, to play this role in her life. And no matter how much we want to help her, we can't force her to see things differently."

Sebastian leaned back, crossing his arms. "So what? We just let her suffer in silence? Let Ezra—or whoever it is—keep pulling the strings?"

"No," I said firmly, setting my mug on the table. "We protect her by staying out of her personal life. By not giving Ezra—or anyone else—any more fuel for these rumours. The best thing we can do is finish this TV show without any drama."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly sceptical. "And you think that's enough? That staying distant will actually help her?"

I nodded, though my heart ached with the weight of my own words. "Yes. Because I'm tired, Seb. I can't keep going in circles with Olivia. One minute, it feels like she's opening up, and the next, she's retreating behind her walls again. I'm exhausted trying to figure out where I stand with her."

Sebastian's expression softened, and he reached across the table, his hand covering mine. "Zoya..."

"I care about her," I admitted, my voice breaking slightly. "But I can't keep doing this. If I keep letting myself get caught up in her world, I'm going to lose sight of why I'm here in the first place."

"To act," Sebastian said quietly, nodding in understanding.

"To act," I echoed, feeling a pang of sadness. "That's all this was ever supposed to be. A chance to prove myself, to show the world what I'm capable of. But somewhere along the way, I let myself get distracted. And I can't afford that anymore."

Sebastian sighed, leaning back into the couch. "I get it. I really do. But it's not easy, is it? Letting go."

"No," I said, shaking my head. "It's not. But if I don't, I'm going to fall apart. And Olivia... she deserves someone stronger than me right now."

He gave me a faint smile, his hand squeezing mine briefly before letting go. "You're stronger than you think, Zoya. But I get it. I'll follow your lead on this."

"Thank you," I whispered, feeling the tears prickling at the corners of my eyes.

For the first time in what felt like weeks, a sense of clarity settled over me. I couldn't control what was happening around Olivia, but I could control how I responded to it. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.