Chapter 156: A Graceful Surrender

Chapter 156: A Graceful Surrender
Barbara's POV

I sat ramrod straight in that godawful plastic chair, my bag perched neatly on my lap as I scanned the chaotic rest area on the film set. Thirty minutes I'd been waiting—thirty whole minutes. Normally, I'd be fuming, but today was different. Today, I was here to apologize, so patience was key.

My fingers drummed against my purse as I replayed Gabriel's stern words in my head: "Mom, you're going there to apologize. You gotta have the right attitude." The irony of my own son schooling me on etiquette wasn't lost on me.

Crew members hustled by like they were on a mission, shooting not-so-subtle glances and whispering just loud enough for me to catch.

"That's Mrs. Ashford, isn't it?"

"What's she doing here? Doesn't she hate Luna?"

"Maybe she's here to stir up trouble."

"Should we warn Luna?"

I kept my face a mask of composure, pretending not to hear. Let them gossip. They'd find out soon enough.

I caught myself fiddling with my pearl earring—a nervous tic I hadn't had in years. Was I actually anxious about facing a woman half my age? Ridiculous. I, Barbara Ashford, didn't get rattled by conversations. I owned them.

A sudden puff of cigarette smoke hit me, making my nose wrinkle. One of my security guys stepped forward right away, addressing a guy in jeans and a casual button-down with a lit cigarette in hand.

"Sir, no smoking in this area," my guard said firmly.

The man looked up, startled, then his eyes widened when he spotted me. He quickly stubbed out the cigarette, his face turning red.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Ashford," he stammered. "I didn't realize you were here."

I gave him a cool once-over. He looked like one of those creative types—put-together enough, but clearly more focused on ideas than ironing.

"You here to see Luna?" he asked, shifting on his feet. "She's wrapping up a production meeting. I could let her know you're waiting."

I arched an eyebrow. "And you are...?"

"Jack Wells," he said, offering a hand I politely ignored. "I'm a writer here. Luna and I collaborate on projects."

"I see." I kept it short.

"I could pass along a message if you want," he pushed, not picking up on my vibe.

"That won't be necessary," I said dismissively. This eager writer wasn't exactly my idea of a go-between.

"Luna's swamped today, but I could—"

"Not necessary," I cut in, sharper this time.

"No need for that," a clear voice interrupted from behind us. "I'm here."

I turned to see Luna Gray standing there, looking sharp in a tailored navy blazer and pencil skirt. Her expression was cautious but totally professional.

Jack muttered some excuse and backed off, leaving Luna and me to hash things out.

She approached with steady steps, flashing a polite smile that didn't quite hit her eyes. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Mrs. Ashford. We were deep in a new project discussion, and I couldn't bail early."

I stood, thrown for a second by her poise. When had she gotten so put-together? This wasn't the girl I'd pegged her for—or maybe I'd just refused to see it.

"No big deal," I replied, my tone softening without me meaning it to. "For something important, I can wait."

Luna picked up on the shift, a hint of wariness flashing in her eyes. Smart—she had every reason to be on guard, given our history.

I nodded to my security team. "Give us some space, please."

They backed off to a respectful distance. Luna watched them go before turning back to me.

"Want to sit?" she offered, gesturing to the chairs.

I nodded and settled back in, while she took the seat across from me. For a beat, I hunted for the right way to start. Small talk felt like the safest bet.

"How's the new project shaping up?" I asked.

"It's going great," Luna said succinctly, then cut to the chase with impressive directness. "Mrs. Ashford, mind if I ask what brings you here today?"

I almost smiled. No beating around the bush, no games. That was something I could respect.

I stood up, needing the movement to steady my nerves. "Luna," I said, my voice gentler than it'd ever been with her, "I've come to apologize."

Her eyes went wide, real shock hitting her face. "Apologize?" she repeated, like the word didn't compute coming from me.

"Yeah," I confirmed, feeling oddly vulnerable. "I misjudged you. I figured you were just a fling in Gabriel's life. I thought you weren't good enough for the Ashford name. And because of that, I hurt you—and I hurt my son."

Luna stayed quiet, clearly floored. I pushed on, needing to get it all out while I had the guts.

"A mom's biggest fear is watching her kid get hurt," I explained, clasping my hands to keep them steady. "But I didn't see that the real hurt was coming from me. From my meddling, my cold shoulder, my... biases."

To my own surprise, I dipped my head in a genuine bow of regret. "I'm sorry, Luna. For judging you, for interfering, for the pain I caused."

Luna jumped up and grabbed my hands, pulling me straight. "Mrs. Ashford, please don't—"

Her eyes were shiny with unshed tears, and I felt a lump in my throat I hadn't expected. Without overthinking it, I pulled her into a hug—something I'd never pictured doing.

"He loves you," I whispered close to her ear. "Deeper than any love I've ever seen."

When we stepped back, Luna wiped her eyes discreetly. "Thank you," she said, her voice thick.

"I get it now," I told her, sinking back into my chair. "You make Gabriel better. Stronger. The way he's changed since you came into his life... I was blind not to see your worth."

Luna shook her head modestly. "I'm not so sure about that."

"I am," I said firmly. "And if you ever need anything—anything at all—just ask. I'll back you up."

She nodded, still wrapping her head around this turnaround.

As I got ready to head out, I tossed in casually, "Gabriel's birthday is coming up soon."

Luna paused, then said softly, "Yeah, I know."

I smiled, pleased with that. I took her hand one last time and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Don't keep him waiting too long, okay? I'm looking forward to some good news about you two."

Luna's cheeks pinked up a bit, but she didn't argue. That was all I needed.

As I walked off the set with my security team trailing behind, I felt lighter than I had in ages. The burden of resentment and overprotectiveness was gone. In its place? A fresh start—and maybe, just maybe, a real respect for Luna Gray.