The opulence of the Palace of Versailles was suffocating. Gold leaf adorned every surface, and the history of kings and queens hung heavy in the air, pressing down on Julian with the weight of centuries. He stood in the Hall of Mirrors, dressed in the intricate velvet and lace of the seventeenth century. To the cameras, he was Elyas, a nobleman caught in a forbidden romance. To himself, he was a man waiting for his life to truly begin again.
Filming in France was supposed to be the jewel in the crown of the production. It was meant to be the grand finale that solidified the on-screen chemistry between himself and Selena. However, the atmosphere on set had shifted into something brittle. The news of Sean Miller's spectacular career implosion had traveled across the Atlantic, leaving a trail of shockwaves through the industry. Everyone knew someone had orchestrated that takedown, and while Julian kept his silence, he knew that Selena was watching him with newfound caution.
