From Pretend to Something Real
As the evening went on, the line between acting and truth blurred. William wasn’t just pretending to admire Hannah—he genuinely did. He wasn’t only shielding her from shame—he was seeing her, truly seeing her.
Later, outside by her car, Hannah thanked him quietly. “I know it was just an act.”
William’s reply made her breath catch. “What makes you think it was?”
He admitted he hadn’t just stepped in to play hero. Something about her composure, her quiet strength, and her humor had drawn him from the start.
And for the first time in years, Hannah believed a man when he said she was worth knowing.
