24
###24
The year after I won my Oscar, I founded a public welfare organization dedicated to prison reform and domestic violence prevention-using my influence to give back in every way I could. “Celia, are you coming home for dinner? I made sweet and sour ribs, and there’s a whole table of dishes waiting. I even invited Director Jake and the others.”
After a packed day of interviews and panels, the familiar warmth of my partner’s voice came through the phone.
I was in a new chapter of my life now-one filled with quiet joy. He was a university professor thoughtful, kind, and grounded. He never tried to overshadow me or reshape me-just stood beside me, hand in hand, as my equal.
He believed in me without conditions, supported every project I pursued, and gave me a sense of emotional safety I’d never had before. Outside, I was an award-winning actress. At home, I was simply loved.
“The event’s almost over,” I replied with a smile. “You’ve worked so hard on dinner-it all sound amazing.”
“You’ve worked even harder,” he said gently. “Just come home safe. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
When I hung up, a staff member beside me whispered, “Ms. Monroe, you’re really living the dream. Love, career-everything.”
gave a small smile. “Thank you.”
And with that, I packed up and headed home.
On the drive back, my assistant spoke up, her voice low and curious.
“Did you hear about Daniel? He’s been abroad these past years, doing low-profile charity work- helping victims of wrongful imprisonment and abused women. Some say he’s trying to atone. He was even spotted at a recent event… alone.”
She hesitated, then added, “And… apparently, he hasn’t dated anyone since you.”
I kept my gaze on the road, expression calm. “Really?” I said lightly, then shrugged. “It has nothing to do with me.”
Their choices, their lives-none of it matters anymore.
As for Delilah… I heard she’s still in prison. Her arrogance never faded, not even behind bars. Without wealth or connections to shield her, she quickly became a target. Surrounded by enemies and abandoned by her family, she lived a life even more tormented than mine ever was. After the Wren family’s bankruptcy-and news of my Oscar win-she reportedly spiraled into madness. Illness and despair consumed her. In the end, she died not from violence, but from slow, brutal isolation. A fate worse than death.
When I walked through my front door, the aroma of home-cooked food enveloped me.
There he was in the kitchen-apron on, stirring the pot. The sight of him dissolved the glitter and noise of the outside world. All that remained was peace.
I slipped off my shoes and walked over softly, wrapping my arms around him from behind.
“I’ve got some time off coming up,” I murmured. “You’ll be on summer break. Let’s go somewhere-just us. I want to see penguins in Antarctica… grizzlies in Alaska… the Northern Lights in Iceland… maybe a safari in Kenya…”
He put down the spatula and turned to kiss my forehead.
“Anywhere you want,” he said. “Let’s start tomorrow.”
“Hot pot? My favorite!”
“Director Jake’s family taught me. They’ll be here any minute.” “You’re the best.”
We laughed together in the kitchen as the night settled in.
After dinner, once our guests had left, I stood barefoot on the terrace of our mountaintop home, gazing out over the shimmering lights of Hollywood.
Starlight wrapped around me like silk. For the first time in my life, I felt weightless. Not lost-just free.
There would be no more chapters about revenge or pain.
Only rebirth.
Only freedom.
And the world-vast, wild, and beautiful-would be my stage from now on.
