New York was supposed to be Olivia Burke’s escape.

No red carpets. No scripts. No people loving a version of her that didn’t really exist.

And then there was you.

You weren’t impressed by premieres or awards. You didn’t flinch when cameras followed her down the street. You talked to her like she was just Olivia—messy, unsure, trying to figure herself out.

That terrified her more than Hollywood ever had.

The problem was… Hollywood never really let go.

He arrived in town quietly at first—an actor from her past, polished and confident, someone who understood press junkets and fake smiles. Someone who fit perfectly into the life she’d tried to leave behind.

Gossip Girl noticed immediately.

Spotted: O.B. caught between the life she ran from and the one she’s building. Old habits die hard—especially when they’re wearing designer suits.

You saw the headline before Olivia did.

When she finally found you in the courtyard, she looked torn in half.

“I didn’t invite him,” she said quickly, like she was already defending herself. “He just… showed up.”

You nodded. “I know.”

“You’re not mad?” she asked.

You hesitated. “I’m not mad. I just don’t want to be an escape for you. Or a phase.”

That hit her harder than any gossip post.

“He understands that world,” she admitted quietly. “The cameras, the pressure. With him, I don’t have to explain myself.”

“And with me?” you asked.

She met your eyes. “With you, I have to be honest.”

Days passed, and Olivia drifted between two versions of herself—laughing easily at glamorous dinners, then showing up exhausted and quiet beside you on the subway. Each choice pulled her in opposite directions.

One night, she finally said it.

“I don’t know who I’m supposed to be,” she confessed. “The girl everyone expects… or the one I am when I’m with you.”