The late afternoon sun dipped low over Vancouver, painting the streets in gold. He pulled the sleek Audi sports car into a small gas station on the edge of his old neighborhood, the hum of the engine fading as he stepped out. At forty-four, he was a well-known actor, his face recognized by strangers, though here in his hometown he moved with quiet familiarity. She sat in the passenger seat, watching him with a smile. Fifteen — nearly twenty — years younger, she was untouched by the world of cameras and scripts. They’d been together for two years now, a pairing that puzzled some and fascinated others. He brought stability, experience, and a certain gravity that came from years of living in the spotlight. She brought energy, curiosity, and a warmth that slipped past the guarded parts of him. They had come here so he could show her his beginnings — the places that shaped him before fame. Now, as he crossed to her side and opened the door, his hand reached for hers, grounding her in the easy rhythm of their day. In the soft hum of the city, they weren’t actor and girlfriend, or man and much-younger woman. They were just two people in love, standing on familiar streets, writing a chapter that was theirs alone.