Chương 24

Adam walked toward Starlight. Starlight's face brightened when she saw him. Her smile showed how happy she was to find Adam there.

"I was looking for you," Adam said.

"I heard you would be here, so I came here too." Starlight smiled wider after hearing that. Adam looked at her for a second before asking, "You don't think I'm following you, do you?"

"No," Starlight replied quickly.

"Why would I think that? I like it when you come to see me. It feels good." Adam smiled. His eyes moved over the costume she was wearing.

"Wow. You look even more beautiful in your first costume." Starlight looked down at her costume before looking back at him.

"Thank you." She looked over the costume once more before meeting his eyes.

"They usually don't let me wear this one anymore," Starlight said.

"Vought only cares about PR."

"It doesn't matter what I want to wear. They only ask what the public will think, and that is how they decide everything."

"You're giving a speech today, right?" Adam asked. Starlight looked surprised.

"How did you know?"

"I've been to a lot of their events," Adam said.

"I know what they usually do at places like this, so I guessed they would put you on the stage." Starlight gave a small nod.

"This is my first time doing it. I don't know what to expect. They gave me a speech, but I still have no idea how this is supposed to go."

"Then listen to me," Adam said.

"If their speech does not feel right, say what is in your heart instead. People will admire you even more when the words are truly yours." The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Starlight kept watching him because she did not understand why he wanted her to change the speech. Adam released a deep breath.

"Starlight, I need to tell you the truth." Starlight looked at him closely. Starlight thought Adam was finally going to tell her how he felt. Adam looked straight at her.

"Annie, I want to tell you part of the truth. It isn't everything, but I promise I will tell you the rest when the time is right." Starlight listened carefully after hearing her real name. Adam remembered what had happened in the original story. Hughie had waited too long to tell Annie the truth. When she learned he had used her, the one person she trusted had hurt her badly.

'I will not do that to her,' Adam thought. He would tell Annie half of the truth now and hide the rest until the right time.

"I work for a division connected to the FBI," Adam said. Starlight stared at him in surprise. Adam lifted both hands when he saw her reaction.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No, no. I didn't mean it in a bad way," she said.

"I was just surprised. I never thought you worked with the FBI."

"Our team found a major lead," Adam said.

"I can't tell you everything about it, but I need to ask you for a favor." Starlight still looked surprised.

"What kind of favor? You can tell me."

"I need a VIP pass for the private event at Believe Expo." Her eyes widened again. Before she could think about the request further, Adam spoke again.

"Annie, I came to you because I had nowhere else to go. I don't feel good asking you for this." He continued, "I came to you only after I could not find another way. This lead is too important for me to ignore, and a lot of lives may depend on what we learn."

"Please don't think I'm using you," Adam said.

"I don't want you to believe our conversations were part of my work. They weren't. Whatever I feel for you is real, and I mean that." Adam had chosen those words on purpose. He wanted Annie to know that his feelings had nothing to do with the favor. Annie was at a point where she needed someone beside her. She needed someone she could trust while Vought kept forcing her away from the person she wanted to be. His feelings were not another part of the lie. Adam had liked Starlight long before coming to this world.

In his old life, she had been one of the characters he cared about most.

"I only came to you because I had no other choice," Adam said. Starlight shook her head.

"Don't talk like that. I never thought you were using me, and I'm happy you trusted me with the truth." She smiled at him.

"I told you because I never wanted to keep you in the dark," Adam said.

"This still isn't the whole truth. I have to hide some things for now, but I will tell you everything when the time is right."

"Because you're important to me." Starlight felt even happier inside when she heard that.

"All right," she said.

"I'll arrange that VIP pass for you." Starlight turned and started walking away. Adam raised his voice before she went too far.

"I'll be waiting for your speech. I am excited to hear what you want to say." Starlight looked back at him with a smile. She walked away laughing, and a blush appeared on her face.