I couldn’t take it anymore. I ran to the break room and locked myself inside.
Curled up in the comer, I hugged my knees to my chest and started pounding my forehead, like maybe I could knock the memories of Brian out of my skull for good.
That’s when I heard someone laugh.N
I looked up, and Addison was standing in the doorway, arms crossed and smug as hell.
“Kaia, I didn’t think you’d still be this pathetic even after losing your memory,” she said, smiling like she was enjoying every second. “Guess you really did love my brother. Too bad, though. That door’s closed. Oh, and I’m not actually sick. Brian’s just dramatic. He believed me without even asking questions.”
A fresh wave of pain tore through my chest. The ache grew sharper the more I thought about it.
I dug my nails into my skin, clawing at my chest until it hurt so bad I couldn’t breathe. Blood started to drip down my hands.
Maybe the drug was kicking in now, because the pain began to dull.
Completely unbothered, Addison dabbed the corner of her mouth with a tissue and smiled like nothing had happened.
The door burst open.
Brian walked in.&
His eyes went straight to the blood on Addison’s lips. He didn’t even glance at me or notice my injuries.
Brian’s face twisted.
“Kaia, what the hell did you do to Addison?” he snapped.”
Addison covered her face and started sobbing quietly. “Brian, I just asked her to help with filming, since she was slacking off, but she…”
Before she could finish, Brian stormed over and slapped me hard.
I hit the floor with a thud, my ears ringing.
His glare was cold enough to kill. “Kaia, stay in your lane. Who do you think you are, putting your hands on Addison?”
I was still reeling, trying to get my bearings, when he grabbed me by the arm and yanked me up. Then he dragged me over to serve Addison like I was a damn servant. Tea, water, whatever she wanted.
Out of nowhere, Addison dumped boiling water right into my hand.”
The pain was immediate and brutal. I gasped, trying not to scream, as blood blisters started rising across my skin.
Brian watched. Didn’t even flinch. He just stood there, ice–cold.”
“She’s sick,” he mumbled, like that explained everything. “You should try being more understanding.”
1 finally found my voice. It was shaky, but I didn’t care.
“Brian… do you really believe she’s sick?“!
His expression turned dark in an instant. “Kaia, don’t be cruel. Don’t you dare question Addison. You’re the one who always fakes being
sick.”
My chest clenched hard.
I remembered when I was sick, curled up in bed, and begging him to come. However, he went to Addison first.
By the time he showed up, I’d already recovered.
But I was the liar?
Maybe what I said hit a nerve, because he looked even angrier. He grabbed me by the wrist–by the same hand she’d just burned–and dragged me out onto the show’s set.
They had a boyfriend skill segment for ratings. It was basically a ridiculous challenge in which the men had to prove they could protect their partners.”
This one involved a crocodile.
Yeah. A literal crocodile.
I wanted no part of it. The whole thing screamed bad idea, but Addison insisted I help film.
I kept my distance from the animal, giving it a wide berth. It was tied up, but still, it was a crocodile.!!
