Kaia's POV

I couldn’t take it anymore. I ran to the break room and locked myself inside.

Curled up in the corner, 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.

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.”

I 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.

Then Addison suddenly tripped and fell toward it. The thing opened its jaws, ready to snap.

Brian shoved me.

I didn’t even have time to think. The crocodile lunged and clamped down on my arm, dragging me toward the water.

The pain was unreal, like someone had stabbed me straight through the heart and kept twisting the knife.

Once upon a time, Brian would’ve stood between me and the danger. Back then, he would’ve taken the hit without hesitation.

Now? He was the one who threw me in.

When he saw what had happened, his look shifted. Panic. Regret.

He grabbed my uninjured hand, trying to pull me back.

“Kaia, don’t be scared. I’ve got you. I’ll save you.”

But then Addison whimpered behind him. “Brian... my stomach hurts...”

He looked torn for half a second. Then he let go.

His eyes were sorry, but his body was already moving away from me.

“I’m sorry,” Brian whispered as he scooped Addison up and rushed off.

That was it—his promise to save me turned into a 'sorry.'

I watched his back as he disappeared. It reminded me of that night he took a bottle to the arm, protecting me from a drunk guy. He’d passed out from blood loss after making sure I wasn’t hurt, even checked every inch of me just to be sure.

And now?

He’d changed.

He’d left me to be torn apart by a crocodile.

Luckily, the crocodile was trained. It let go after that one bite. The crew rushed in and pulled me out while blood was pouring from my arm. Someone called for a medic.

They were about to get me to a hospital when Addison stepped in front of them.

Her eyes looked watery, but her tone was as fake-sweet as ever.

“Brian,” Addison said, like she was making a noble request, “I just want to finish filming this show. I don’t have much time left. Can you let the assistant keep filming me? Her wound just needs some basic first aid, right?”

Kaia's POV

The crew stared at Addison in disbelief. Clearly, they hadn’t expected her to be that outrageous.

But Brian? He didn’t even hesitate.

He answered for me as he gently patted Addison’s head, “Don’t worry. Kaia’s not that delicate. She’ll finish filming with you.”

Then Brian turned and looked at me. His eyes were red, almost like he was trying to look sorry.

“Kaia, right?”

I glanced down at my arm, still bleeding, then forced a tight smile as I nodded.

“Yes.”

'Brian, consider this repayment. You saved me once. I guess this evens the score.'

Somehow, that thought made the ache in my chest ease up a little.

Since going to the hospital wasn’t an option anymore, all I could do was settle for a makeshift bandage. I gritted my teeth through the pain, carefully sliding off my ring so I could apply the antiseptic.

Brian noticed the sweat collecting on my forehead and reached out, placing his hand in front of my face like he was about to comfort me.

“Kaia, let me do it. If it hurts, just bite my hand.”

I turned toward him, and for a split second, I saw that familiar concern flicker in his eyes, but I didn’t buy it. I shoved him back.

Then I poured the whole damn bottle of rubbing alcohol onto the wound. My hand shook violently, but I didn’t make a sound.

The sting in my hand was nothing compared to the one in my heart.

Brian stepped back, fists clenched at his sides.

Just as he turned to leave, he stopped and called over his shoulder.

“Kaia, your ring. You forgot it.”

I looked at the ring on the table. It was the one he gave me.

He’d designed it himself and made it with his own hands. Brian spent three days and nights crafting it, his fingers cut up and bandaged by the end. When he slipped it onto my finger, he swore to love me for the rest of his life.

“I don’t remember who gave it to me,” I said quietly, “so I’m guessing it doesn’t matter.”

Brian’s voice got tense, almost urgent.

“It’s delicate. It might be from your boyfriend. Maybe it means something. You might regret losing it when your memory comes back.”

I picked up the ring.

Then I tossed it straight into the trash.

Brian stood up so fast that the chair screeched against the floor, his face dark with fury.

I didn’t get it. He was the one who stopped caring.

So why was he acting like I’d crossed the line?

My phone buzzed right then.

[I heard from your mom that you’re coming back today. Send me the address, and I’ll pick you up. -Hayes]

Brian saw the name flash across my screen. His stare narrowed. I quickly locked the phone.

“Who was that?” he asked, voice low and sharp.

I raised a brow, playing dumb. “Mr. Thompson, I’m just Miss Addison's assistant. It's just some personal matter.”

His expression darkened, like thunder clouds rolling in. “Kaia, you clearly are—”

Addison jumped in at the perfect moment, cutting him off in that high-pitched, bratty voice. “Kaia, I’m so hot. Get me some water.”

She wasn’t even trying to hide it anymore, making me run around, pouring water, and wiping her sweat—just another way to humiliate me.

I bit my tongue, shoved the pain down, and started rummaging through my bag for tissues.

Instead, my fingers landed on something unexpected—two engagement invitations written by Brian himself.

Both of them stiffened the second they saw what I was holding. Before I could even open them, Addison lunged forward and snatched them out of my hands.

Reflexively, I reached after them, but she was already tossing them into the toilet.

She shot me a grin, pure venom behind it.

“You want them?” she said sweetly. “I’ll help you fish them out.”

Then she grabbed my hair and shoved me toward the toilet bowl.

I fought back, and she let out a dramatic scream, stumbling backward like I’d thrown her across the room.

Brian didn’t hesitate. He kicked me hard, sending me sprawling. Then he stepped in front of Addison like her knight in shining armor.

“Kaia, enough. They’re just two pieces of useless paper! Addison’s sick. Why are you being like this?”

I sat on the floor, stunned, trying to catch my breath.

Finally, I nod and mutter, “You’re right. Just two useless pieces of paper.”

That made him pause. He opened his mouth, maybe to explain or to lie again, but I beat him to it.

“Mr. Thompson, filming’s almost done. I’m leaving," I told him.

Brian's face darkened even more, his anger no longer restrained. “What did you say? Where do you think you’re going?”

I turned around, unwilling to look at him. “None of your business.”

I wasn’t sure why, but something about the way I said that seemed to light a fire in him. Even though he knew I’d lost my memory, seeing me pull away like that, it set him off in a way he couldn’t hide.

Kaia's POV

Brian didn’t even hesitate. He grabbed my arm and dragged me into a room.

I fought him, kicking and pulling back with everything I had.

“Brian, what the hell are you doing? Let go of me!”

But his grip just tightened. He locked down both my hands and feet like he was handling some kind of criminal.

“Kaia, don’t fight me on this,” he said, his voice low and cold. “You lost your memory, and that’s not your fault. But don’t even think about walking away. Just stay here, quietly. Once Addison makes it through her last night, I’ll come back for you, okay? By then, the meds will work, and you’ll remember everything, and you won’t want to leave.”

I shouted, “You’re out of your mind! Let me out!”

The door slammed shut behind him and locked with a hard click. I pounded on it, over and over, but it wouldn’t budge.

And then... the curtain on the wall lit up.

A projector flickered on. Addison’s face filled the screen. She was wearing this skimpy maid outfit, practically draped across Brian’s lap. Her arms were wrapped around his neck, and she was kissing him, right along the hollow of his throat.

“Brian,” she murmured sweetly. “I’ve saved myself for you. Always have. You care about me, right? Just once, let me actually feel like a woman.”

Brian appeared uncomfortable. He attempted to distance himself from her, with tension apparent in every part of his body.

“Addison, you’re my sister.”

But then her eyes filled with tears, and he froze.

That flicker of hesitation in his face?

It vanished. Pity took over.

“Just once,” he said quietly, almost like he was convincing himself. “Only this once.”

Brian grabbed a pink condom wrapper, but Addison slapped it out of his hand and tossed it to the floor.

She leaned in close, her breath brushing his ear.

“I’m dying, anyway. There’s no chance I’ll get pregnant. No barriers tonight. I want all of you.”

He didn’t respond and just kissed her back. His eyes were red, full of guilt and something twisted that looked too much like love.

On screen, Addison flashed a wicked little smile at the camera as they moved against each other, becoming increasingly desperate.

I stared, fists clenched so hard that my nails sliced into my palms. I didn’t even feel the blood.

What started as emotional betrayal had turned into something worse. Something I could never come back from.

“Brian, it hurts...” Addison moaned.

“Be good,” he whispered. “I’ll be gentle.”

That was it. I couldn’t take another second.

I ripped the projector from the wall and hurled it across the room. It shattered into pieces, but their voices still echoed in my head like some sick loop I couldn’t turn off.

I dropped to my knees, my hands gripping my chest. It ached so deeply it felt like something inside me was splintering.

Slowly, the sharp pain dulled.

Then my phone buzzed again.

More messages, more videos from Addison. All of them vivid and shameless. Addison in Brian’s arms, him whispering her name as they swirled water together in a bathtub.

“Addison, I won’t forget you. Addison...”

I pressed a hand to my chest. No more pain. Just this rising wave of nausea.

Then came a car horn outside.

“I’m here.”

No hesitation.

I smashed the window, climbed out, and jumped into Hayes’s car.

That was the last time I ever looked back at Brian.

...