Left Me to Drown for Her？I’m Done with All Three of You！Chapter 02

Left Me to Drown for Her？I’m Done with All Three of You！Chapter 02

On the fifth day of filming, the production scheduled the first match-up date.

Each man had to give his rose to the woman he wanted to invite. Once chosen, she couldn’t refuse.

Nolan offered the first rose.

He stopped in front of Tessa, smiled, and ruffled her hair. “I’ve been there since we were kids. Might as well keep it going somewhere new.”

Reid gave her the second.

No speech. He placed the flower across her knees and stepped back.

When Graham’s turn came, his attention landed on me for one second.

Then he crossed the room to Tessa.

“I wrote your name on day one. Can’t quit halfway through now.”

The cast lodge erupted.

Holding all three roses, Tessa glanced at me as if she had no idea what to do. “What about Mara?”

The host rushed to smooth it over.

“Anyone who isn’t selected gets free time. That’s a win too.”

The camera swung my way. I lifted one corner of my mouth.

“Sounds great.”

There were supposed to be three separate dates, but Tessa couldn’t choose between them. Production combined the plans into a four-person group date.

Me? I stayed behind to clean the kitchen.

Rain slammed into the lodge by late afternoon.

A production assistant texted that some cameras and stands had been left in the yard. Could I cover them until the crew got back?

I ran outside with a tarp.

The moment I secured it over the equipment, a gust tore one of the stands loose.

The metal edge raked my calf.

Blood ran down my ankle and into my sandal.

I had just started toward the first-aid kit when the gate opened.

All four of them raced in through the rain.

Graham held the umbrella, most of it tilted over Tessa. Nolan stretched his jacket above her head while Reid used his soaked shirt to block the wind.

She was still a little wet. Fine drops clung to her lashes.

Graham pulled her toward the door. “Hot shower. Now. Don’t get sick.”

Passing me, he caught a glimpse of my skin. “Why are you standing out here?”

I glanced at the blood streaking my leg.

Before I could explain, Tessa sneezed.

Graham spun back and pointed toward the living room. “Turn off the AC, and get her a towel before she starts shivering.”

Everyone followed her inside.

Using the wall for balance, I made it to the storage room alone.

The first-aid kit sat on the highest shelf.

I rose onto my toes to reach it. The movement pulled the cut open. Pain flashed white behind my eyes, and the room went dark at the edges.

A field producer finally noticed. “Mara, you’re bleeding.”

The voice brought Graham to the doorway. His expression shifted.

“How’d you get hurt?”

“One of the equipment stands caught me.”

He started forward, but a cry came from the stairs.

Tessa must have slipped.

He was already turning toward Tessa before he finished saying, “Let me see.”

While a crew member cleaned the cut, she asked, “Should I get Graham? You two are close, aren’t you?”

Before filming, the production had ordered us to hide our relationship.

On camera, Graham and I were casual acquaintances who had met a few times.

“No. Don’t bother him.”

That night, Tessa developed a low fever.

Graham made hot lemon-ginger tea. Nolan stayed beside her bed, and Reid drove into Cedarfield for medicine.

I crossed the living room with gauze taped over my calf.

“Mara,” Graham called.

He held out a cup of warm water and lowered his voice. “I didn’t get a chance to check on you today. Don’t be mad.”

“How bad is the cut?”

“Not bad.”

He exhaled, shoulders easing. “I knew you could take care of yourself.”

A cough came from upstairs.

Graham set the cup on the table and left.

I stared at the cup he’d left behind.

The rim was dry. No steam rose from it.

He hadn’t even noticed that the cup he’d handed me was empty.