Left Me to Drown for Her？I’m Done with All Three of You！Chapter 07

Left Me to Drown for Her？I’m Done with All Three of You！Chapter 07

Those three seconds sent the show straight into the trending topics.

The production deleted the preview overnight, but screen recordings were already everywhere.

For the first time, viewers saw another version of the rafting challenge they’d been sold as

romance.

In the broadcast episode, Graham, Nolan, and Reid closed around Tessa.

The shots were soft. The music was intimate.

Outside the frame, the Millstone River was carrying me away.

Viewers flooded the show’s official account and demanded the raw footage.

The production stayed quiet at first.

Then the rescue guide who’d pulled me out released a video.

It had been filmed from a distance, but it showed enough.

After I went overboard, the raft traveled downstream for almost two minutes.

Graham and Nolan kept comforting Tessa.

Reid examined her hands for injuries.

No one looked back.

The rescue guide spotted someone in the water and jumped in after me.

The internet turned on the show.

[Two minutes? They didn’t notice a whole person missing?]

[that’s not editing, that’s who they are.]

[she almost died and they still walked off with Tessa?]

Under

pressure, the production released uncut behind–the–scenes footage.

There I was, building the tent alone.

There I was again, bleeding in the rain while I covered their equipment.

Graham handed me an empty cup, then went upstairs to take care of Tessa.

All the moments cut from the broadcast assembled themselves into the truth of those twelve

days.

Viewers noticed that Graham and I wore matching bracelets.

Someone dug through old Instagram posts and found a photo from five

years

earlier.

Graham had his arms around me. The caption read:

[My first choice.]

The dating show became a punch line overnight.

Graham’s reassuring older–guy persona collapsed.

Nolan was called a hypocrite.

Reid’s supposed hidden tenderness became exactly what it was: self–congratulation reserved

for Tessa.

Tessa posted a public apology statement.

She claimed she hadn’t known Graham and I were together. The attention from all three men,

she said, had been arranged by the production.

Her last line read:

(If Mara is willing, I’d like to apologize in person.]

Nolan reposted it within minutes.

[She’s a victim too. Stop attacking her.)

Reid didn’t comment, but he liked Nolan’s post.

Graham called while I was finishing my discharge paperwork.

“I didn’t tell her to post that.”

His voice was hoarse. “Mara, I quit the show.”

“Okay.”

“That’s all you have to say?”

“Yes.

“I owe $280,000 in early–termination damages because of you.”

People crossed the hospital lobby around me.

I folded my test results. “And?”

“I’m trying to fix this.”

“Did you quit because you love me, or because there wasn’t a show left for you to stay on?”

Nothing came through the line.

His talent management agency had suspended him. Brands were demanding repayment on

their deals.

The production was cutting ties to contain the damage.

He hadn’t left for me. There was nowhere left for him to stand.

I ended the call and blocked his number.

That afternoon, Nolan and Reid came to Brooke’s apartment in Lindenport.

Nolan carried the caramel–pecan cake I used to like. Reid held a pharmacy bag.

They looked more worn than they ever had on camera.

“Mara, we came to check on you,” Nolan said.

“I’m fine.”

He managed a smile, pressing the cake box between his palms. “Don’t read what people are posting. We’ve explained that everyone panicked on the river. No one meant to leave you.

“Okay.”

That answer unsettled him.

“So when are you coming back? The showrunner said they’ll write a new contract and double

your appearance fee.”

Now I understood the visit.

The easiest reputation rehab was to put me back on camera.

One siniling statement about a misunderstanding, and they could reclaim the loyal childhood fiend and aloof rich–heir archetypes.

“I’m not going back

Reid frowned, then met my stare. “Name your terms.

“This isn’t about money.”

“Then what do you want?”

I held his gaze. “I want you to stay away from me.”

His jaw locked as Nolan stepped between us.

“Come on, Mara. We grew up together. You really gonna throw away years over one bad day?”

“I drowned. That’s one bad day to you?”

The cake box sagged in his hands.

Before closing the door, I returned both gifts.

I didn’t need concern that arrived after the cameras turned against them.

And I wouldn’t help them perform a happy ending.