I looked at myself in the mirror the next morning, crying like anything. I wish to tell him I don't love him, but how can I trust him completely?
No matter if he is a celebrity, how can I trust him with such a big age gap? The dreams can be true, but is the affection real?
I wore something casual, skipped breakfast, and came directly to the beach for the next shoot.
I felt terrible and heavy all I could think of was River
And River
And River
My mind is being unstable, my body feels low, and then Daisy came towards me asking, "What happened?"
All I could say was I slept late, that's why even though she isn't convinced, she had to accept.
The time I felt I should sit because my body felt heavy, I saw a note in front of me.
I opened it and then I saw something over there
"Eat something otherwise you might get weak, weak enough to run away again!"
It made me smile because I know this person, and then I looked at the sharp gaze turned away, acting like he didn't care.
Then, as I was about to head back to the hotel.
"Grace!"
A familiar voice stopped me,
Oh god!
Don't tell me
I turned around just to see Ethan approaching me, I couldn't stop but felt my body freeze.
He was with Mr Colton and talking.
The director came and asked me "Ms Evans you didn't tell me you were engaged to Ethan"
"I didn't think it was necessary because we ain't married right!" I would rather die than tell everyone that I'm engaged.
"Oh no honey! It's not like that someday you will be my Mrs!" He began to laugh with the director.
I didn't find anything funny, I just stared at them pretending to be smiling, and then I turned to the other side.
Found River with a tight fist on his left hand, and then I excused myself, walking out of the Situation.
Just then, I went to the restaurant and began to have brunch, trying not to think about Ethan and River.
It's clear that the tension is brewing, and if something happens, I am sure I will be the one responsible for it.
I looked out the window, looking at River and The Female Lead Lilith catching hands. I felt a pain in my chest even though they were shooting.
I wanted to look away, but his smile made me fall for him deeper. The best thing of all is that my dream came true.
I remember how the scene used to flood on YouTube or other platforms, how I wanted to meet him, and now we love each other.
I had my brunch, and everybody was having so I excused myself to the beach because I don't wanna sit and look at people eating around me, which is awkward.
I walked out of the beach as usual and then felt the breeze on my skin calming down my emotions.
Just then, I saw the river coming towards me with his casual shirt with 2 buttons down and half pants with his hand tucked in his pants.
"I see he's wasting no time," he said darkly.
I couldn't help but smile at his childish behaviour and then I folded my arms around my waist saying "You shouldn't be here,"
"Oh, I'm always here, Grace. That's the damn problem, isn't it?"
"He's just visiting. Checking in." I shrugged my shoulders and couldn't help but think his mind is so childish when he is 42 years old.
"Checking in?" he laughed bitterly.
"On his property?"
"Don't do that," I had to stop him, but he won't stop anyway.
River began to step closer. "Then what do you want me to do? Pretend it doesn't kill me to see him touch you? Smile while you play perfect fiancée to a man who doesn't even know you?"
My voice wavered "You think I want this?"
If I didn't have any fiancée, if I had known before, this could have never happened, trust me.
"I think," he growled, "You're scared. You're hiding behind the one thing you think makes you safe - obligation."
I stared at him, trembling, asking something which would put me at risk"What do you want me to do?"
He stepped closer, so close that I could feel the warmth of his skin and I wanted him to wrap around me
"I want you to admit it. That's what we had that night... wasn't a mistake. That he may have your mind-"
His hand brushed my bare finger, the one which connects the vein to my heart.
"-but I have your soul."
My breath hitched with his words, and the emotions flooded over my body.
But before I could speak, a voice echoed behind us.
"Grace."
We both turned.
Ethan stood at the top of the stone steps, watching us with unreadable eyes.
The river didn't move.
But I had to step back.
The silence between us was louder than the crashing sea.
From my side eye, I could feel his chest rise slowly, silver eyes burning into the man behind her.
He said something but I didn't give a damn because I was busy looking at River
"I said," Ethan repeated, stepping forward now, "You've had enough fresh air. Let's go!" as if he was trying to catch my attention.
I turned towards him with my chest tight, heart racing.
His hand curled around my wrist not cruel, but controlling. "You need to remember who you belong to."
I could see River's sharp eyes, and before he could react, I gently pulled my hand away, keeping my voice even.
"I belong to myself, Ethan. But I'm coming."
I could feel River's jaw clenched, but he let me go for the last.
I didn't look back as Ethan led me away, with his palm resting far too possessively on my lower back, which made me uncomfortable.
As we walked into the hotel, I heard a private dinner had been arranged by the director to "Welcome" Ethan, and by cruel coincidence, River was seated directly across from him.
And life was unfair when the only empty chair was between them.
My forehead was untouched.
My mind is in chaos.
"Tell me, Mr. Czech Meadows" Ethan said smoothly, sipping from his wine glass, "Is this your first time playing a man hopelessly in love?" I stopped eating and looked down.
River didn't flinch. He smiled slowly and dangerously.
"Oh no," he said calmly "But it is my first time watching the woman I love pretend she's happy with someone else."
The table went quiet.
My breath caught and my body began to freeze as I looked up.
Ethan's lips curled faintly. "Interesting. Because from where I stand, it seems the 'woman you love' prefers stability... loyalty. The kind of future that isn't built on fairy tales."
River leaned forward, his voice low and intimate. "And yet, she still dreams about me."
My knife slipped and I reacted quickly so that no one could notice. I could feel the stares and people assuming stories, but as far as I could think, it's definitely not me.
"Oh, darling," Ethan said, wrapping his hand around my wine glass which made me shiver.
"Tell me... how's the script going? Or are you too distracted playing muse to our dear Mr. Method Actor?"
River smirked. "I don't need her to play muse. I just need her to remember."
I stood up abruptly because I was done with my dinner, so I made an excuse to walk on the beach.
"I need air." I walked out and placed the empty plate in the dustbin. Not looking back and trying to calm my heartbeat.