Chapter 17
Rico sat motionless on the floor, staring blankly at the dim light in his living room. The memories of Maddie flashed vividly in his mind, each one a dagger twisting deeper into his heart.
He could still see the three–year–old version of her, standing at the orphanage‘ s doorway with a tattered schoolbag slung over her shoulder. She had looked so small, like a fragile porcelain doll, barely able to stay awake.
At five, she was crying silently behind a tree after being bullied. He remembered how his heart broke when he found her, vowing never to let anyone hurt her again.
At seven, she had smiled up at him with unwavering trust and said, “Rico, you‘ re the best person in the world to me.”
When she turned ten, they had posed for a photo together in their donated clothes-
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Chapter 17
her grin was brighter than the sun. That had been the first picture they ever took, captured by Mr. Walker, the head of the orphanage.
At thirteen, she had clung to his leg, sobbing uncontrollably. “Rico, why did you leave me? Did you forget about me after you left the orphanage?”
By sixteen, she was like any ordinary hteenager, happily carrying her backpack to
school. Rico had thought then that they would never be separated again.
At eighteen, when she confessed her vh feelings for him, he had been stunned, overwhelmed by conflicting emotions.
for
***
th
Rico had been thrilled by Maddie‘ s confession but had buried his feelings.
deep. At the time, he was just a struggling OT third–line actor, barely able to make ends
meet. What could he possibly offer her?
He couldn’t risk breaking his agency‘ s
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ter 17
ighter thract, which strictly forbade
est picture onships. So, when he turned her
Walker, t, it wasn’t because he didn’t care.
rejection had hurt him just as much as ad hurt her.
had clung
trollably. He had always assumed Maddie would Did you for The world was vast, but for them,
e orphan had never been anyone else.
was like Jane suggested they fake a ily carryinonship for publicity, he hadn’t d thoughtated. Their on–screen chemistry had
separated by drawn attention and fans clamored
em to become a couple. Every staged
1en she con she
n, he had ne
very fake fight and every
lion
by confliciconti
was calculated to keep his
trending.
being a rising star with ties to
thrilledbrigen Media, had sweetened the deal had burding she could help him secure a ne, he went with her agency. Signing with
barely basen could mean more roles, better uld he pidh a faster climb to the top.
isk brisk bd convinced himself it was all for
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Chapter 17
Maddie. He would build a stable career, make enough money and one day, they‘ d live quietly in a small town surrounded by mountains and rivers. He imagined a
simple life with a cat, a dog and Maddie by his side forever.
But in chasing that dream, he had ignored her feelings.
When fans attacked Maddie online, calling, her a freeloader and an embarrassment, he hadn’t stepped in to defend her. Instead, he rationalized it as part of his plan, thinking that once his contract with Jane ended, he could reveal his love for Maddie and make everything right.
He had been so confident that she would always be there. He forgot that, like him, Maddie had known the sting of abandonment. He hadn’t realized that by bringing Jane into their lives, he had created a sense of crisis in Maddie–a fear that she would be left behind again.
Now, as he sat in the empty apartment, he
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Chapter 17
wondered if his selfishness had pushed her
away for good.
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