Chapter 7

"First Bloom" was kind of like a mockumentary, with Elsie playing a girl climbing out of poverty in the mountains. It was a short project, and she'd wrapped all her solo scenes in just one day. She was a bit tired, but nothing she couldn't handle. The only annoying part? Aiden, tailing her like a lost puppy. Wherever she went, he followed — Elsie didn’t know how to subtly shoo him away. Thankfully, Olivia showed up and gave her some relief. With a grin, Olivia teased, "Something’s definitely up! That clingy boy almost followed you into the dressing room. If I hadn’t sent him off to get stuff, he might’ve tried helping you change clothes!" "You’re imagining things!" Elsie sighed, sounding helpless. "We’re just coworkers, that’s all." Olivia gave her a knowing smirk. "Oh, totally. Just coworkers." She nudged Elsie playfully. "Anyway, that film you love is being re-released. I got us two tickets. Come on, let’s go unwind a bit—you need it." Elsie took her clothes into the fitting room, responding without much energy, "Yeah, okay." But when she came out, Olivia was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Aiden was standing at the door with both tickets in hand, grinning with that signature dimple on his left cheek. "Olivia had something come up," he explained. "She said I should take you instead." Elsie thought about turning him down, but then again, the tickets were already bought, and letting them go to waste seemed dumb, so she just went with it. The movie was at 8:10, and they got there right at 8. Aiden said, "Hold up, I’ll grab the tickets." "Okay." Elsie gave a small nod and walked over to a quiet part of the hallway, checking out the film posters while she waited. Soon, her own movie would be up there, front and center. Just thinking about it gave her a little boost, helping to push away that lingering cloud named William. But right then, a sugary voice called from behind. "Elsie?" Her brow furrowed instantly. Yup, Grace. Just as she expected. "Will said it looked like you from the back, and I didn’t believe him. I guess he was right!" Grace was hanging on William’s arm, all sweet smiles, like the textbook happy couple on a night out. Elsie glanced at William's expression — cool and unbothered on the surface, but she could see he was pissed. But why? She'd been holed up at set all week and hadn't even seen him. What was he mad about? Besides… She was dressed conservatively, wearing a cap and a mask. How did he even recognize her by her back? Before she could process it all, Grace chimed in again, breaking her train of thought with a chirpy, "Aww, all alone at the movies? That’s kind of sad. Want to join us? Got something you want to see? Will picked 'Love Story'!" "Love Story"? She and William had watched that movie together like a dozen times. She thought he’d gotten sick of it. Didn't expect him to bring Grace to see it now. Elsie remembered the first time they watched it. Back then, she longed for that kind of burning, fearless love you only see in films — the kind that makes you throw caution to the wind and just go all in. So she did. She gave it her all. Just like in the movies. But movies are just movies. Reality had already slapped her in the face—she hadn’t just lost love; she’d become a fool, a moth to a flame, chasing something that was never hers. Elsie suddenly felt suffocated. She lowered her eyes, not saying a word. William, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly broke the silence. "No need, I’ll have Eric come watch it with you." "I’m good, I already…" Elsie looked up, starting to decline, completely missing the sudden twitch in Grace’s expression. Then Aiden walked over with tickets in hand. "Elsie, got the tickets. Let’s head in." The air froze—so quiet it was weird. William’s eyes darted between Elsie and Aiden, colder than ice. His voice was strained through clenched teeth. "You’re watching a romance movie with him?" Catching the hostility in his tone, Elsie laughed under her breath and didn’t bother hiding the sarcasm anymore. "Yeah. You’re here with Grace, aren’t you?" He mad she cheated during the marriage? But didn't he do the same? She didn’t bother seeing his reaction anymore and just walked into the theater with Aiden. William let out a bitter laugh, clearly fuming. Grace stood stiff, wanting to say something but thinking better of it. Just then, Eric jogged over. "Mr. Harding, you suddenly called me to watch the movie with Miss Howard. Good thing I hadn’t gone too far, I hurried ba—" Mid-sentence, he stopped dead when he caught the look William threw him. Yikes. What happened now… Elsie had just settled into her seat when she saw William and Grace walk in too. Of course. Their seats were right next to hers. William sat on her right. Maybe it was just him being there, but she suddenly felt the whole theater turn cold. The movie started. As the lights dimmed, a large hand slid into hers. She jerked, trying to pull away out of instinct, but couldn’t. Taking a deep breath, she tried to stay calm. "William, you’ve got the wrong person." But instead of letting go, his grip tightened. She tried to pull her hand back again, but he leaned in casually and said, "Keep it down. People are trying to watch the movie." A few annoyed glances shot their way. Seeing that, Elsie gave up with a sigh. "..." Seriously—this guy. Left with no choice, she let him hold her hand. She had no mind for the movie anymore. Aiden leaned closer to say something, but she missed it entirely, mumbling a half-hearted response. By the end of the film, her right hand had gone numb. As soon as the lights came back on, she felt her palm empty out—his hand was gone like nothing had ever happened. She stared down, still feeling the fading warmth in her palm. A quiet sense of loss curled around her heart, impossible to shake. No. She couldn’t let herself fall back again. She stood up, walked straight to the restroom, and splashed cold water on her face until her head cleared. Fifteen days till the divorce was final. Up till now, her whole life had revolved around William.From now on, she was going to live her own life. Two weeks—that’s all she needed to pull herself out of that emotional mess. Elsie took a deep breath. Just as she reached the elevator, she saw William standing nearby, hands in his pockets, tall and composed. The elevator had arrived, but he hadn't gotten on. Yeah, he was obviously waiting for her. Elsie didn’t think they had anything to talk about. She just walked up and calmly hit the button. William glanced out the window at Aiden, who was waiting downstairs. His eyes cooled slightly as he stepped into the elevator with her. “Tomorrow, I'll have Eric send over all the scripts from Central Entertainment. Take your pick—whether it's a primetime drama or an award-bait project.” Elsie blinked in surprise, not quite getting what he meant. William looked straight at her and added, “Tell the director you're dropping this role.” Only then did it sink in—and almost made her laugh from how ridiculous it was. “I auditioned and won this role fair and square. Why should I let it go?” So he wasn’t happy with the part he’d arranged for Grace, and now he was eyeing hers too? She held back her irritation, trying to explain calmly, “You’ve already set Grace up with a solid enough role to get her some recognition. Isn’t that enough? Do you really have to push me out too?” But clearly, they never saw eye to eye. William let out a cold laugh. “You seriously can’t see how Aiden feels about you?” Elsie didn’t get why he was suddenly dragging Aiden into this. “What does that have to do with me? I can’t stop someone from liking me.” “You really are heartless.” There was a chill in William’s eyes. His lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. “You always stay silent when someone likes you, then step aside once they fall deep—just like you did to me. Right?” Elsie’s heart skipped a beat. She zeroed in on what he just said, and her voice trembled a bit. “What do you mean—are you saying… you liked me?” But William didn't respond. He just stared straight at her, step by step closing the distance, until her back hit the elevator wall with nowhere else to go. Elsie’s heart was racing. She tried to slow her breathing, waiting for an answer. But the next second, his words came down like ice, shattering whatever fragile hopes she'd just started to feel. “If Liam could see your face right now, I bet he'd find it hilarious.” The elevator dinged open. William paused, then glanced at Aiden outside. “After all, it’s only been three years since he left, and you’ve already got someone new.” Buzz. Elsie’s mind went blank. All she could hear was the ringing in her ears. It took a while for her vision to focus again. She shoved William hard and forced back the sting in her eyes. “Everything you just said?” she said, her voice tight. “I’m giving it right back to you.” It was William who never turned her away when she liked him. And when she finally gave him her whole heart, he turned around and left like it was nothing.