Chapter 5
After that day, Caspian and I lost touch.
Until the new weekend arrived, and it was time for another “weekend couple” filming session.
This week, the producers were planning to switch us back to our original pairings, allowing Jax and Vivienne to “rekindle their flame.”
“Director,” Vivienne said, her voice laced with a hint of saccharine charm, putting on a concerned face for the show, “the audience wants Jax and me back together. They’re not going to like this
switch.”
The director hesitated for a few seconds. “But-”
“Jax,” Vivienne turned to Jax, “what do you think?”
Right in front of me, she directly asked Jax, “Who do you choose tonight?”
She’d been waiting for this moment. She relished the feeling of being chosen, especially in public. The more forbidden something was, the more she wanted validation in front of others.
Jax understood her game. He deliberately glanced at me, then leaned back in his chair with a casual shrug, acting as if it was of no concern to him.
“Is that even a question? The audience doesn’t want to see her.”
Vivienne got the answer she wanted, and a satisfied smile played on her lips as she turned to me.
“Daisy, sweetie, you don’t mind, do you? It’s just that you’ve been a housewife for too long; you’ve probably forgotten how important it is to keep the audience happy. Maybe you don’t know that the audience’s favor is all that matters. So let’s go with the flow, and not make a scene.”
“Sure,” I said, my tone crisp and unwavering.
Jax looked up at me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, as if he couldn’t believe I’d give in so easily.
They both expected me to make a scene, to have my reaction edited into a bonus clip to highlight Vivienne’s thoughtfulness and reinforce her gentle image.
But they were wrong; I wasn’t going to give them that satisfaction.
- AL.
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Chapter 5
Vivienne, flustered at my lack of reaction, fumbled over the lines she had been preparing, then awkwardly mumbled, “Good… Well, no take–backs then, okay?”
I smirked, a cold edge to my voice, “Let’s just make it the norm.”
Her smile faltered slightly, before she plastered on a fake one, smoothing her hair behind her ear. “Trying to make Jax jealous? Everyone knows you’re on this show to get him back, but he’s about to enter my room tonight.”
Just then, the producers suddenly called out, announcing that this week’s “Ex Effect” would follow the same rules as last week. It meant that I’d continue “cohabitating” with Caspian, and Jax would
still be with Vivienne.
As they were leaving, Jax, with a taunting glint in his eye, turned to Vivienne. “Aren’t you worried about her being in a room with Caspian?”
At the mention of Caspian’s name, Vivienne’s reaction was peculiar, almost dismissive. She laughed, as if it was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard, “He’s never been interested in anyone! As if she has a chance! Lock them up for a year, and he wouldn’t even look at her.”
They exchanged a knowing look, sharing a secret joke.
In front of my face, Jax deliberately took off his racing jacket and placed it over Vivienne’s shoulders.,
“Want to win me back, Daisy? You’re going to have to try harder than that.”
He was trying to get to me, to make me lash out so he could play the victim.
Jax and Vivienne were whisked away to a luxurious villa, the reward for last week’s highest heart
rate scores.
Vivienne even posted a photo of their candlelit dinner on social media, with comments overflowing with fans swooning over their “couple goals.”
I saw all this while scrolling on my phone in the production van, where the direction the vehicle was traveling was not toward the luxurious villa, but towards the outskirts of New York.
@F1Fan123: “If these two don’t improve their heart rates, they’re getting the boot, right?”
@CaspianIsGod: “The producers wouldn’t dare boot Caspian; his status is too high. They’ll probably switch him to a different partner.”
@WhatIsThisShow: “This is boring. Why would Caspian even do a show like this? He’s obviously being forced to.”
Your Fy
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Chapter 5
@ThingsAreGetting Weird: “I like the weirdness. I’ve got a feeling there’s going to be some good drama this week.”
@EatShitIfTrue: “You’re delusional! If anything happens, I’ll livestream myself doing a headstand and eating my keyboard!”
I put down my phone and asked a staff member, “Where are Caspian and I staying tonight?”
“You two had the lowest heart rates last week, so you’re getting a punishment. You’ll be staying in…” the staff member tilted his head toward an old vacation cabin. “That’s it, right there.”