Chapter 9
Chapter 9
The third weekend of the live stream took us on location.
The producers had chosen a city adjacent to the secluded mountain retreat, boasting a long and captivating winter coastline.
“We just found out today,” the producer said to the camera from the bus, “that Caspian and Daisy grew up in the same place.”
This week’s theme was to revisit the city where Caspian spent his school years, tracing the steps of
his upbringing.
Until now, no one had considered the possibility that Caspian and I had any sort of connection.
Sitting in the front, Jax’s brow furrowed slightly, his gaze darting towards me across the bus, a flicker of intrigue in his eyes.
“Not really,” Caspian said, his tone dismissive. “I was just attending school there on a temporary
basis.”
It was common knowledge that Caspian had a difficult childhood.
An abusive stepfather, a mother with a gambling addiction. These experiences had once been used as ammunition by his haters.
“I had no idea your life was like that,” Jax said with a sarcastic edge, a hint of barely suppressed mockery in his voice.
“So, tell me, what’s so great about you?” His tone was sharp, as if he was finally letting out years of pent–up resentment.
Jax had always believed that Caspian’s Formula One championship victory was solely due to meeting Vivienne’s father, a powerful team owner and motorsport investor, at nineteen.
He had drastically changed Caspian’s trajectory, giving him access to countless resources.
Now that Caspian was divorced from Vivienne, and had left her father’s company, Jax believed he was stripped of his resources.
And these resources would inevitably flow towards Jax.
Chapter 9
Silence descended on the bus. No one dared to interject.
“He managed to grow up okay,” I said calmly, propping up my chin with my hand, “that’s impressive
enough.”
Everyone starts from a different place. Why should anyone be comparing themselves?
We got off the bus and began exploring the city streets, visiting local shops and going live for the
cameras.
Our group eventually arrived at Caspian’s old school–Northwood High.
The school was built into a hillside, with the vast blue ocean visible just beyond the gates.
“You went to Northwood High too?” Jax said to me, trying to sound casual.
I’d actually told him that a long time ago, he just never paid attention.
“Yep,” I replied, simply.
He laughed, but there was a coldness to his eyes. “You and Caspian didn’t know each other, right?”
“Nope,” I replied. “There were like 15 classes in a grade, and we weren’t even in the same year.”
Caspian was walking behind Jax and me. Hearing my response, he looked up, his dark eyes locking onto mine.
“She was a year ahead of me,” Caspian suddenly spoke up, “A senior.”
This “senior” comment inexplicably annoyed Jax, his expression darkening.
He sped up, wanting to head to the next filming location, not wanting to continue this conversation.
To satisfy the viewers‘ curiosity, the producer asked Caspian, “Was your first love also a student at Northwood High?”
“Yeah,” Caspian responded.
He had somehow ended up standing right beside me, tilting his head, listening to the producer’s question, but not looking at me.
“She said she was a bit of a handful,” Caspian added softly.
