Chapter 4

The production was using the largest indoor pool at the film studio.

After reviewing my contract and examining my injuries, the safety officer refused to allow filming to proceed.

"The actor has an injured right ear, which could affect his balance. His contract also explicitly prohibits underwater filming. This scene must be canceled."

In front of everyone, Garrick called Zara and immediately put the call on speakerphone.

As soon as she answered, he said, "Zara, Bridger refuses to film the drowning scene."

Zara asked only one question. "What does he have to say for himself?"

I leaned toward the phone. "The contract prohibits drowning scenes. You personally reviewed it."

"The contract can be amended."

"My body isn't an attachment to a contract."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

"You've always prided yourself on being professional. Now you can't even handle filming one extra scene? If you apologize to Kyson, I'll have Garrick remove the scene immediately."

Everyone around me waited for my answer.

I looked at the water. "Film it according to the script."

Zara let out a cold laugh. "Then don't you dare call cut halfway through."

After the call ended, the producer, Ira Sanford, handed me a consent form for voluntary participation in the scene. It stated that I was in good health, that I voluntarily agreed to perform all the underwater stunts, and that the production team would bear no responsibility for any risks.

"You have to sign before we can start."

I took the pen and added a line beneath the printed text.

[I have explicitly informed the production team that I suffer from severe deep-water phobia and that my right ear is currently injured. I do not consent to entering the deep end of the pool.]

After signing, I took a photo of the form with my phone.

Garrick immediately snatched it away. "You're not allowed to photograph production documents on set."

He deleted the photo and tossed my phone back to me.

The safety officer tried to intervene, but Ira called over security guards. "We don't need you for today's shoot. Leave."

The safety officer was escorted out of the studio.

I looked at my phone and said nothing.

The moment I'd taken the photo, it had automatically uploaded to the cloud.

The first take was filmed in the shallow end. Someone pushed me from behind. I fell into the water, but quickly caught hold of the pool's edge and stood up.

"Cut!" Garrick frowned. "Your expression looks fake. Do it again."

During the second take, I swallowed a couple of mouthfuls of water.

"You're struggling too much. Reset and shoot it again."

By the end of the third take, my clothes were completely soaked, and the pain in my ear was growing worse.

Garrick still wasn't satisfied. "There's no despair in your eyes. You're playing someone who's about to drown, not someone having fun in a swimming pool."

I leaned against the edge of the pool, gasping for breath.

Kyson sat beside the monitors in a clean bathrobe, holding the hot tea Zara had sent over for him.

"Could the water be too shallow for Bridger to get into character?" He tilted his head toward Garrick. "Maybe it'll look more realistic in the deep end."

I immediately stood up. "The consent form clearly states that I don't agree to entering the deep end."

Garrick ignored me and motioned for two production assistants to approach. They grabbed my arms from either side and dragged me toward the other end of the pool.

I wrenched one arm free. "Touch me again, and I'll hold every one of you accountable."

The production assistant hesitated.

Kyson put down his tea and walked over to me. "It's just a scene. Why threaten the crew, Bridger?"

He leaned closer and whispered so that only I could hear him, "So what if you've won those three major acting awards? Zara wants to promote me now. By the time this movie comes out, everyone will know that I'm Monroe Media's next award-winning actor."

He stepped back and extended his hand toward me in front of everyone. "Bridger, I'll go over with you. That should be all right, shouldn't it?"

I stared at him without taking his hand.

But Kyson grabbed my wrist himself and led me to the edge of the deep end.

The cameras were already rolling. Garrick raised his hand. "Everyone, get ready."

I lowered my eyes to the dark water.

The next second, Kyson leaned close to my ear. "Your role, your company, and your woman. I'm taking them all."

He shoved me hard.

My body fell backward, and the icy water engulfed me from every direction.

I struggled instinctively, but my waterlogged costume dragged me farther down. Water flooded my mouth and nose. It felt as though someone were crushing my chest with tremendous force.

The surface grew farther and farther away until all I could see was a blur of light.

I reached out, but there was nothing to grab.

Just as I was about to lose consciousness, a pair of arms suddenly locked around my waist and hauled me out of the water.

I coughed violently, my lungs burning with pain.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Zara holding me.

I instinctively clutched her collar. "Zara..."

Suddenly, laughter erupted all around us.

"The way he struggled was so over-the-top."

"He's an award-winning actor, and he can't even handle a drowning scene."

"If Zara had arrived any later, would he have pretended to pass out, too?"

Kyson walked over and linked his arm through Zara's. "Zara, your idea really worked. His expression was much more convincing this time."

My fingers slowly loosened from Zara's collar. She hadn't come to save me. She'd been there the entire time.

This deep-water scene had been her way of giving Kyson some entertainment at my expense.

Zara lowered me to the ground and crouched in front of me. "Can you see it clearly now? Without me protecting you, anyone on this set can take a shot at you."

She brushed my soaked hair away from my face, her voice almost gentle. "All you have to do is admit you were wrong, and I can make everything that happened today stop."

Kyson crouched beside her. "Bridger, I've never wanted to come between you two. I just hope you can accept that I'm part of her life."

Zara looked at me. "This is your last chance."