Affection Score: Absolute Zero

She reached for me, eyes red. "Don't go. Can we just talk?"Before, I probably would've given in.But now all I could hear was that line from the chat history—[I'll break his arms and legs, dump him in a psych ward, and lock him up forever!]I stepped back, avoiding her hand."It's not your fault." My voice came out strangely calm. "I'm just tired.""Tired...?" Her lashes shook slightly, like she couldn't understand the word. "You don't love me anymore?"Under the streetlight, broken light spilled across her face.Her acting was flawless.A comment drifted past—[Honestly... maybe Heidi wasn't completely faking it these past few years. This actually hurts.]That snapped something clear in my head.I looked straight at her. "Heidi, in these six years... was there even one moment when you were actually happy?"Her pupils tightened.She didn't answer.But the comments instantly blew up—[Wait, does he know?!][Oh crap. Major drama incoming.][Heidi, why are you just sta

[Rowan did it? No shot. He's been at the hotel the whole time.][The timing makes zero sense. When would he even set up a kidnapping?][Has Heidi completely lost it?]"Let go!" Pain shot through my wrist. "I haven't even seen Andy! I've been at the—""I really underestimated you." Her eyes burned. "Acting all heartbroken, then turning around and kidnapping Andy? You're disgusting.""I didn't." I clenched my jaw.I didn't know where she got the strength, but she shoved me onto the bed and leaned over me."I'm giving you one last chance. Where's Andy? What did you do to him?"Her breath hit my face, sharp with barely controlled rage.In six years, I'd never seen this side of Heidi.The comments split instantly—[Heidi's scary as hell...][If Rowan really kidnapped Andy, then he deserves this.][Look closer. Rowan didn't even have time to do it.][What if this is all a misunderstanding?]"I said I don't know." I stared at her. "Have I ever lied to you in the last six years?

When I woke up in the ICU, the steady beep of machines filled the room.The comments drifting past were sparse now, like a phone dying at one percent.[He's awake!!!][It's been about a day. I seriously thought he died.][Does Heidi know?][No. Andy's supposedly traumatized, so she's been glued to his side the whole time.]I moved my eyes and saw my wrist buried under layers of bandages.An oxygen mask sat over my face. Every breath tasted like blood."You're awake." The nurse checked the monitors, calm as ever. "You're lucky. Lost over fifteen hundred milliliters of blood and still pulled through."She dabbed my lips with a cotton swab. "A woman claiming to be your old classmate is waiting outside. Says her name's Grace. Want to see her?"Grace Kohler.The female lead.Heidi's little partner-in-crime from the chat logs.The comments instantly lit up again—[Why is Grace here?][Yeah, no way this is a sympathy visit.][Is she here to shut him up?]I blinked once.The

"Six years ago, when we first got together, I cut my finger slicing fruit. You got so freaked out you dragged me to the ER that night for a tetanus shot. You told me, 'Rowan, I'll never let anyone hurt you. Not even me.'"I looked at her hands. "Guess promises expire faster than I thought."Heidi stepped back like I'd hit her.Her lips parted, but no words came out.The comments kept flooding my vision.[She's finally feeling it.][Still not enough.][Make her beg harder.]Right then, the hospital room door slammed open.Andy rushed in, pale-faced, eyes red.He didn't even glance at me. He grabbed Heidi and pulled her into his arms."Heidi! I finally found you! The nurse said you were here..."He looked up, a tear sliding down his face at the perfect moment."Did you come see Mr. Rayner? I'm sorry. This is all my fault... If I hadn't been kidnapped, you wouldn't have misunderstood him..."Then he turned to me."Mr. Rayner, I'm sorry. I didn't know Heidi would treat you l

Gifts flooded the screen.Some people were posting crying emojis in the comments. Some were raging. Others had already gone full FBI mode digging through Heidi and Andy's history.Then the hospital room door slammed open.Heidi rushed in, pale-faced and furious."Rowan Rayner! Do you have any idea what you're doing?!"She lunged for my phone.I turned away before she could grab it and looked at the camera."Look, she's here. Heidi, wanna say something to the audience? Maybe explain why you were kissing another guy while I was bleeding out?"Heidi froze.She stared at the screen while the comments flew by.[Heidi, get out here and apologize!][Trash woman, go to hell!][Andy's the side piece!][Rowan's actually making me cry]She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.For the first time, I saw actual panic on her face.Not the fake kind. Not one of her carefully rehearsed performances.Real panic.The kind people get when the perfect little world they built starts cra