Chapter 2 A Script Meant for Someone Else

Caleb stood beside the bed. His face was still cold, but his voice was full of urgency.

"I just thought of a great idea. I'll secretly learn how to make the chamomile tea you brew for me every day and then surprise you by making it for you. The contrast will be perfect. People will love it."

He was gripping my wrist so tightly that it hurt, causing the last bit of sleepiness in me to disappear.

Caleb had always been good at coming up with ideas. I had to admit that some of them were interesting, but most were nothing more than ordinary moments.

I was the one who stayed up all night choosing the background music, timing every cut, and creating the twists. I was the one who built the audiences' emotions, turning an ordinary clip into something people couldn't stop watching.

All Caleb had to do was pitch the idea and show his face while I was the one losing sleep because I had to edit the videos.

I rubbed my temples and replied, "This isn't something new. Let's not film it."

Caleb frowned and said, "Melanie, don't let your emotions affect work."

At that moment, I froze.

After four years of being a couple, I still wasn't used to him calling our life together "work".

At that moment, I wondered if that meant his hugs, his smiles, and even the way he comforted me were all part of the job.

I had no argument against that. So, I pushed myself off the bed and grabbed the camera.

The moment I started recording, Caleb changed completely.

He held the cup of tea, looked at me with gentle eyes, and said, "You've always taken good care of me. From now on, let me take care of you."

I hadn't seen that look in real life for a very long time.

When we finally finished filming, I couldn't stop yawning.

Caleb only glanced at the footage and ordered, "Edit it as soon as possible. Let's post it early." Then, he picked up the remaining cup of chamomile tea and headed for the door.

"Where are you going this late?" I asked subconsciously.

He didn't even turn around as he answered, "I'm taking it to Jessica to let her try it."

Jessica lived in the same apartment building as us, just on a different floor. It was Caleb who personally helped her choose the apartment.

"If anything happens, I can get to her right away."

There was always something happening with Jessica. It was either a broken pipe, a power outage, or a fever in the middle of the night. Sometimes, it was nothing more than a nightmare or her getting scared while watching a movie.

Sure enough, Jessica posted a new update in less than half an hour.

It was a series of photos, obviously taken from a boyfriend's point of view. She wore a loose nightgown while holding a cup of chamomile tea and smiling brightly.

The caption read, "He said he would take care of me from now on."

Only then did I realize that those words Caleb had spoken in front of the camera weren't for our video at all. Instead, they were meant to match Jessica's post.

It was his way to make everyone believe that Jessica was the girlfriend hidden behind his camera.

I felt like crying. My fingers trembled as I deleted the footage we'd just filmed.

However, Jessica's photos refused to leave my mind even after I curled myself up in bed.

Whenever Caleb took pictures of me, the angles were always awkward. The pictures would either be tainted by bad lighting, or he couldn't even focus the camera on me properly.

If I ever voiced even the slightest hint of complaint, he would grow impatient with me and say, "I'm bad at taking pictures. Why don't you hire a photographer? It won't cost much."

Yet, every photo he took of Jessica was stunning.

It figured that the camera never lies. Those who loved you would capture the most beautiful moments of you.

I barely slept that night. When I woke up the next morning, my phone was flooded with notifications.

Jessica's photos had gone viral. The trending topic had a "popular" tag beside it.

Everyone was calling them sweet and said that this was what a real couple looked like.

I scrolled numbly through the comments until another trending topic caught my eye.

"Caleb And Jessica Reportedly Engaged."

My fingers froze.

As I tapped into it, I noticed the ring on Jessica's middle finger in the photos where she was holding the cup of chamomile tea.