Chapter 3

Memories I didn't want came flooding back.

Two years ago, I'd followed Aiden from set to set, fighting to get him a role in a major director's movie.

Then, on the day filming wrapped, Karina suddenly showed up as one of the investors. She stood beside the director and talked about how hard she'd fought to get Aiden cast.

The director stroked his beard and praised them for recognizing each other's talent from the start.

Aiden grinned. "We really are the perfect partners."

I stood in the corner, still holding the bouquet I'd bought to celebrate his last day of filming.

He never once looked my way.

Then there was last year, when Aiden failed to win Best Actor and asked me to go hiking with him.

I dropped everything at work, packed our gear and first-aid kit, and checked the weather.

On the morning we were supposed to leave, he suddenly told me there was no room in the car. I should stay home.

I stood outside my apartment with my suitcase, too stunned to speak.

Then I saw Karina's latest post.

"Perfect partners, always exploring new horizons together."

In the photo, Karina sat in the passenger seat while Aiden drove.

The sunset cast an orange glow over them.

They looked happy, like they belonged together. Aiden looked like a stranger to me.

Then there was Aiden's birthday party.

Someone asked him, "Where's Scarlett? Your girlfriend isn't coming to your birthday?"

Aiden shrugged. "She's just my manager. She doesn't know any of you that well, so she wouldn't have much to say anyway."

He said it like I didn't matter.

I stood frozen outside the private room, still holding the birthday cake I'd bought for him.

In the end, I didn't go inside.

After dinner, Aiden asked where I'd been.

I lied and said something had come up.

He didn't bother asking what.

None of those moments seemed like a big deal on their own.

But they piled up, one after another.

Until I could barely breathe under the weight of them.

When the car finally reached the hotel, I shoved open the door and stumbled out.

Karina looked at her watch.

"Scarlett, we're going to take our bags up. Leave yours at the front desk for now."

Aiden called after me, "Hurry, Scarlett. The blue flames aren't going to wait for us."

I nodded. "Okay. I'm going to get some medicine. I won't be long."

The convenience store was crowded, so it took a while to get the pills. After filling a cup with hot water and taking the medicine, I checked the time. Half an hour had passed.

I returned to the hotel and found my suitcase sitting by itself at the front desk.

Their room was empty. I knocked again and again, but no one answered.

Their car was gone too.

For a second, I wondered if I'd gotten the parking spot wrong.

I walked up and down the row, searching again. The car wasn't there.

Panic crept in.

Then my phone rang.

It was Aiden.

"Scarlett, where have you been?"

I swallowed hard. "I'm at the hotel entrance. I just bought my medicine."

He clicked his tongue impatiently.

"Why didn't you get in the car?"

My anger flared. "You didn't notice I wasn't there?"

Karina's voice came through the phone. "I thought you were asleep in the back. Aiden, we're already more than twenty miles away. If we turn back, we'll definitely miss the blue flames today."

Aiden's voice was still hoarse. "Be good, Scarlett. We can't come back now. Ask around and see if anyone from the hotel can give you a ride to the trailhead. We'll meet you there."

I stood outside the hotel as strangers streamed past me. It was already the middle of the night, and everyone heading to the volcano was traveling in groups.

The medicine hadn't kicked in yet. My head was still spinning.

This time, I asked him directly, "Aiden, it's one in the morning. Are you sure you won't come back for me?"

Aiden said nothing.

When he finally spoke, he sounded annoyed. "Scarlett, stop talking like we abandoned you. We didn't. Besides, isn't a manager's job to take care of the talent? Why can't you figure out how to get here yourself?"