Chapter 6

He glanced at the caller ID, his expression hesitant, but he answered eventually.

"Liam, my wrist really hurts, I might have sprained it when I fell that day… Will it affect next month's outdoor shoot? Can you come see me?" Harper's voice, intentionally fragile, drifted from the earpiece.

Liam immediately looked anxious, then glanced at me, torn.

"Go ahead, I'll be fine," I offered, letting him off the hook.

He looked relieved, and after hanging up, he was full of apologies. "I'm sorry, I'll be back as soon as I can. Harper, she… she gets emotional, I'm worried it might affect her work…"

I softly hummed in response, knowing full well he likely wouldn't be back anytime soon.

It wasn't the first time he'd abandoned me for Harper.

Last year on my birthday, we'd planned to go to the mountains to shoot the stars, but he left me alone in the countryside because Harper called saying she'd forgotten her keys. It even started raining heavily that day, and I almost had an accident due to the slippery mountain road.

As I was reminiscing, a "nurse" entered, pushing a tray. Seeing the room empty, she frowned. "Where's your family? No one to stay with you? Don't they know you need to be observed after a car accident?"

I shook my head. "I don't have family."

The "nurse" looked surprised. "Then… the gentleman who was here earlier, watching over you, wasn't your boyfriend?"

"We broke up a long time ago."

She was speechless for a moment. Just then, my phone rang, and she naturally picked it up for me.

As soon as she answered, Mr. Davies's furious roar came through the phone. "Chloe, find a time to clear out your personal belongings! Your hand is in that state, can you even press the shutter anymore? The studio doesn't keep idle hands; you're fired!"

The call ended, making the atmosphere in the hospital room even more awkward.

My heart sank, my voice hoarse. "My hand… I really can't shoot anymore?"

The "nurse," however, suddenly lit up, quickly stepping closer. "Who said that! Your injury is an ulnar fracture with ligament sprain, but with good rehabilitation, you can absolutely recover your shooting function!" She paused, her voice becoming excited. "Chloe, if they don't want you, I do! Come join my team!"