Rhianna woke up in Rylee's arms. After a night of madness, Rylee's fever had surprisingly subsided.
Heavy blackout curtains hung over the windows, making the room dark even in the daytime.
It was the first time she woke up with him still by her side.
Sometimes, Rhianna wondered why her emotions had become so barren. It was probably because of all these years of chasing and avoiding each other, with one desperately seeking and the other desperately hiding.
But in the end, their relationship wasn't what she thought it was. Rhianna felt absurd and found it hard to face the reality.
Fortunately, she had already made plans with Carlo to set off for the southwestern border soon to gather preliminary material for the movie shoot.
Rhianna was the lead actress chosen by Carlo and also his partner in the project. This time, she wanted to understand the film not just from the script and actors' perspective, but also to explore its origins to better immerse herself in the role.
She had informed Lauryn in advance for a leave, who supported her decision.
Lauryn believed Rhianna had the potential to create a successful career in this industry. She admired Rhianna for not choosing to take on more popularity-boosting gigs during her peak fame, and she even envisioned a future where Rhianna might pursue an educational path.
For the first time, Rylee woke up to an empty bed.
In fact, Rylee had woken up before Rhianna. His girl's small face was nestled against his chest, sleeping soundly. He gazed at her, his heart pounding.
If only they could have more moments like this.
But he couldn't clip her wings for a protection she didn't understand. His girl should be able to smile freely in the sunlight, while he guarded her from the shadows.
*
Early in the morning, Rhianna was already in the Jefferson family's living room, watching Damon and Carlo come downstairs, looking disheveled. Damon saw his sister's knowing smile and realized she had misunderstood.
Last night, Carlo was brimming with inspiration and had talked his ear off all night. They drank a lot but nothing inappropriate happened.
"Rhianna, let me explain…"
Before Damon could explain, the still half-asleep Carlo bumped into his chest, making Rhianna smile knowingly.
Damon shrugged, giving up on explaining. Once Carlo sobered up, they managed to catch their flight.
There were more than ten people in the group, mostly Carlo's university friends, including the assistant director and the cinematographer.
The southwestern border, where multiple countries meet, is also one of the world's largest drug production and trafficking area. Each year, numerous international joint anti-drug operations take place, with hundreds of anti-drug officers sacrificing their lives.
Carlo's script revolved around anti-drug operations. The film had two male leads. The first male lead rises from a poor boy in a drug den to a young drug lord. In a clash with the police, he inadvertently finds a young girl. The girl, 13 years younger, is five when the 18-year-old male lead finds her. He takes her in as his "daughter," and over the years, the girl develops feelings that surpass paternal love. The second male lead's father was an anti-drug officer who died in the line of duty, leading him to infiltrate drug bases as an undercover cop. He naturally meets the girl, and all three develop feelings toward each other. The girl's true identity turns out to be the second male lead's younger sister, the daughter of an anti-drug officer.
The film focused on the dangers of anti-drug operations and how young officers skillfully navigate various crises, with many grand scenes. But Rhianna was captivated by the complicated relationships and emotions.
This trip to the southwestern border was to prepare for the film. Carlo was willing to spend ten years perfecting a single project. Now that he had found the right materials, he was just waiting for the right moment to forge it.
They needed to understand the local way of life, and Carlo planned to stay for a while. They appeared to be wandering tourists but were constantly gathering material.
Somehow, Carlo found a contact and secured a house on the outskirts of M City. They stayed in a standalone farmhouse on the city's outskirts.
The combination of urban and rural areas offered a wealth of information and a quick way to understand the region.
Unexpectedly, Rhianna met Arely there. She was wearing local ethnic attire and chatting happily with an elderly local woman in dialect.
Rhianna was surprised to meet an old acquaintance in a foreign place. They walked and explored the bustling suburban market together.
"I've always wanted to see the place he protected."
This was the city where Aydin spent the most time before he sacrificed his life.
Rhianna thought of Rylee as she looked at Arely. Her decision to leave this time might seem like an escape, but she had left the divorce papers on the bedside table.
She also left a note for Rylee, finally understanding why she and Rylee weren't meant to be.
"Rylee, the reason you treated me that way was probably because you believed we had a long future ahead. But what I want and care about is only the present."
Rhianna wrote this and hoped Rylee would let her go, just as she was letting him go.
By the time it was late, Arely suggested they grab a drink since it was rare for them to meet in a foreign place.
Rhianna wore a hat and mask, not recognizing many people in this small city.
They went to a retro architectural area, a popular tourist spot in M City. During this trip, Rhianna truly experienced the local life. Lauryn had always said she was perfect in many ways but lacked a touch of human warmth.
They sat at a street-side bar, and Rhianna ordered a iced coffee. After a few sips, she felt dizzy. Just then, her phone rang.
Caller ID: Rylee.
"What's happening?" Rhianna turned to Arely.
Her head was spinning, her vision blurring.
Before Rhianna could answer the call, her vision went black. Before losing consciousness, she saw "Arely" smiling.
