A Season Without Her

Chapter 2 The Decision

A low laugh drifted from the other end of the phone.

"Have you thought it through?"

"Yes."

Cynthia's voice remained steady. "I've made up my mind."

"Then I'll come pick you up in two weeks."

After the call ended, she walked back to the hospital room.

The moment she reached the door, she saw Chloe reluctantly holding out a bowl of porridge to Ryan.

Ryan gave a helpless sigh. "I'm injured. How am I supposed to eat this?"

"Then ask your fiancée to feed you. Why should I be the one doing it?"

Ryan let out another sigh. "Chloe, you know we don't really have a choice."

"That's enough. I don't want to hear it."

Chloe set the porridge aside and turned toward the door. As she walked past Cynthia, her gaze lingered for a brief second before she gave a cold snort.

"We're just former classmates now. Nothing more."

Then she left. Silence settled over the room.

After standing there for a while, Cynthia finally spoke.

"Ryan… why is my name still missing from the acknowledgments in your documentary?"

She forced herself to remain calm, though her voice trembled.

"The narration Chloe recorded was written by me. You've been creating for years. Don't I deserve to have my name appear at least once?"

Ryan softened his expression and spoke in the coaxing tone he always used.

"I know. That's why I'll credit you on my next project."

He paused before adding, "Chloe is still a student. She needs experience and opportunities. Let her have this one."

Cynthia gave a faint smile, but her eyes were empty.

"You said the same thing back when it was about the graduate recommendation. You said her family circumstances were difficult and that she needed it more. So, I stepped aside."

She looked at him quietly.

"Why am I always the one who has to give way?"

Ryan fell silent. After a long pause, he finally answered, "Because you've liked me for nine years."

The words struck without hesitation.

"Is that reason enough?" she asked.

Cynthia felt as though she had been stripped bare in the middle of a crowded street. Humiliation washed over her, leaving her heart hollow and aching.

He had always known.

He had simply chosen not to respond.

The one who is loved never fears losing.

As he saw how pale she had become, Ryan's tone softened again.

"We're getting married next month. What else could you possibly be dissatisfied with?"

"I don't want to marry you anymore," she said calmly. "I don't like you anymore."

Ryan studied her for a moment, then let out a quiet laugh.

"Then what do you want?"

"I want to prove I'm the original creator. Your works were built on my contributions, not Chloe's."

Her expression hardened as she unlocked her tablet and prepared to upload the files.

Before she could act, Ryan reached out and pressed his hand over hers, stopping her.

"You don't want to do that."

He unlocked his phone and turned the screen toward her.

The intimate videos they had filmed together filled the display.

Cynthia felt a wave of cold wash over her, as if ice water had been poured over her head.

Her voice shook. "What are you trying to do?"

"Let's see which spreads faster," Ryan replied evenly. "Your upload, or your private videos."

He reclined against the hospital bed, his eyes dark and emotionless.

"If I were you, I'd learn to make smarter choices."

A surge of sorrow rose in her chest, followed by crushing helplessness.

"…Alright. I'll give up."

"That's not enough," Ryan said, narrowing his eyes.

"You'll delete every manuscript. Leave nothing behind."

Cynthia stiffened. She had never imagined he would go this far for Chloe.

With no other option, she deleted the original manuscripts in front of him and replaced Chloe's name in the revised drafts.

Only then did Ryan smile in satisfaction. "That's better."

A few days later, Cynthia saw a message in the alumni group chat. Her private videos had been leaked.

As filthy comments flooded the screen, she felt as though the blood in her veins had turned to ice.

Ryan had already been discharged and returned to his studio.

Without hesitation, she rushed there.

When she reached the door, she instinctively glanced through the narrow gap before knocking.

The sight inside made her freeze. Chloe was crying in Ryan's arms.