A Season Without Her

Chapter 8 The Past

Ryan stood beside the hospital bed, watching Cynthia sleep. Only then did the tightness in his chest begin to ease.

He had nearly forgotten that she had asthma. If they hadn't found her inhaler in time, the consequences would have been unthinkable. A chill ran down his spine at the thought.

When Cynthia opened her eyes, Ryan spoke first.

"About your pendant… I'm sorry. I'll replace it."

"There's no need."

She forced a faint smile, one that didn't reach her eyes.

Ryan hesitated before continuing. "Didn't you always want to see the places where I film wildlife? I can take you with me this time."

Cynthia lowered her gaze. There was no trace of excitement on her face. After a long silence, she answered softly, "Alright."

Ryan found her reaction unusual, but he did not dwell on it.

A few days later, they arrived at the filming site.

As soon as Cynthia stepped out of the vehicle, she saw Chloe adjusting her camera equipment nearby. Chloe lifted an eyebrow in surprise.

"Why did you bring her?"

"She wanted to come," Ryan replied casually.

That day, the crew was waiting to capture hyenas hunting antelope. Everyone stayed close to the vehicles while checking their equipment. Chloe, however, carried her camera forward without hesitation.

Ryan immediately reached out and stopped her. "No. My mentor told me to make sure you stay safe."

"You don't get to control me," Chloe shot back. "Go take care of your fiancée instead."

Ryan sighed and continued trying to persuade her.

Cynthia paid no attention to their argument. She stood quietly, gazing across the vast grassland stretching endlessly before her.

Now she finally understood what someone had once meant when they told her to see more of the world.

Lost in thought, she accidentally brushed against a camera stand. The lens tilted slightly.

Ryan's voice cut through the air, cold and sharp. "Didn't I tell you not to touch my equipment?"

Before she could react, he shoved her aside.

Cynthia stumbled and fell to the ground. The coarse sand scraped her palm, tearing the skin. Blood quickly surfaced.

She bit her lip, but what she felt was not pain. It was a strange numbness spreading through her chest.

At that moment, Chloe let out a small gasp.

"Ryan, I accidentally deleted the edited footage. Will you be angry?"

The surrounding crew fell silent. Everyone knew how much Ryan valued his work.

Yet he merely reached out and flicked Chloe lightly on the nose. "How could I blame you? We can edit it again. Just don't be careless next time."

Cynthia lowered her eyes to her bleeding hand. Only then did the pain begin to register.

Several days passed, but the footage Ryan wanted still hadn't appeared.

Cynthia's inhaler was nearly empty.

"Can you take me back first?" she asked quietly.

Ryan frowned. "You were the one who wanted to come. Now you want to leave. I shouldn't have brought you."

Chloe chuckled softly. "Girls can be a little dramatic, right, Cynthia?"

Ryan let out a dismissive scoff. "I'm not going to indulge someone like her."

A flicker of humiliation passed through Cynthia, but her heart no longer felt as if it were breaking.

"I'm leaving now," she said calmly.

Ryan was about to respond when sudden movement appeared within the camera frame.

A pack of hyenas was chasing an antelope across the grassland.

Ryan's eyes lit up instantly.

But Chloe had already rushed forward to capture a closer shot.

"Ryan, my footage will definitely be better than yours."

She was so focused on her camera that she failed to notice one of the hyenas catching her scent.

A second later, it charged straight toward her.