The Stand-In Who Burned the Script novel Chapter 5

Vivian was the closest to the motorcycle, and with her throbbing leg, she had absolutely no time to dodge. She was brutally knocked to the pavement, utterly defenseless.

Right before she lost consciousness, her last sight was of Jonah frantically checking Amara for injuries, not once looking back to see if Vivian had survived.

She woke up in the Fairchild family estate.

Vivian opened her eyes, the intricate patterns of the ceiling coming into focus.

She tried to lift her arm, but the injured area was already tightly wrapped in bandages. A piercing pain shot through her with the slightest movement.

Perfect...

She was already half-crippled, and now her arm was nearly broken too.

Just then, the sound of soft sobbing drifted from beside the bed. Vivian turned her head, realizing that Amara and Jonah were in the room.

"Dr. Granger... it's all my fault. If you hadn't been protecting me, you wouldn't have ignored Vivian. She wouldn't have been hit by that motorcycle."

The man placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, gently comforting her.

"How could this possibly be your fault?"

"Vivian wasn't paying attention. The motorcycle came out of nowhere, and she didn't move in time. The fact that you're unhurt is a blessing. Stop blaming yourself for everything, alright?"

Amara's face was streaked with tears. She looked up, her long eyelashes fluttering delicately. "Are you really not mad at me?"

"Of course not."

Jonah offered a warm smile. "Don't cry. Your eyes will get all puffy."

The two looked entirely wrapped up in their own tragic romance, completely oblivious to the fact that Vivian was awake.

Unable to stomach it a second longer, she snapped, "If you two want to flirt, get the hell out of here. Stop polluting the air in my room!"

The sudden voice made the pair jump.

Amara instinctively shrank toward Jonah's chest before realizing what she was doing and hastily pulling away.

"Vivian, you're awake..."

Her cheeks burned bright red, her hands fidgeting nervously.

Jonah fell silent for a moment, clearly recognizing that he had crossed a line. His voice softened. "Amara was standing closest to me at the time. It was pure instinct. Vivian, are you really going to be this angry over such a minor thing?"

Closest to him. A coincidence.

Vivian wasn't surprised in the slightest that he would recycle the exact same excuses he used to comfort Amara.

She had zero interest in hearing any more of his meaningless lies. She closed her eyes and ordered coldly, "I want to rest. Get out."

"Vivian..."

"Get out."

"..."

After two seconds of heavy silence, the sound of his footsteps slowly faded away.

Vivian finally released the breath she had been holding, a profound sense of relief washing over her.

She rarely lost her temper around Jonah in the past. But her performance today was more than enough to make him reconsider his footing.