Red Card to Your Heart: You Don't Deserve My Love Extra Time novel Chapter 69

They swapped out the monitors, and the readings returned to normal.

Over at Jax and Vivienne's, after a few awkward icebreaker games, their heart rates barely edged past 70. The tension and distance between them were palpable, even through the screen.

Meanwhile, with me…

Caspian's heart rate remained stubbornly low, hovering at 25.

"If it stays this low," I asked a staff member, "are we stuck in here overnight?"

Caspian heard that. He raised an eyebrow slightly but didn't show any other emotion.

He stood tall and broad-shouldered in a simple black hoodie, his eyes distant and unfocused.

The staff member just shrugged. "Consider it a failed mission. You're free to leave in an hour."

Caspian and I were the last to emerge.

@SoBoring: "Total fail! These two have absolutely zero spark!"

@NoChemistry: "Zero chemistry between them. It's so cringey!"

@GetHerOutOfHere: "Can she just leave already? I only want to see Vivienne and Jax!"

The Instagram comments were a disaster until the live stream ended.

The post-show interviews took place in several rooms.

Cameras, lights, and people were everywhere, creating the usual chaos of a reality show set.

Jax stood in a corner, watching Vivienne do her interview. His eyes kept darting towards me with a hint of something unreadable.

"Excited?" He asked me abruptly.

I thought he was going to give it to me, but he said he got it for himself so I could feel better.

Now, it was on Vivienne's wrist. It was so incredibly ironic.

"Don't be ridiculous," Vivienne was still saying on camera, playing the role of supportive friend. "I want you two to be happy more than anything."

I said nothing, coldly watching them perform for the cameras.

Jax didn't know.

Vivienne didn't know either.

The truth was, I had another, secret reason for agreeing to this reality show, one I couldn't share with anyone.

That day when I closed my eyes, it wasn't Jax I was thinking of.