Chapter 4

During lunch break, no matter how hard I tried, sleep just wouldn't come. I ended up stepping outside to get some fresh air.

The countryside was so peaceful, with green fields stretching into the distance and the air crisp and clean.

I drew in a deep breath and instantly felt my whole body relax.

Just then, a female voice rang out from behind, saying, "Anna, you just won't give up, huh? Still shamelessly chasing after Henry."

Mia walked over, face cold and indifferent.

She sneered, "He made sure I got the Best Actress award you wanted so badly. Doesn't that show you where you stand with him?"

I nodded and said, "It's crystal clear. That's why I chose to break up with him."

Mia was caught off guard by my bluntness, freezing for a moment.

She then snapped, "What game are you playing now? You'd really give up on Henry? I don't buy it."

"Believe it or not, whatever," I said, not bothering to argue.

I didn't want to waste another second on her, so I turned to leave.

But Mia suddenly grabbed my hand, refusing to let me go. The next thing I knew, her foot slipped—and before I could react, we were both tumbling straight into the pond.

A tall, athletic figure dashed over, moving quicker than anyone else—it was Henry.

"Henry! Save me, please!" Mia yelled, her voice shaking with fear.

Henry shot me a look, then—without hesitation—dove right into the water and made a beeline for Mia.

By the time he'd dragged Mia onto dry land and turned around, he realized I'd already swum to the shore by myself.

"Weren't you always scared of water?" Henry asked, surprise written all over his face.

When I was little, I almost drowned, and it left me with a serious fear of water.

Just touching the water would make me freeze up, my breath shallow, and I'd sink right away.

Henry knew full well how I was with water, yet he still dove straight for Mia. Not that it mattered—I didn't need him anymore.

"I've gotten over it," I said, sounding totally unfazed.

During Thorne's shoot, I had an underwater scene. To do it myself, I faced my fear and learned to swim.

Henry's eyes widened in rare surprise. He explained, "Mia was closer, so I saved her first. Try not to hold it against me."

When people were put on the spot, that was when others saw who they really cared about.

Henry was so far gone for Mia that there wasn't even room for anyone else in his heart.

I looked up at him, nodded coolly—gone was the teary, desperate girl who used to fight with him.

Henry looked surprised. He asked, "Are you upset?"

I shook my head and said, "It's only natural you saved her."

Henry searched my expression like he was trying to see if there was something different about me now.

We were done—there was no reason for me to be upset, and honestly, I didn't even have the right to be. I've let all of that go now.

Before leaving, I said, "Henry, you know, overcoming fear turned out to be easier than I ever imagined. I guess a lot of things in life work that way."

All those years, I kept compromising for him—all because I loved him.

I thought that losing him would be unbearably painful.

But after being let down again and again, I grew numb to it. When I finally let go, it didn't hurt nearly as much as I'd imagined.

Honestly, it was like the hands around my throat had released me, and all at once I could take a deep, easy breath.

Henry stood there, momentarily stunned, his gaze filled with an emotion I couldn't even begin to decipher.