Concern made it impossible to concentrate on shooting. If the silence hindered a little too long, I had enough time for my thoughts to scatter over the endless possibilities of how terrible an idea it was to leave Ambrose only. Anxiety tended to escalate when you're sitting alone in your dressing room with only your thoughts to keep you company.

One reason I came to film a skit for the YouTube channel was that Lana and the girls were flying in today. After his mother came over to share the news about his funeral, I called them and offered to pay for their flights. Lana, Meadow, and Catalina were willing to drop their plans to come to check up on their best friend.

Death.

It had an odd effect on people. No one could prepare to hear the heartbreaking news of a close one passing away. Some people cried for days. Others endeavored to show any type of emotion and are judged awfully for being disoriented. Then the third category, where people neglected to confront the matter and drowned themselves with alcohol.

Ambrose fell into that one.

As his girlfriend and just a bystander in general, I couldn't blame him for being so lost in a situation like this. His relationship with his father was so complex that no one could understand, even if Ambrose composed a diagram about it. Also, as a person who fell into that third category after my sister's accident, I could detect the signs even if he wanted to act like everything was alright.

No one was the same after a traumatic event like this.

It's impossible.

"You have been awfully quiet, Davina. These clips aren't going to cut it unless you tried to engage the audience," Elton suggested, stealing my attention from the green pepper I overdid with my knife.

I nodded. "Can I get a five-minute break?"

Elton sighed. "Alright. Cut!"

With an irritated exhale, I wandered over to my casting chair and reached for my cell phone. My heart clenched as dozens of messages kept coming in from all the girls. Instead of wasting time reading them, I just called them instead, hoping Ambrose had kept his word at least until they got there.

"Hello?" Lana's voice chimed through.

"Hey, Lana, what's up? Is everything okay? I haven't had a chance to read the messages," I said, drumming my fingers on the armrest.

Lana exhaled. "Umm, we can't get into your hotel room, and Ambrose isn't answering any of our calls."

Panic drowned through my nerves. "Shit. He must've gone to a bar or something. Fuck man, I'm so stupid. I knew I should've stayed with him."

"He's a big boy, Davina. If Ambrose wanted to go out, he would find a way to make it happen," Meadow said.

"Yeah, but I would've felt better if I was by his side," I replied, glancing over to see Elton raising two fingers for how long we had left.

Another vibration buzzed against my ear and I glanced down at notification to see the notorious TMZ.

Breaking news the up and coming young chef Ambrose Bright known for dating Davina Dialaurentis and being on the worldwide hit Competition Of The Century was arrested for simple assault against two paparazzi.

Video below.

My eyes widened as the video clearly showed Ambrose punching and destroying the camera of the two papas after they tried thrusting it in his face. From the brief clip, anyone could see how intoxicated he was. My ears rang as my vision become static. This isn't happening. This couldn't be happening.

I can't be here.

"Elton, I need to go, like right now!" I said, throwing all my items into my purse, not even waiting for a reply.

"You are getting a large pay cut for wasting our time, Davina!" Elton shouted, which earned him a big fat middle finger before I ran out.

Ambrose's bail was set at an even fifty thousand dollars, which were like baby money compared to what I earned. At first glance, his face was swollen and bleeding, and he reeked of alcohol. Whenever Ambrose sobered up, I hoped he would say a big fat thank you to Declan because he collapsed into his arms right when we bailed him out.

This wasn't looking good.

From the results of his outburst, Ambrose was looking to face up to a year in jail and up to fifteen thousand in fines with three-year probation to securely knot his gift. I had to message Milo to scout for lawyers so we could either get Ambrose the minimum or pay the paparazzi enough to drop the charges.

When something as important as money was involved, anything was possible.

With a half-empty cup of lukewarm tea in my hand, I sprinted over to the couch to see a snoring Ambrose cuddling a pillow. What a night. I gently lowered myself onto the floor and stared at him. He looked worse up close. His left eye was almost completely swollen shut and his lips were split open. There wasn't fresh blood on his face. Hopefully, that meant he wouldn't need stitches.

"I haven't seen Ambrose spiral this much out of control until the situation with Lana," Catalina stated, taking a seat in the beanbag with the help of Meadow. "He's definitely fighting demons."

Tears began pouring out of Lana's eyes, her face contorting as she took the spot next to me. "It hurts to see him so lost like this. We can't even do anything except guide him in the right direction, but I feel so guilty. I wish we could've done more to help you, Davina."

I sniffled, my own tears on the precipice of spilling out. "There's nothing we can do... It was inevitable, but now that it happened, maybe it will light a fire under him to stop this dangerous pattern. Honestly..." I glanced over at Lana's big doe eyes, spewing with tears. "I just wished there was a way I could take all his pain away. A person like Ambrose didn't deserve to go through this."

"That fucking bastard!" Catalina blurted out, using her pregnant belly as a cup holder. "I'm talking about his father."

Meadow chuckled. "Yeah, it was freaking obvious, dim watt."

Rosy pink tainted Catalina's full cheeks. "Then why did you guys stare at me like I had five heads?"

Meadow cocked her head at the cup on Catalina's belly. "Maybe because you're exploiting your baby by using it as a cupholder."

Catalina stuck her tongue out. "She doesn't mind. She wants her mama rested and comfortable."

Pregnancy brought out a different kind of beauty from Catalina. Her hair wasn't styled to perfection but still looked as silky and full as if it was. Instead of her usual full face makeup, she strutted around with a simple lip gloss, but the outer baby glow made as if she looked identical. Some people were made to be pregnant and so far, it seemed as if Catalina was one of those girls.

Lana wept onto her knees as her hand gripped tightly onto Ambrose's hand. Her shoulders shook with every sob, causing Ambrose to turn over and groan in his sleep. "I'm so frustrated. I focused so hard on the nursing exam I had forgotten to check up on Ambrose. Who knows, maybe I could've done something to stop him from acting irrationally or offer my experience after losing my mom. I-I just could've done so much more."

Declan kneeled onto the ground, wrapping his hand over Lana's head securely, and hurdling her into his chest. Lana's blubbering intensified, but against Declan's chest, it was as if her cries were coming from another room. Her husband's face soured, tenderly rubbing her back, and sent a half tilted smile in my direction.

"We could all question our every action and wish things were different, but this was the path we're on. Instead of focusing on what we could've done, we should put our energy into making this as painless as it could be for him," Declan said, stopping briefly to place a peck on his wife's head. "I can't imagine what Ambrose is feeling, but we have to remember we can't force him to feel. We just have to be here for when he's ready."

Was Declan a talking TED talk?

Ambrose's forehead creased as I tenderly stroked his hair. I don't know what to say. I don't know how to help him. The trauma that came from losing a parent who abused you was so fucking complex. Ambrose couldn't stand to be around him, but deep down he held onto that string of hope of being a family again. Now, it's official that wouldn't be happening in his lifetime. I lost my father, but he's only a flight away. I lost a part of my sister, but she's still on planet earth.

His father was gone.

His mother was dead to him.

A pain I couldn't understand even if I tried to...

But I wasn't going to stop trying.

My phone vibrated in my back pocket and glimpsed at my Apple watch to see a message from Milo.

From The Blues Brother (Milo)- Urgent meeting in my office right now. No, if, and, or buts, just bring your ass down here. Now!

My brows furrowed as I wondered what this urgent meeting would be about at one in the freaking morning. "Ummm... I'll be back in twenty. My manager wants to discuss something with me. You guys can just hang around until I come back and please message if Ambrose wakes up."

Meadow lifted her hand to the top of her head as if I was her captain. "Sure, I'll hold the fort."

The small lamp on his desk was the only thing bringing light into the room. Milo's salt and pepper hair were in shambles as if he kept raking his fingers through it. His eyebrows drew in tight, forming a vertical line between them while he swiped endlessly on his iPad. Slowly, I opened the door and tiptoed right into the chair.

Might as well ask for lawyers if I'm here.

"Hey Mi-."

"What is this?" Milo faced the iPad in my direction with Ambrose's viral video playing on repeat.

I scratched the back of my ear. "Yeah... Ambrose isn't exactly reacting well to the news you dropped on us a couple of days ago."

Milo pinched the bridge of his nose and dropped his steel glasses on the desk. "Well, this situation is getting worse by the minute. The paparazzi's families are angrily ranting on Instagram and Twitter about Ambrose attacking them."

I scoffed. "That's not even fair. If they weren't in his face, maybe he wouldn't have hurt them."

He sent me a death glare. "Please don't condone this behavior."

I waved my hands up in defense. "I'm not. I'm really not. It's just he's going through so much, of course, he would lash out like this."

"You don't get it, Davina," Milo groaned. "Ambrose's reputation isn't the only one being trashed. Your name is being dragged through the mud for being with a violent individual. Your silence is only making it worse, fans are outraged about this situation. I think it's best if you make a post or a live paying your respects to the victims."

My eyebrows shot up. "Why? I understand what Ambrose did was horrible and a big no-no in this industry, but it's his first time in the spotlight. He's allowed to make mistakes. How else did you expect him to react after finding out his abusive father just died?"

"I don't know," he growled. "Maybe cry like a normal freaking person and then move on."

My eyes narrowed into murderous slits. "You're being so fucking insensitive!"

Annoyance glimmered in his eyes. "I don't care! You're my client, not him. My job is to make sure your reputation isn't trashed, especially with Isabel's character lingering over our heads. Do you think they're going to give you the part if you're in this controversy?"

I rolled my eyes. "Are you going to help me find a lawyer for him or not? I'm going to let him rot in jail for a year for a stupid mistake."

Milo intertwined his hands. "I will."

A lopsided smile crept onto my lips. "Thank goodness! I was thi-."

"Under one condition," Milo added.

"Which is?" I swallowed the dryness down my throat.

"The PR relationship ends now. Ambrose isn't benefitting you anymore, so he isn't worth your time, anymore. We can let the dust settle for a few days and come out with an announcement of your breakup. Then fans would understand why you stayed silent during this," Milo said, as every word took longer than usual to register in my mind.

"No."

If this happened months ago, I would be jumping for joy. Even two months ago, I would've been happy to get away before my feeling bloomed into a tree, but we reached the place of no return. The pain that crawled at my chest with just the thought of breaking up with Ambrose was unbearable. Even if it would be fake. I didn't want anyone thinking they had a chance with him.

I wanted him to be mine forever.

"No?" His voice was laced with disbelief.

"No, I'm not ending my relationship with Ambrose. What kind of girlfriend would I be if I let him go through his alone? I don't care what the public has to say about me. If they hate me, then so be it. If the producers don't want to give me a role because of this bullshit, then I'll live and find something better. But I'm not ending it with Ambrose even if you locked me up in a castle," I ranted, wheezing by the end of it.

"Then I'm not helping you," he replied sternly.

"Please Milo." I reached for his hands, gripping onto them tightly. "I never ask for anything and even when I disagree with everything you say I do it, but I can't this time. Milo... I'm in love with him. I'm so far gone I can't back out even if I wanted. Please help me get him out of this mess."

"You always chose the wrong time to fall in love, don't you?" Milo chuckled lightly.

I grinned. "Hey, I didn't ask for this. You were the one that insisted Ambrose would be the perfect candidate."

Milo's lips twitched into a smile. "Love is a beautiful thing, Davina. I'm very happy to see you open up to it again... But fuck, man... you're in some serious shit. I'll go ahead and contact some lawyers and brainstorm ideas with Hailey in the morning."

I leaped up from my seat in pure joy. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

He playfully rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah! I'll see you in the morning."

"Hey Milo," I called out as my hand reached for the door handle.

"Mmm?" He hummed.

"You're the first person I told about being in love with him... So can you keep it a secret?" I asked, smiling cheekily.

Milo nodded as he intimated locking his mouth with a key. "Your secret is safe with me."

Poor Ambrose 🥺 he got hurt. Though he did do some damage to those paparazzi... do you think the media should be giving him flashback?

Love you guys!! Hope you guys haven't and won't give up on our baby Ambrose ❤️he's fighting.