Jasper's POV: My expression was cold as ice. I landed a few more hard punches on Willy before grabbing Naomi, who was still in shock, and pulling her close. Willy struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. When he looked up and saw it was me, he froze for a second. Then, with a crooked smile and a disappointing shake of his head, he clicked his tongue and said, "Fine. Your girl—take her back." He wanted to leave, but not before throwing Naomi a look full of contempt. I couldn't let that slide. Grabbing the collar of his shirt, I yanked him back. His pupils contracted. He tried to break free, but my fist found its mark again. Willy cried out in pain, clutching his face, his expression twisted in rage. "I'm going to sue you! You really hit me?!" he yelled. I leaned in, voice low and sharp. "Who do you think you are? What makes you think I wouldn't hit you?" I smirked. My punches landed harder and faster, each one making him wince and cry out louder. "Enough, Jasper! Stop it!" Naomi's hoarse voice cut through the air. She clutched my arm tightly, forcing the words through clenched teeth. I frowned, turning to look at her. "Don't let this blow up any bigger," she said, teeth gritted as she stared at Willy, who was now stumbling up from the ground. "You two just wait!" Willy shouted, still clutching his face, before he turned and stormed out of the makeup room. "Jerk!" I muttered under my breath, spitting in his direction. Naomi let go of my arm and sat down in a chair. "Don't be scared. Just tell me what happened, and I'll make sure that creep pays for this," I said, trying to calm her. I'd been just outside the break room when I heard Naomi's voice crying out. I rushed in—only to find that scene. But Naomi just shook her head. "Let it go," she said softly."What?" I blinked. That was the last thing I expected her to say. "I said let it go. I don't want to stir up more trouble," she repeated, voice low and resigned. "Naomi, he laid his hands on you. How can you just let it go?" I asked, placing a hand on her shoulder, trying to understand. "What am I supposed to do? What can I say?" Her voice suddenly grew louder. "There are no cameras in the makeup room. He's the one walking out looking beat up. Who knows what story he'll spin?" She looked at me, helpless. "Even if I fought it—what would it change? It'd just trend online for a few days. Maybe you don't care, Jasper, but I do. My reputation's already hanging by a thread because ... " She stopped mid-sentence, blinking rapidly. A bitter smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. I froze. I knew exactly what she was trying not to say. That night at the bar—it had spiraled beyond anything we could've predicted. I'd read some of the news, but the online comments ... they hadn't gone after me. They'd torn Naomi apart. The rumors, the speculation—for a rising actress, it was brutal. "But it's fine," she said quietly, lips curving in the faintest, most fragile smile. "He didn't actually do anything." That smile—forced and lifeless—made something in my chest twist. The Naomi in front of me felt ... distant. Like something inside her was slipping away. "Naomi ... " I whispered. She smiled again, eyes bright but tired. "What are you doing here anyway?" She asked, blinking up at me. "Naomi, wake up!" I snapped, the frustration boiling over. "Do you even hear what you're saying? He didn't do anything. He already hurt you!" "Jasper!" She suddenly stood, staring me down with eyes full of shadows. "What gives you the right to interfere? What is our relationship to each other?" Naomi's POV: The words left my mouth before I could stop them. Jasper fell silent immediately. And inside, my heart began to ache—like it was being shredded into pieces. Please ... just stop showingup. Stop making mefallintothedreamI'mtryingsohardtowakeupfrom.Jasper looked at me, and a bitter smile curved on his lips. "You're right," he said. "I have no right to meddle in your life." He slid his hands into his pockets and added coolly, "I was just here on behalf of the studio. You and I are playing a couple in this show—we're supposed to promote it together. For the company's sake ... and mine ... I'd rather not see this turn into a scandal." With that, Jasper walked out, leaving me alone in the makeup room. I stared at the door he had just walked through. I wanted to force a smile, but my lips wouldn't move. It was like they had forgotten how. When I finally got myself together and stepped out, I was told that Willy had already left. For some reason, that stirred something in me. Did Jasper have something to do with it? "Naomi, are you okay? You look pale," the makeup artist said while touching up my foundation. "I'm fine," I replied, shaking my head. "What about the rest of the shoot? Am I filming solo?" "They switched out your co-star," the makeup artist said in a whisper. "I just got a peek—it's Jasper." "What?" My hand paused mid-motion. For a moment, I thought I'd misheard.