CHAPTER NINE

By the time the two of them came back, the entire carton was gone. Luke pouted, but snatched an apple from the basket instead. "So what was that about?" I asked him. "Who was he?"

I hadn't even caught the other man's name.

He sighed. "Rory Monahan. He's twenty-six and he's married to Audrey Tindall who's going to be arriving here, soon, I'm guessing."

"Oh!" Audrey Tindall. Her name sounded familiar. She was a British actress, wasn't she? From what I recalled, she was probably around forty. That was quite an age gap, but who was I to judge? "That's… nice…"

Luke sat down beside me and kissed my cheek. "Don't worry about them. I think I hear a few more people arriving. Want to go greet them now or later?"

I shrugged. "We'll go see them now. I don't want them to catch me in some awkward moment later."

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Awkward? Does this moment include me?"

"Maaaybe!" I sang, running off as he tried to catch me.

My laughter rang through the house, until I stopped, spotting the new additions. They were all staring back at me. "H-Hi!" It was strange to think that they all already knew each other and I was the odd one out.

"Hello, dear." The woman with long blond hair stepped over and gave me a big, warm hug. I happily returned it, elated to find that they weren't going to simply shun me.

The rest introduced themselves. I could recognise quite a few from television, but since the accident, Luke had been limiting my media access. Sometimes, I felt like a child with parental control on everything.

I found out that Shelby and Matt were the owners and most of the first season had been based on their experiences here. Shelby was a rather nervous woman, who really didn't seem like she wanted to be here, but she was kind and she made me feel welcomed.

The only two who seemed distant were Rory and Audrey. I could feel the British woman glare daggers into the back of my head. Perhaps it was my role in the re-enactments, but surely, Rory had to be intimate on screen before with other women. There was really no reason for her to feel threatened in any way. Besides, we were both happily in love.

"You don't understand! This house really ishaunted," Shelby argued with Sidney. "None of us are safe here!"

The producer rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Yeah. It's going to be three days, maybe a week. The rest of the production will be done in the editing studio."

"But – "

"Look. How about you take this and start recording. If you see anything strange or dangerous, I'll stop production." Sidney handed everyone a small camera. "Now, we're going to start with the first scene before we lose our nice sunset glow."

Rory and I were already in our costumes and made-upped up. The dress felt strange. It was heavy with many layers. The royal blue hue matched the aristocratic character I was to play.

"Ready?"

We took our places.

I was standing at the porch, staring into the dark forest with a wistful look on my face.

"Alright. Action!"

"Love, where do you run off to every night?" I asked him, staring straight into his dark eyes. "Sometimes, it feels as if you're never around anymore. It's as if I've married a ghost."

He sighed, touching a loose tendril of hair that had fallen out of my updo. "I'm a busy man. There is much to be done. You can't possibly think it's anything else?" There was a sadness to his voice that made me truly think that he was Edward Mott.

I shook my head. "It's just so lonely sometimes. I've missed you."

"Then shall I show you exactly how much I love you?" he purred, pulling me against his chest. I could feel how toned he was. Each muscle was defined and rippled against me.

My heart skipped a beat when I felt his lips brushed my ear. "Let's bring this to the bedroom, so the help doesn't see. I'd really hate for anyone else to see you in an undressed state."

I giggled as he scooped me into his arms.

As we made it through the door, Sidney called, "Cut!"

We had to run the scene several times over before it was brought to the bedroom. Each time he whispered into my ears, I felt my heart melt. Was this his natural charm? I knew that I loved Luke, so this feeling… I had to push it away. I had to be professional! Besides, he was a married man. I would never be the other woman!

"I want you to tear her dress off here. It should rip easily. The dress was made just for the this occasion," Sidney told us.

"Is this really necessary?" Audrey stepped up to glare at the man. "What exactly is this supposed to bring to the show? Are we going to turn this into soft porn?"

"Look, Edward Mott needs to be more complex! I need to show that despite how much he loved his wife and child, he had still fallen pretty to lust and curiosity," Sidney explained, completely unfazed by the raging woman.

"Really? And you think that that is going to be the factor to bring in the ratings?" Audrey growled.

"I'm the producer and director here. My first instalment was a hit success! Let me do my work, while I pay your pr3etty face to shut up!" Sidney waved to his camera man. "Make sure to capture their faces." He, then, turned to us. "Emote! I want to actually believe that the two of you are in love!"

Rory picked me back up bridal-style. He let out a soft sigh. Did he hate this as much as Audrey did?

It didn't matter. Once the camera started rolling, it was going to be perfect. Sidney wouldn't accept anything less.

"Action!"

He threw me on to the bed and jumped on top of me. His hands grabbed at the dress, easily tearing it off my body. I was left with the very modest underclothes.

"Edward…" I moaned, arching my back to grind up against him. 'Please… Show me how much you love me." I was surprised to find a sizable bulge tenting up his trousers. Had that always been there or had I been the cause of it?

"Gladly, my sweet." He leaned down and captured my lips. His hands were all over my body. He seemed to know exactly where to touch to make me squirm and pant. "I want you to scream for me."

If I wasn't careful, I knew that that was definitely going to happen. Somehow, he was able to easily figure me out. He knew how to unwind me and make me come undone.

"You're far too overdressed, husband." I threw his coat aside and then, went about unbuttoning his shirt. Beneath all the fabric, he was even more toned than I imagined.

He pressed his lower body against mine, whispering words that I could barely make out in my ears. They were words of soft nothings.

Had that been in the script? I couldn't recall anymore. All I could focus on was how he made me feel.

His hand trailed down my body and rubbed the inside of my thigh. I let out a cry, buckling my hips. "Please…"

"Okay! That's it! That is not on the script!" Audrey screamed, hitting the papers and running to the bed to pull Rory off.

I stayed on the mattress in a daze. It felt as if my body was still singing for him. This feeling was so overwhelming. I barely registered Luke sitting down beside me.

"Hey." He stroked my hair. 'You don't have to do this."

I blinked. "I… I think I just need a break…"

With shaky hands, I put the dress back on, being careful that it wasn't going to fall off, again, and walked off.

The cool evening air slowly cleared my head. With the heated daze gone, I felt guilt. It was as if I had cheated on Luke and I had done it right in front of his eyes. Maybe acting really wasn't' for me if I couldn't separate my own emotions from the emotions of my character.

"Madi?"

I turned to see Rory at the doorway. His shirt was back on, but he was missing the white wig and blue coat.

"Hi." I quickly turned away before he could trap me, again. My heart was already thumping wildly in my chest. I fought to clear my mind, a dull ache forming – poking the inside of my skull.

He took his spot beside me. "I'm sorry about before. I got caught up in the moment and it just got out of hand." He ran his fingers nervously through his hair. "So… Uh… Sidney's going to just take what he has and move on from the scene, since it was making everyone else uncomfortable."

"Oh, that's good…" My face was flushed.

He was too close.

"Madi." He gripped my arm and turned me towards him. The dull ache became a hammer. "I – Are you okay?"

I clenched my eyes shut, bending over and holding my head.

"Get away from her!" I heard Luke snarl. He pulled me against his chest. "What did I tell you before? After scenes, you will not approach her. She is not your toy!"

"I never – "

I was led away. The door slammed behind us, cutting off whatever Rory was going to say.

"It's alright," Luke murmured. "You'll be fine."

Once we were in our room, he handed me my pills and a glass of c old water. "Sidney's willing to forgo further filming of the scene. He wants to wrap it up with the last one and then, after the three days are over, he doesn't mind if we left first."

"Okay…" I didn't understand why my head was hurting so much. It was fine until I was alone with Rory. Were my memories of him causing this? Why couldn't I remember?

It wasn't long before Sidney came by and rushed me back on set. The makeup artist did a quick patch up job before sending me off.

Rory was already in the bedroom. Audrey was speaking quietly and furiously at me. When she saw me, she immediately sneered.

Luke gave me a quick kiss and an encouraging push. I had to do this. I had to be professional. Be. Professional.

I took off my dress and lay on the bed. He followed suit, stripping his shirt. Laying his head down on my stomach, he turned to me. I had to fight to keep myself passive.

I needed to separate the character from the person. I chanted this several times in my head before Sidney signalled for us to start.

This time, we didn't have the other cast as audience. Only the bare minimum remained because Sidney didn't want any more interruptions.

I placed my hand in his hair, slowly stroking the wig. Edward Mott was such a vain character. Even in bed, he refused to take off the ridiculous thing.

He looked at me, his eyes filled with unadulterated adoration. "I love you," he whispered. He slithered up to kiss my bare shoulder.

I sighed, tugging him up for a proper kiss on the lips. He felt so right against me. 'I love you, too." The words seemed to ring true, but were those feelings of Mrs. Edward Mott or was this my own? How was I able to differentiate between the two?

"I…" He hesitated. "I know I've hurt you. I know I haven't been the perfect husband. I should never have fallen in love with G-Guinness… He was there when you were pregnant and before I knew it, I was already in too deep…"

I swallowed. Something about his words seemed to touch a hidden memory from within me. "I really wished you'd stop the affair. Everyone is talking… The way they look at me with such pity! I absolutely despise it! Can't I be enough for you? Can't our son be enough? What must I do to make you faithful to me and only me?"

He opened his mouth before closing it. With a gulp, he steeled up his courage to reply. N-nothing. You're perfect the way you are. TI's me. It's always been me. You deserve so much better, but I'm too selfish to let you go."

I felt tears beginning to cloud my vision. "I d-don't want you to let me go, but it hurt so m-much. I love you, Edward. You don't understand what you are d-doing to m-me…"

The tears were real. The emotions were real. I was breaking down on camera and Sidney thought I was just the greatest actress ever, but that wasn't it. The more time I spent with Rory, the more these feelings begin to consume me.

I knew why Luke wanted me to stay away from him, now. He was a drug. He was poison. I found myself unable to ignore him, but the more I allowed myself to be drawn in, the more it hurt and clouded my mind. I didn't know how to be rid of him.

Did Mrs. Mott also feel the same way when she found out about her husband's infidelity? Had it torn their family apart? What had happened to her and her son after Edward Mott was captured and buried alive? Was she able to move on?

I really hoped that she did.

"I'm so sorry, my love.' He gently stroked my cheek. The warmth of his hand made me close my eyes. "I can't help what my heart feels. They belong to the both of you. Can't you be happy for me?"

I let out a shaky breath and looked back into his pleading eyes. "I can't… It feels as if you're putting a dagger through my heart. This pain… If it isn't for our poor son, I would throw myself into the waters and then you may have your lover however you please."

"No!" he protested. His eyes were wide with alarm and suddenly, he climbed off me and threw the wig away. "I can't do this, Sid. I'm sorry, man. I… This is hitting a little too close to home. I'll step down if you want, but I can't continue anymore."

I sat up, pulling the cover to my chest. I was relieved that he had been the first to speak up because I wasn't sure how much more I could've handled. Whatever it was that happened to him must've been as bad as mine.

"No problem!" Sidney grinned at him, glee shining from his eyes. "I've gotten more than enough from that. You can both get changed. We're done filming for the night." He dismissively waved his hand at us. His eyes were already fixated on the screen that was replaying the scenes. "Oh! Don't forget your cameras! Record as much of your experience here as you can!"

I picked up the clothes I had folded neatly in the corner before quickly scurrying off after I had dressed. I ran to my room as fast as I could as if I was somehow trying to protect my modesty even though everyone had already seen me barely clad.

When I was finally in my room, I dumped my clothes on the chair and took off the old fashioned underclothes.

"Are you okay?" Luke put down his notebook and came over, gently kissing my bare shoulder. It was so similar to the way that Rory had just done that I had to look away.

I sniffed before burying my face into his shirt. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm an emotional mess and it's not even that time of the month!"

He rested his chin on my head, holding me as closely as he could. "It's not your fault. It was never your fault."

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Thank you guests (Guest, Guest, anonymouscsifan) for reviewing!

Guest: Hehe… I like how your introduction gets longer and longer. Please don't ever change xD Her accident before the show made her lose her memories. Edward will come sooooon~!

Guest: Looove triaaangle? :D I don't see why not! I love love triangles!

anonymouscsifan: Ooooh! Your dad sounds awesome! Mine wouldn't watch any shows I like. I'm also going through wild Evan Peters withdrawal, but I'm two episodes behind now, so I'm hoping there might be some scenes with him in it there… I hope…

Thank you as well to everyone who has favourited and followed this story.

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