Chapter 120
Leyla would settle the score one day. But for now, she let her tears flow freely, clutching at Lila’s dress.
Lila frowned at the gesture and stepped back. “Stand up. I don’t need your apology on your knees!”
Leyla ignored her, remaining kneeling as she choked out. “I’m sorry, Ms. Hart. It’s my fault. I don’t have the money. My father is still in the hospital, and all my money is spent on his medical bills. I’m begging you, please forgive me…”
The crowd, which had just been filled with condemnation toward her, now felt a wave of sympathy after hearing her words.
They looked at Lila as though she were the real instigator in this situation.
Leonard, Jamie, and Teddy all frowned.
Lila frowned, too, narrowing her eyes and taking another step back. “I have no personal grudge against you. You’ve brought this trouble upon yourself, and I have no obligation to forgive you. Compensation is your responsibility.”
Leyla hadn’t expected Lila to be so unsympathetic.
She bit her lip, her voice trembling with sobs. “But I have no money. I really don’t. If I give you everything, my dad won’t have money for treatment. He’ll die… Please, I’m begging you to let me go.”
Leonard rubbed his temples, clearly conflicted, and hesitantly glanced at Lila.
Lila took a deep breath. “Stand up. Stop making it look like I’m bullying you. Paying for what you broke is your responsibility.”
Worried this scene might stir up trouble if it leaked, Jamie and Teddy promptly pulled Leyla to her feet.
Lila noticed Leonard’s uneasy expression and paused before saying, “I’m willing to accept a written IOU.”
This was the biggest concession she could make. After all, this was Jamie and Teddy’s first film. If something went wrong because of this, the consequences could snowball.
Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something about this incident was off.
Lost in thought, she checked her camera, her heart aching for the damage. Even with compensation, the gift from Kieran could never be restored to its original state.
Seeing the pained expression on her face, the onlookers speculated whether the camera was a gift from Dorian. But if he had given it to her, why had she rejected the chance to reconcile with him during that high-profile livestream?
Their curiosity grew, and the desire to gossip became even stronger.
Leonard snapped, “Why are you all still standing here? Don’t you have work to do?”
The crowd dispersed reluctantly after the show was over.
Lila glanced up and spotted Kieran waiting in the distance, a mix of happiness and sadness flickering in her heart. She wanted to approach him but was stopped by Ryker.
“Uh…”
She was surprised by his uncharacteristic awkwardness.
“Mr. Workman, thank you for earlier. If you have something to say, please feel free to do so,” she said politely.
Ryker hesitated. “For us photographers, a camera is like a wife—sacred and untouchable.”
Though his analogy was odd, it wasn’t wrong. She nodded in agreement.
His gaze was practically glued to the camera. “So… Can I touch your ‘wife’?”
She was speechless. She handed the camera over and asked, “Mr. Workman, you mentioned earlier that the lens is a custom model?”
She hadn’t changed the lens before, so it must have been the original. And yet, after all her research, she hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
“Hmm? You didn’t know?” Ryker spoke while examining the camera intently. “Can I take a couple of shots to test it?”
“Of course,” Lila replied. She had visited the film set many times but had never spoken to him directly, though she had observed him working.
He wasn’t much of a talker but was always serious and dedicated to his work.
To him, cameras were his “wives,” and the photos they produced were his “children.” His passion for his craft was undeniable.
Lila admired people like him.
After taking a few test shots, Ryker explained, “Look here.”
He pointed to a small, almost invisible mark on the side of the lens. She had never noticed it before.
Looking closely, she saw what seemed to be two tiny letters-KM.
Huh? Scratching her head, she thought of Kieran’s initials. That didn’t seem right. Who would give a gift with their name engraved on it?
It was probably a unique brand marking. Otherwise, it would be like carrying his name around everywhere she went.
Ryker added, “Also, after testing it just now, I’d say this lens performs better than the standard one.”
Lila pressed her lips together as her gaze lingered on the barely noticeable letters she had never seen before.