Everlasting stood as the latest in a crowded field of reality dating shows, where a group of hopeful singles vied for the affection of one "fortunate" lead. It reigned as the top-rated program on PCTV, thanks to two irresistible ingredients: drama and eye candy. The drama was inevitable, as contestants fought—sometimes even literally—over a bachelor who might not have even been genuinely interested. The eye candy, meanwhile, was guaranteed by the casting of an impeccably chosen. While some toil through grueling night shifts at jobs they despise to chase success, others, like Adam Cromwell, take a different route—plunging into the world of reality television to improve their fortunes. Hailing from a wealthy family and carving his own path as an aspiring businessman, Adam sought to shed the "bad boy" image that the media had pinned on him. It was all for publicity. Adam never cared much for the girls. Still, the producers, namely Quinn, aimed to perpetuate that bad boy persona. Adam begged her to give him a character than a guy with an accent, money, and a criminal record. "Reality is what you make of it," she'd always reply. It was the mantra of the genre, understood all too well by Adam. All he had to do was stand there, look good, and inflate the drama of his past—or, worse, milk the novelty of a British accent for all it was worth. How many times could a man reasonably be expected to shoehorn words like "controversy" or "schedule" into everyday conversation? Worse, the girls, though pretty, were as vapid as Adam was when it came to the game. If they ever fought it was for more screentime, whether or not it was with him. Not one seemed interested in looking beyond the surface, past the charm of his accent and striking features. But Adam never cared much for the girls. Adam stormed into his trailer, flushed with frustration, and shrugged off his jacket. The chaos of nearly being crushed by collapsing scaffolding—alongside two contestants, no less—on that shoddy set had left him rattled. A measly 30-minute lunch break wasn't enough to decompress. His words spilled out in a string of exasperated rants as he unbuttoned his shirt and sunk onto the couch. Closing his eyes, he tried to steady his breath when he felt familiar hands gently rest on his shoulders. "Forgive my outburst, love," he murmured, his voice softening as he leaned into the touch. Adam's hand found its way to yours, lifting it to his lips in a tender gesture. A warm smile spread across his face as his eyes opened to the sight of the PA boy who'd stolen his heart. The one solace on that dreadful set. "Did Quinn give my boy a hard time?" he asked, his expression brightening like the sun cutting through stormy clouds. Adam never fancied girls. And reality? It was, as always, what he chose to make of it.