Chapter 1

"Top-tier hunters always show up as prey. I'm here for the thrill of the chase!"

I was Whitney Bax, a D-list actress who managed to survive in the world of the rich and powerful with my sweet, innocent act.

My goal was to win over Esmond Adams, the legendary heir of the Adams family, who was rumored to be completely uninterested in women.

At the engagement party, his first love, Kendall Cole, was crying and begging him not to leave.

Esmond looked at her with that tender gaze and said, "I'm messing around with her. Don't worry."

My heart broke right then and there. With tears in my eyes, I managed a shaky smile and said, "Hope you two are happy together. I'm not good enough."

Right after, I called up his sworn enemy and hit the club for some wild dancing.

But in the middle of the night, Esmond cornered me, eyes bloodshot and voice hoarse. "Honey, had enough fun yet? Time to come home and play your part."

*****

My name was Whitney, and I was an actress.

To be exact, I was an actress trapped inside a novel.

Three days ago, I got caught in the rain and came down with a fever that wouldn't break. Suddenly, the whole story of a book flooded my mind.

In that book, I was hopelessly obsessed with Esmond. I schemed my way into becoming his fiancée, using every dirty trick I could think of.

But at the end of the day, I was the classic evil side character.

My whole purpose was to make Kendall, the innocent female lead, shine even brighter.

In the end, they joined forces to utterly ruin me, leaving me with nothing but disgrace and a tragic fate.

Once the fever finally broke, I stared at my beautiful face in the mirror and smiled.

I told myself to stop worrying about the plot.

I was an actress, so I would keep acting.

But this time, I was the one calling the shots.

I would keep playing the act to fall head over heels for Esmond, but this time, I'll turn up the charm and play it even softer and sweeter.

I was going to force his hand, so he had no choice but to get engaged to me.

I was not in it for him or his money.

What I really wanted was the clout and protection that came with being his fiancée.

I was going to use him to break free from being cannon fodder.

The first step in my plan was to win over Esmond's mother, Roberta Adams.

I showed up at the Adams Manor right on time, carrying a pot of soup I'd made myself.

"Roberta, I heard from Thelma that you haven't been sleeping well lately, so I made you some soup to help you relax," I said.

I opened the soup pot, my voice soft and sweet, the right amount of flattery.

Roberta's face, always perfectly kept, barely showed any reaction. She gave a noncommittal response.

I knew she didn't like me.

In the story, my eagerness to climb the social ladder was exactly what made her unable to stand me.

I lowered my gaze, letting my long lashes shield my emotions, exposing the delicate line of my neck.

I said softly, "Roberta, I know you don't like me.

"I come from a humble background, a D-list actress. I'm really not worthy of Esmond.

"But Roberta, matters of the heart are so hard to control."

My voice took on a choked, tearful edge, my eyes brimming with tears that refused to fall.

"I don't want anything else. If I could see him from time to time, I'd be happy," I said.

I said it with such sincerity, so humble I was practically groveling in the dirt.

Roberta ate that up.

Women from her world were always on guard against ambitious types, but when faced with a lovesick fool like me, they couldn't help but feel a little sorry.

Sure enough, she let out a sigh.

"Why put yourself through all this, dear?" she said.

I laughed coldly inside, but on the outside, I forced a smile that was even more pitiful than crying.

"Roberta, I'm really fine," I said softly.

For the next few days, I kept showing up at the Adams Manor, checking in on Roberta like I was her daughter.

Esmond didn't show up at all.

I knew he was off abroad with Kendall.

But with each passing day, Roberta's attitude toward me softened.

The day before the engagement party, she took my hand and patted it gently.

She said, "Whitney, Esmond's got a chilly personality. Don't hold it against him.

"From now on, the Adams family is your home."

I nodded obediently, but inside, I knew the engagement party was my first real showdown.

On the day of the engagement party, I wore a custom-made gown, holding Esmond's arm, receiving all the congratulations and scrutiny from everyone around.

Esmond was so tall that I had to crane my neck to look up at him.

He looked especially handsome today, his features sharp and cold, radiating an aura that warned people to keep their distance.

The entire time, he didn't say a single word to me, never once meeting my eyes.

I didn't care.

All I needed was for him to stand there like a cardboard cutout.

My smile was flawless, gentle, and shy. I absolutely nailed the part of a woman blissfully lost in happiness.

I knew Kendall would show up.