Chapter 1

The Crown Film Awards were broadcasting live across the nation. A-list superstar Edward Grant was just about to accept his trophy when the massive LED screen behind him suddenly cut to static.

A second later, a chubby-cheeked little boy, the absolute spitting image of Edward, filled the entire display.

Wearing a pair of oversized sunglasses, the boy pointed a tiny finger directly at the camera and spoke in a sweet voice.

"Mr. Edward Grant, you abandoned my mommy five years ago... Wait, that's not right. My mommy left you because you were terrible in bed.

"I hereby notify you: Your trophy is now mine. It'll make a perfect nutcracker."

The entire venue fell dead silent. Three seconds later, social media servers crashed across the country.

Hashtags like [Edward Grant's Secret Son] and [Edward Grant's Terrible In Bed] instantly exploded to the top of the trending charts.

Down in the audience, struggling D-list actress Sophia Miller buried her face in her hands, praying for the floor to swallow her whole. But a spotlight had already locked dead onto her.

Edward strode toward her, a dangerous smirk playing on his lips. Backing her into a corner, he leaned in close.

"Terrible?" he murmured. "Looks like I'll just have to give you a hands-on demonstration to clear my name. And I'm going to track down that little walnut-cracking hacker and give him a much-needed spanking."

*****

"Mr. Grant, you abandoned my mommy five years ago..." The boy's voice boomed through the top-tier speakers, shaking the whole venue to its core.

I was Sophia Miller, the rising actress. I was so embarrassed that I could dig a hole and hide. I was tucked away in the farthest corner, and for a second, my heart froze.

Oh my god. My genius hacker kid finally pulled the trigger. I jerked my head up, staring hard at the massive LED screen on stage.

After a burst of static, a pudgy little face in tiny sunglasses took over the screen, grabbing everyone's attention.

That face was the spitting image of the man on stage, the newly crowned leading actor, Edward Grant, just in miniature.

My son, Lucas Grant, was lounging at his computer with his legs propped up, continuing his "public roast" in that babyish voice.

He said, "Sorry about that, I messed up. My mommy ditched you because you were terrible in bed. And she took off overnight.

"Now, here's the deal. I'm taking your trophy. It's right for cracking walnuts."

My mind blew up. It was like something detonated in my head, and all I could hear was buzzing.

The whole venue froze. Three seconds later, the gossip hit like a tidal wave, so loud it felt like the roof was about to fly off. Camera flashes went wild, and all eyes and lenses were glued to Edward.

He was rocking a designer suit, standing tall. His face was totally unreadable.

But after five years of knowing him, I knew that the more stone-faced he got, the madder he was inside.

My hands and feet went ice-cold, my nails digging so deep into my palms that the sharp pain kept me from passing out.

I was about to lose it. Lucas, you little menace. Didn't I tell you Edward was the main character here? He was way out of our league.

Five years ago, I got sucked into a novel and ended up as the villainess in this CEO romance, the one who tried to drug Edward to get ahead.

In the original story, Edward tossed me out of his bed that same night, blacklisted me, and my life went down the drain.

Desperate to survive, I nervously went through with the whole drugging plot. But I didn't expect that Edward, who was supposed to be totally uninterested in women, would actually play along that night.

I freaked out afterward. I was terrified he'd wake up and do me in like the book said, so I made a run for it in the dead of night.

But that one wild night landed me the mother of all jackpots. I wound up with Lucas.

For the past five years, I'd been laying low, living as a nobody D-list actress, all just to avoid Edward. And how did that turn out?

My own son served me up to Edward on a silver platter and made sure my public humiliation was livestreamed for the whole internet to see.

Lucas piped up, "You're up, Mommy."

On the screen, Lucas shot me a cheeky wink, and then the feed switched. With a sudden flash, the spotlight landed right on me. In an instant, all eyes were on me.

I was seriously about to lose it.

Everyone's eyes were full of shock, disdain, and gloating, stabbing into me like knives.

My cheeks were burning hot. I just wanted to disappear right then and there.

Suddenly, I was cast in shadow. Edward strode down from the stage, his long legs eating up the distance as he cut through the crowd, heading straight for me.

He loomed over me, his deep eyes full of stormy secrets I couldn't even begin to guess.

"Sophia," he said. His voice was icy and low, sending chills down my spine. "Long time no see."

I forced a stiff smile, my voice barely above a whisper as I croaked out, "Congratulations..."

Edward suddenly leaned in, so close that his warm breath tickled my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

I heard him speak, slow and measured, his voice meant for my ears alone. "Terrible in bed? Guess I'll have to clear up that rumor in person."

My brain just short-circuited. Clear up the rumor? Like how? Is he actually planning to prove it? That was scary.

Guess I was doomed. Seriously, was the author messing with me? I was supposed to be cannon fodder, just an extra, so how did I end up getting trapped by the male lead?

Edward was definitely about to blow his top. If this went by the original plot, he'd haul me off, lock me up in some secret room, and interrogate me.

Help. I don't want to end up as some specimen for research.