Chapter 1
On our fifth wedding anniversary, Mason Pierce showed up at the film's premiere night as one of the investors.
On the big screen, a video message from the leading actress played, where she shared her heartfelt wishes for the movie.
Mason, never one to fangirl over celebrities, watched her on the screen with a soft, affectionate smile.
Flashbulbs flashed everywhere as a reporter shouted, "Mr. Pierce, are you starstruck, too?"
Mason kept his eyes on the screen, his voice gentle: "No, she's the woman in my heart."
I sat in the audience, absentmindedly twisting the wedding ring on my finger, the once-bright band now dull and lifeless.
'Then who am I to you?' I wondered, a wave of emptiness washing over me.
*****
By the time the premiere wrapped up, a torrential downpour was raging outside.
The rain drummed wildly against the walls, its frantic rhythm echoing through the night.
Mason stepped out of the venue.
He was clearly caught off guard when he saw me. "What brings you here?"
I'd never told him I was the writer behind the movie he invested in.
For eight years, everyone saw me as just a housewife, but I was also a hotshot screenwriter.
The invitation to the premiere came straight from the director.
Jasmine Jensen stepped out of the venue in a delicate evening gown, her cheeks tinged with a rosy glow.
She seemed a little tipsy, like she'd had more than a few drinks.
"Mason," she called softly.
Mason turned around at the sound of her voice, his hands instinctively steadying her arms, concern written all over his face. "How much did you drink?"
Jasmine nestled her head on Mason's shoulder, her voice soft and teasing. "I toasted a few extra rounds with the director. He said he wanted me as the lead in his next movie, too."
Mason slipped off his jacket and gently draped it over her shoulders. "You don't have to work so hard. My money could keep you comfortable for a lifetime..."
A wave of cold air washed over me, making the night feel even lonelier.
Jasmine snorted to herself, a self-deprecating sound escaping her lips.
Back when Mason's business went under, he needed 1.3 million dollars to save the company.
I had a blockbuster original script in my hands, and all the major investors and directors were vying for it.
Decisively, I sold the script, but only on one condition: Mason had to be named as the investor.
The director had a writer he wanted to put in the spotlight, so he agreed to my terms, only if I accepted his condition, too.
No one could ever know I was the real writer behind the script.
After that, the TV drama soared to the top of the ratings.
Just by being listed as the sponsor, Mason turned his nearly bankrupt company around overnight.
From there, he made his official debut in the media world.
With my behind-the-scenes push, he became a top dog in the industry.
Everyone in the business knew his name.
I paved the way for his brilliant life, but in the end, he chose to shine on someone else, not me.
Jasmine clenched her fist and gave Mason a playful tap on the chest. "You know I'm not some hothouse rose..."
Mason smiled at her with gentle warmth.
The driver pulled the car up to the entrance and, spotting me, called out, "Mrs. Pierce..."
Jasmine paused, not realizing the driver was talking to me. She thought Mason was calling out to her.
She shot Mason a playful glare. "Hey, come on. When did I ever say yes to that?"
Mason's cheeks flushed as he looked at me, a flicker of panic crossing his face.
But in the end, he still held onto the tipsy Jasmine, guiding her into the car.
In the pouring rain, the black Maybach slowly disappeared into the night.
As the Maybach faded into the rainy night, someone whispered in my ear, "Was it worth it?"
I let out a soft laugh. "Who cares? Life's still long. If something turns out to be trash, just toss it out."
The voice sounded again, "I heard you've got a new blockbuster script in the works?"
I turned around and met those bright, sparkling eyes. "Mr. Higgins, did you put a tracker on me or something?"
As I walked in, Mason still hadn't come home.
The living room was dim and lifeless, so quiet that it was almost creepy.
I slipped the ring off my finger and just tossed it away.
With a faint clink, it vanished somewhere out of sight.
I turned, headed upstairs, and pulled out my suitcase.
When I opened the closet, I realized I barely had any clothes.
After marrying Mason, I became a housewife. Most of what I owned was loungewear, nothing presentable to wear outside.
Even the ring he proposed with didn't fit.
All these years, the only things I ever bought were furniture.
But I decided to let it all go.
When the movers showed up, I was in the middle of smashing our wedding photos.
They froze for a second when they walked in, then one of the guys gave me a sheepish grin. "Divorce, huh?"
Another guy quickly slapped a hand over his mouth and apologized to me, "Sorry..."
"Yeah, divorce," I replied with a smile.
The guy rolled up his sleeves. "So, what do you want us to move?"
I gestured toward the room, realizing almost everything was mine. I looked at the two movers. "Uh, you might want to bring in a few more guys..."