Chapter 1
The lights in the livestream room were blinding.
Bella Winters sat on the couch, cameras shoved in her face from every direction. There was nowhere to hide, not even a single eyelash.
The comments were already flooding in.
[Did she get work done?]
[Mr. Carter must've been cursed to end up with her.]
[Hurry up and divorce her. Chloe's still waiting.]
Bella didn't check her phone, but she already knew.
She was used to it by now.
*****
She'd been married to Leon Carter for three years, and for three years, she'd been getting dragged online.
From not good enough to scheming bitch to why won't she die already, the trolls weren't exactly creative, but they were nothing if not persistent.
The door to the dressing room swung open.
Leon walked in.
He was dressed in a crisp white shirt and black slacks, his jawline so sharp it could cut the camera.
Leon didn't glance at Bella. He walked straight to the farthest end of the couch, sat down, crossed his legs, and stared off into space.
The comments exploded.
[Hubby's so hot!]
[With looks and that vibe, how did Bella land a guy like him?]
[Sitting that far apart, he's not even bothering to fake it anymore.]
[He was totally forced to do this, feel bad for Leon.]
The PD jogged in, keeping the camera fixed on Leon's face, as if he were the only thing on this show worth filming.
Bella lifted her coffee cup, the base making a soft clink against the tray.
Leon didn't move.
She smiled, lowered her head, and took a sip of her coffee. Sweet, she liked it.
The door to the lounge swung open for the third time.
The comments went wild.
[Chloe's here!]
[Holy crap, it's Chloe!]
[She's the real female lead in my heart.]
[Chloe's the prettiest, no one else even comes close.]
Chloe Lane was dressed in a misty blue dress, her hair half-up, tiny pearls dangling from her ears. She looked like the dream girl straight out of a romance show.
She held two glasses of juice, her smile soft and a little shy, lingering at the doorway as if she wasn't sure whether to step inside.
"Bella, Leon, I brought you some juice," Chloe said. Her voice was quiet, but the mic caught every ounce of sweetness.
Leon finally moved. He looked up at the doorway, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
The comments went wild.
[Oh my god, he's actually smiling!]
[Stone-faced with Bella, but grinning at Chloe. If that doesn't say it all...]
[Chloe's such a sweetheart, bringing juice and everything.]
Bella glanced toward the doorway, her gaze falling on the delicate bracelet around Chloe's wrist. The little L pendant sparkled under the lights.
She knew that bracelet all too well.
Last month, Chloe had posted a selfie with the caption: [Another day being spoiled.] She was wearing that exact same bracelet.
The comments were buzzing with guesses about who gave it to her, and Chloe replied with a shy emoji—never said no to any of them.
Bella looked away and took another sip of her coffee.
Chloe walked in, heading straight for Leon and handing him a glass of juice.
Leon took it and said something, but his voice was too quiet for the mic to catch. Chloe grinned, her eyes crinkling with happiness.
Then she made her way over to Bella, her steps light and fluttery, like a butterfly. "Bella, this one's for you."
Chloe set the juice down in front of Bella, then plopped down beside Bella, tilting her head, her expression suddenly a bit hesitant. "Bella, don't be nervous. I know you can't let Leon go, but it's okay. We'll all be here for you."
Her tone hit the right note of concern, like she was genuinely comforting someone about to get divorced.
The comments exploded.
[Bella can't let go? Why would she even want to?]
[You can't force love, girl.]
[Chloe's way too nice, actually trying to comfort her.]
[Ugh, I'm gonna throw up. Bella's such a schemer, she doesn't deserve any sympathy.]
[Leon and Chloe are the real deal. Bella's the homewrecker.]
Chloe, as if she was channeling the comments, added, "You can't force love, you know. With everything you've got going for you, Bella, you'll definitely find someone even better."
After Chloe finished, she shot Leon a quick glance.
It was so fast, one'd have to watch it frame by frame to catch it.
But Bella caught it. It was one of those looks women gave each other, gentle on the surface but with that smug, victorious vibe, like she was offering pity from her winner's throne.
Bella set her coffee cup down.
She turned her head and looked Chloe straight in the eye. "Are you done?"
Her voice was steady and quiet, but in the silence of the lounge, every word was crystal clear.
Chloe blinked, caught off guard; she clearly hadn't expected Bella to be so blunt.
Her eyes went watery in an instant, lips trembling, her voice wobbling with the threat of tears. "Bella, did I say something wrong? I was trying to comfort you."
The comments went wild.
[Bella, what's with the attitude?]
[Chloe's about to cry, and Bella's being a total bitch.]
[So her real face is finally showing.]
[Leon, are you seeing this? That's the real Bella.]
[Poor Chloe, getting bullied by someone like her.]
Leon finally turned to face Bella.
His gaze was icy cold.
"Bella, that's enough," Leon said, his voice quiet but every word cutting like a blade. "Chloe's trying to help. You need to stop acting like everyone's out to get you."
Bella looked into his eyes, the same eyes she once thought she'd be gazing into for the rest of her life.
Suddenly, she laughed.
It wasn't bitter, it wasn't cold; she actually found it funny.
"Leon," Bella asked, "are you speaking up for her?"
Leon's brow furrowed, but he didn't deny it.
The comments went wild.
[Duh, of course, he's on Chloe's side. You really think he'd stand up for you?]
[Bella, are you seriously this clueless?]
[Leon's made it pretty obvious.]
[Divorce, I'm begging you!]
Chloe's tears started to fall, and she hurriedly wiped them away, shaking her head over and over. "Leon, please, don't say anything. It's my fault. I shouldn't have come. I upset Bella."
She stood up, as if she was about to leave.
Leon reached out and gently took hold of her wrist.
The bracelet sparkled under the lights.
"You don't have to go," Leon said, his voice suddenly gentle, like he was comforting her. "It's not you who needs to leave."
The livestream hit 15 million viewers.
The comments were flying so fast that one couldn't read a single one.
All one could see was a flood of [Chloe], [Poor thing], [Leon is so hot], and [Bella, get lost] exploding across the top of the screen.
Bella stared as Leon held onto Chloe's wrist, the little L pendant on her bracelet swinging right between them.
She couldn't help thinking how absurd it all was, like a scene straight out of a cheap, trashy drama.