Chapter 1

In the third year of our relationship, my movie-star fiancé's childhood sweetheart, Anna Cloud, came back to town.

Her first order of business was to drag my fiancé, Ethan Grant, into a "showmance" to kickstart her acting career.

When Anna eyed my variety show slot, he told me, "You've got no portfolio. It'd be a waste in your hands."

When she wanted my engagement dress, he said to me, "I'll get you something even better later."

When she demanded my music compositions, he brushed me off with, "It's just a discarded draft. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill."

I didn't say a word.

Instead, I hopped onto social media and tagged the woman who had snatched my fiancé, my work, my dress, and my career opportunities with the caption: [Hey girl, did you go to Valdoria just to get a degree in stealing other people's lives?]

*****

In the third year of our relationship, Ethan was nominated for Best Actor.

We'd promised each other that once he got the nomination, we'd announce our engagement, and he'd give me a grand wedding.

When he promised me that, Christmas' fireworks were exploding outside the window. He told me he'd make up for all the secrecy and give me the world.

Now, that day had finally arrived. But so had his childhood sweetheart.

Anna was the daughter adopted by the Grant family, the girl Ethan grew up with.

I'd seen her photo. In a sun-drenched overseas estate, she was smiling like a porcelain doll.

Ethan said she saved his life when they were kids, so the Grants felt indebted to her for life.

So, when she approached him, saying, "Ethan, I want to debut. Let's trend as a couple," he didn't even bat an eye before agreeing.

I found out through the trending topics with the hashtags "Ethan and Anna childhood sweethearts" and "Elite family power couple."

The cover photo showed them under the magnolia tree at the Grant estate.

The comments were a frenzy. [Childhood friends are the GOAT. This is a straight-up fairytale.]

I scrolled until 3:00 AM.

"Ellie, Anna just got back and needs the clout," Ethan told me. "Hope you get it."

"What about our engagement?" I asked.

After a long silence, he said, "Let's hold off for now. It's not the right time to go public."

Then, they started constantly topping the trending charts, like posing for magazine shoots together and being spotted side by side at the airport and set visits.

A photo of him tying her shoelaces got 100,000 retweets. Fans called it "the definition of love."

As three years of memories tore through my mind, I held back the pain and made the hard decision to end things with him. But he just coolly invited me to coffee with Anna in tow.

When I walked in, they were already there, sitting in a booth by the window.

They were sitting so close that her hair was brushing against his chin.

As I approached, she looked up and flashed me a smile.

Ethan tried to pull his arm away, but she held on tight. "Ellie," he said, "don't make a scene. This publicity move is a win-win-win for the company, for Anna, and for me."

"That's why I'm bowing out," I replied. "I'm stepping aside so you two can be together. Isn't that enough?"

"It's just an on-screen romance," he sighed, his voice tinged with annoyance. "You know Anna and I are just like siblings."

I stayed silent. The sun was glaring through the window, reflecting off Anna's white dress so brightly it made my eyes ache.

Anna put her phone down and tilted her head, giving me a sweet, innocent smile. "Actually, we came here today because we have a favor to ask."

She spoke with a rising lilt, sounding all playful and coy.

Ethan spoke up for her. "I heard you landed a spot on Escape Masters."

My fingers twitched. My manager, Yvonne Shaw, had drunk through four rounds of meetings with investors and clawed it away from six other competitors.

She clutched her stomach and came out of a dinner meeting, squatting by the roadside, and sent me a voice message. "Ellie, this is the best I can do for you."

I was the one who had told Ethan about it.

"You don't have any major projects under your belt yet," Ethan said softly, meeting my eyes. "It'd just go to waste if you took it. Why not give it to Anna? She just got back and needs a shot."

I looked into his eyes and remained silent.

When Yvonne signed me, I'd just graduated and had nothing going for me. She told me I had the spark. I just lacked the opportunity.

I never told her how many opportunities I had already turned down for Ethan.

When my sister introduced me to a top-tier producer, I told her I wasn't in a rush.

When my mother asked if I wanted to study abroad, I said no.

Back then, Ethan had been cut off by the Grant family and was struggling to stay afloat. I just wanted to be by his side through the thick and thin.

When he needed a break back then, I went home and begged my foster mother to pull some strings for him. Now, he was trying to rob me of my own break for someone else.

Seeing I didn't respond, Ethan pressed on. "We are going to be a family sooner or later. Can't you just look out for Anna?"

Anna chimed in, "Ellie, once I've made a name for myself, we'll definitely pay you back."

I looked at her perfectly manicured face and that carefully maintained smile.

"Anna, talk is cheap," I said. "How about you wire me three million dollars right now, and once I'm a superstar, I'll definitely pay you back. Deal?"

Her smile stiffened, and she gave Ethan a hurt look.

Ethan frowned. "Ellie, do you always have to be so blunt?"

I stood up and looked down at him.

"Ethan," I said coldly, "going back to beg your parents or your sponsors would be a lot more honorable than sitting here trying to pull a fast one."

Before he could say a word, I grabbed my bag and walked out. The glass doors slid open, and a gust of wind hit me.

That night, I sat on the floor of my rental, back pressed against the bed frame, and cried every tear I had held back for the past three years.

My manager, Yvonne, sent a text. [The contract is signed, Ellie. Don't let me down.]

But even after everything, Ethan still messaged me. [I got Anna into the show. Look out for her on set.]

[You grew up in Southern Shores; brainy word games aren't your forte anyway. Let Anna have the spotlight. You're better off playing the 'clumsy' type. The audiences will eat it up.]

I stared at the screen for a long time and didn't reply.