Chapter 1
Steven Finch had just signed a young girl to his agency.
Just to make her happy, he gave her the wedding ring from our marriage.
"We're just playing a couple for the cameras. It's all for show," he said.
This time, I didn't throw a tantrum. I just nodded, acting all sweet and obedient.
As I walked away, I overheard Steven's agent complaining to him. "Your ship with Lisa is blowing up right now. Why are you still meeting up with Rhea?"
Steven replied, sounding totally chill. "What's the big deal? There are so many haters out there. Even if it gets exposed, Rhea will be the one getting dragged. What are you so worried about?"
Even after three years of marriage, Steven never once let the world know we were together.
He just let his fans drag me online, calling me a leech and a clout-chaser.
I waited outside Steven's door, holding back my words.
My phone buzzed with a message.
[Miss you. So when do I get my turn in the spotlight?]
I replied: [Today.]
*****
People inside were still talking.
"If you keep acting this way, isn't Rhea going to file for divorce?" the agent grumbled.
Steven chuckled. "She can't live without me. I signed the divorce papers on our wedding day, but three years later, Rhea still hasn't used them!"
His laugh was sharp and mocking.
I spun around and ran, unable to bear even one more second in that place.
Those divorce papers had been Steven's solemn promise to me.
Back when we had just gotten married, he knelt right in front of me, eyes swollen and red from crying, solemnly holding out the divorce agreement.
He said, "Honey, if I don't make 300 thousand dollars within a year, just sign this. I want you to have the chance to find someone who really deserves you."
But now, Steven had become a rising star, pulling in a million dollars for every single episode he shot.
But less than three years after making that promise, he was already having an affair with Lisa Thomson, the young actress he'd just signed.
He bought her two apartments and a car. He gave her the best TV roles.
He even got her endorsement deals, ones that a newcomer like her would never normally have a shot at.
But Lisa was still dissatisfied. She kept pushing Steven to state his feelings outright.
Steven was totally smitten with Lisa, thinking she was irresistibly cute.
So he handed over the wedding bands that were supposed to symbolize our bond.
This wasn't the first time she'd stolen something that should've been mine.
I first found out about Lisa when Steven mentioned his studio had brought in a new recruit.
At first, I was genuinely happy for him.
Signing someone new meant his studio had what it took to discover and nurture fresh talent.
It also showed that Steven's status in the industry was steadily rising.
That day, I cooked up a whole feast by myself and invited everyone from his studio over for dinner at our place.
But during dinner, Lisa set her sights on the brand-new bag I'd just gotten.
"Rhea, is that the latest Louis Vuitton? I'm so jealous! I couldn't even snag one for myself," she gushed.
I didn't really read into it, but Steven really perked up at her comment.
The next day, my bag vanished without a trace.
When I asked Steven about it, he just brushed me off, saying he'd lent it to someone.
Later, I saw my missing purse dangling from Lisa's arm.
When Steven wasn't looking, she came up to me, smiling smugly and flashing the bag.
Lisa smirked, "Does it even matter if you like it? All I have to do is say the word, and he'll hand it over to me."
When I got home that day, I blew up at Steven, and I couldn't hold back anymore.
Usually, whenever I lost my temper, he always had a trick up his sleeve to make me laugh. But not this time.
This time, Steven cut me off while I was sobbing, his face full of impatience.
He just called me a resentful wife, like all I ever did was whine.
He looked at me and said with a sneer, "Rhea, you're just so boring now."
After that day, there had been a rift between Steven and me.
And Lisa? She wasted no time marching right in and making the most of that opening.
The second time, Lisa kicked up a fuss at Steven.
Steven just gave her the female lead in a TV drama, the one that was supposed to be mine.
Afterward, he comforted me, saying she was just a silly young girl and I should be more understanding.
Then it happened a third time, a fourth time... Before I knew it, it was a regular thing.
Lisa swooped in and snapped up nearly all the gigs that should've gone to me.
With Steven backing her every step of the way, this rookie actress actually made it into the ranks of the third-tier celebrities.
She turned into my biggest rival.
And online, the hate posts about me were everywhere.
[Rhea has totally lost it, right? First, she was mooching off Steven for fame. Now she's leeching off Lisa. Number one clout-chasing leech in showbiz, hands down!]
[So nasty! She even put out a PR blast about how she's "married" to Steven. Honestly, Steven's way too soft for not just dropping her already!]
[Somebody come rescue Steven from this thirsty bitch!]
[Lisa and Steven are made for each other! Scheming CEO and pure-hearted rookie. Honestly, they're total ship goals! I'm living for this toxic boss with sweet newbie drama!]
The online haters never let up, but at this point, it was just background noise to me.
My phone rang at the worst possible moment.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves before picking up.
"Rhea. Am I supposed to be your secret lover?" A man's voice sounded.
Before I could even respond, he just kept talking, "Honestly, being your secret lover isn't that bad. You two are going to split up sooner or later anyway, so it's only a matter of time before you're mine."
He continued, "Once you divorce him, you'll come to me, right? I'm way better than he is. Didn't you say I was the one you loved most in the whole world?"
For some reason, I suddenly pictured him as a clingy puppy.
I wiped away the tears at the corners of my eyes and, before I knew it, a laugh slipped out despite everything.
"I'll get a divorce. You're not my secret lover," I said.