Chapter 3

This was the first time I'd ever called Benjamin by his full name.

Before this, I'd always just called him "Ben," like we were real family.

Of course, Benjamin wasn't actually my brother. He was my mom's second husband's nephew.

I'd known Benjamin way before I ever met Steven.

When my mom married my stepdad, I was barely six years old.

Benjamin was just ten then. We were the only kids in the whole house.

So, from the moment I moved into the Brooks family to the day my mom and stepdad finally called it quits, I was basically glued to Benjamin every single day.

After my mom's divorce, Benjamin and I completely lost touch.

Until I turned twenty. That was when Benjamin barged back into my life, once again taking on the role of my "big brother."

Now, as the sound of a Maybach pulled up outside the villa and a knock echoed at the door, it hit me. I was suddenly right back to being eleven again.

One day, Benjamin had ditched his basketball buddies after school. He cried as he rode his bicycle until he found me in the park, where I was lost and scared.

He'd come for me like some kind of superhero. Just a superhero who couldn't stop crying.

I swung open the door, and there was Benjamin, dusty from travel.

I felt my eyes sting with tears.

"Ben... Sorry for bothering you so late." My voice trembled.

Ever since I called him, Benjamin had kept the line open the whole time, never hanging up.

I knew he was probably speeding over here, and I knew I shouldn't keep him on the line.

But I just couldn't put down the phone. I was clinging to it like it was my last hope.

Suddenly, a man standing right in front of me let out a low, mocking laugh.

"So after we broke up, you tossed your whole career aside just for a guy like him?"

My reunion with Benjamin had been nothing but a coincidence.

Once my acting jobs pretty much disappeared, I started dragging myself from one audition to the next, all on my own.

Then, Benjamin, the famous actor who'd been off the grid for two years, reappeared as a producer and reached out to me.

"So after all this time, Steven didn't give you even one leading role?" Benjamin asked.

I didn't say anything because he was right.

Benjamin stood there in front of me, just the way he always did.

Except now, that familiar gentle look was gone, replaced with disappointment and frustration.

I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes.

I was scared he'd just forget about looking cool, pinch my cheek, and call me a dumbass.

Lucky for me, he didn't.

"Rhea, my first female lead role has always been empty. Do you want to take a look?" Benjamin asked.

I looked up, completely taken aback, only to find myself hopelessly drawn into those attractive eyes.

I wondered what he was going to do.

Was he really just helping me out like family? Or as the ex-boyfriend who left me four years ago, trying to give me an easy exit?

My phone buzzed nonstop with messages from Lisa.

Lisa: [Rhea, you better not divorce him! The real fun is that guilty thrill, trust me.]

Lisa: [Oh, by the way, did Steven tell you? He's celebrating your second anniversary with me.]

I turned off my phone. But in doing so, I caught a glimpse of my lock screen, a photo of Steven.

He'd set that photo himself, without telling me.

The only reason those nasty tabloid stories spread was because some paparazzo had snapped a pic of my screen.

Later, I learned he'd done it on purpose, so Lisa could laugh at the backlash against me.

"Alright," I said.

"Wait, seriously?" Benjamin seemed surprised by my answer.

I tilted my head, grinning up at him. "I'll take the lead role. Just gotta wait till I get that divorce first."

Once Benjamin found out I'd signed the divorce agreement, he started popping up in my life way more often.

But he never kept bugging me about when exactly I'd be leaving.

Instead, he took me to sort out my visa, passport, and even helped me get an international credit card, so paying abroad would be a breeze.

I quickly nailed down my plans.

Two weeks later, two days before the Starlight Awards, I would leave Riveton with Benjamin.

Everything was piling up, and for the first time in ages, I was actually busy again.

Besides handling all the paperwork, Benjamin would take me out and show me around town.

I never really grew attached to Riveton.

I only moved here because Steven's studio was based in this city.

Even after three years of being married, I'd never bothered to really look at this city.

Benjamin didn't really know his way around here either.

It felt like we were a couple on vacation, exploring a totally new city together.

We hopped from one food street to another, sampling everything that caught our eye.

Benjamin snapped dozens of photos of me everywhere that looked fun or scenic.

He took so many, it honestly felt like that fancy new camera of his was meant just for following me around and capturing every single moment with me.

The night I'd finally sorted out the divorce agreement and the release contract, Steven called me unexpectedly.

"We haven't talked for days. Still mad at me?" Steven said.

During those days when I was getting ready to leave, Steven brought Lisa to Oceyra City, saying it was all about meeting a famous director. But everyone knew it was a romantic getaway. Their whole act sent their shipper fans on socials into another wild hype-fest.

[They're such a perfect match! The chemistry is unreal!]

[Ship them forever!]

[Steven's out with his adorable wifey again. I live for this! More, please!]

[This ship is everything! By the way, Rhea's been MIA for days, not stirring up drama for once. Did she finally tap out?]

[Rhea finally figured out Steven's not into her! It's what we've all been waiting for!]

[But Rhea never actually said Steven liked her, did she? Just saying, I'm a Steven fan, so roast me all you want.]

[Go get your eyes checked! Seriously, who makes their boss's photo their wallpaper?]

[And all those press releases about her and Steven getting married? Please, it's so obvious she pushed those herself.]

[Seriously, can we just keep random irrelevant people out of the Steven and Lisa ship corner? Stop leeching off them and quit the scene already!]

"Honey?" Steven called out softly.

I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Nothing," he said after a cough. "I've been missing you. I'll be home in a couple of days, so just hang in there."

He added, "Oh, by the way, my assistant sent you a new endorsement opportunity. Check it out when you have a moment."

Honestly, it felt strange.

This was the first time in half a year that Steven had actually thrown any work my way.

Maybe he was just feeling a bit guilty after running off on that trip with Lisa.

I unlocked my phone and checked the ad Steven's assistant had sent over.

It was a drink endorsement, so bottom-of-the-barrel, not even a wannabe extra would want the gig.

I actually burst out laughing.

It was another stunt from Steven to humiliate me, just to entertain Lisa.

I was so fed up, I blocked Steven on every single social media platform. The only thing I kept was his phone number, strictly for dealing with the divorce and ending our contract.

During the last three days, I erased every trace that I'd ever lived in that house.

After making sure there were no disputes or unfinished business with my agent, I packed up and went to the hospital.

"You're in great health. No infectious diseases, and you're not pregnant," the doctor said.

When I finally got the test results from the doctor, I could finally breathe easy.

After putting up with a cheater for all these years, I was honestly terrified I might've caught something gross from him.

That night, I had my lawyer deliver both contracts to Steven.

He called me almost the second he got them.

"Rhea, what the hell are you doing?" Steven's voice was sharp. "You're really divorcing me?"