Home / Romance / Fake To Fall / Chapter 45: Hollywood Ultimatum

Share

Chapter 45: Hollywood Ultimatum

Author: Lola Quinn
last update publish date: 2026-02-11 07:11:49

Ivy

I didn’t find out about the ultimatum in some dramatic movie moment—no tearful confession, no explosive argument, no sudden headline screaming across a TV screen. I found out the worst way possible.

By accident.

It was a random Tuesday afternoon. I was in the kitchen making tea, the kettle screaming like it had something urgent to say, my phone on the counter buzzing with notifications I was trying to ignore. I had finally taken the advice I gave myself in my notes app—I was limiting social
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Latest chapter

  • Fake To Fall    Chapter 50: Temptation at the Gala

    IvyThe city skyline glittered like a thousand scattered diamonds as I stepped out of the sleek black car. For a moment, I just stood there, staring up at the towering glass façade of the grand hotel, its windows glowing warm against the velvet night. The building didn’t just look expensive—it looked powerful. The kind of place where deals were made with smiles and destroyed with whispers.My heels clicked sharply against the marble steps as I ascended, each sound echoing louder in my chest than it did in the open air. I adjusted the strap of my dress—deep emerald silk that skimmed over my body like it had been poured there—and reminded myself to breathe.This wasn’t a runway.This wasn’t a competition.This was a gala.High-profile. Influential. Full of people who shaped narratives, controlled opportunities, and remembered everything.And of course, Lake was already inside.I caught sight of him the moment I passed through the revolving doors. He stood near the entrance to the ballro

  • Fake To Fall    Chapter 49: Midnight Confessions

    LakeThe apartment was quiet except for the faint hum of the city below and the irregular thump of my own heartbeat. The world outside our windows never truly slept—somewhere, a taxi honked; somewhere else, a siren wailed and faded—but up here, on the twenty-third floor, everything felt suspended. Like time itself had paused to see whether we would shatter or survive.I stared at the couch where Ivy sat, knees pulled up, arms wrapped around them like she could hold herself together that way. The streetlamps below filtered through the blinds, striping her face in light and shadow. The gold caught in her hair. The darkness pooled beneath her eyes.She hadn’t slept much.I could see it in the way her fingers traced the seam of her jeans over and over, like she needed something solid to anchor her. In the slight tremor of her shoulders. In the way she didn’t quite look at me, but didn’t look away either.“Lake…” she said finally, her voice low. Careful.That single word held exhaustion. H

  • Fake To Fall    Chapter 48: The First Ultimatum

    LakeThere’s a specific kind of silence that happens right before your life detonates.Not the peaceful kind.The deceptive kind.The kind where everything looks fine on the outside, but something underneath is ticking.That’s where I was the morning the ultimatum hit.I was in my kitchen, barefoot, staring at a cup of coffee I hadn’t touched. The city skyline stretched beyond the glass walls of my place, all clean lines and power and illusion. My phone buzzed on the counter.I already knew who it was before I looked.Sienna.Of course it was.I hadn’t answered her calls in weeks. Since the last “private conversation” she has tried to force it. Since the last time she implied she still had leverage over me.I stared at the phone.Buzz.Buzz.Buzz.Relentless.Finally, I picked it up.“Lake,” she said immediately, like she’d been holding her breath.“What do you want?” I asked.No greeting. No warmth. No pretending.A soft laugh came through the speaker. “You’ve always skipped the form

  • Fake To Fall    Chapter 47: Board Meeting Fallout

    IvyI should’ve known peace never lasts in my world.The grant issue was officially resolved. Signed. Sealed. Funded. The press release went out that morning, glowing and triumphant, painting our nonprofit as a miracle factory that had pulled itself back from the edge. Emails flooded in. Congratulations. Relief. Even a few apologies from people who had doubted me.I should’ve been floating.Instead, I was sitting in a stiff leather chair at the end of the boardroom table, watching a storm gather in human form.His name was Caleb Mercer.New board member. Wealthy donor. Former corporate executive. The kind of man who didn’t raise his voice, didn’t need to. The kind whose smile never reached his eyes.And he had been watching me since the moment I walked into the room.Not staring. Not openly. Just… tracking. Like a chess player studying the board before deciding which piece to sacrifice.The meeting started normal enough.We reviewed the numbers. Celebrated the grant win. Laughed about

  • Fake To Fall    Chapter 46: Friends’ Betrayal

    IvyThe first message came from Tasha.I was still in bed, half-awake, half-exhausted, scrolling through my phone like a zombie when I saw her name pop up. Normally, seeing her name made me smile. Tasha was my person. My ride-or-die. The one who knew everything about me—my fears, my dreams, my worst mistakes, my best moments.But the message wasn’t what I expected.Tasha: Are you okay?I frowned.Me: Yeah. Why?Three dots appeared. Then disappeared. Then it appeared again.Tasha: I just… saw the news.My stomach dropped.I already knew what “the news” meant.Lake’s confession had gone viral overnight. His past, his mistakes, his growth, all laid bare for the world to dissect like vultures over a carcass. Some people praised his honesty. Others dragged him through the mud like he was some kind of criminal mastermind instead of a flawed human who’d grown.But I hadn’t expected this.Me: Yeah, I saw it too. We’re okay.There was a pause.Then:Tasha: I don’t know, Ivy. This is a lot

  • Fake To Fall    Chapter 45: Hollywood Ultimatum

    IvyI didn’t find out about the ultimatum in some dramatic movie moment—no tearful confession, no explosive argument, no sudden headline screaming across a TV screen. I found out the worst way possible.By accident.It was a random Tuesday afternoon. I was in the kitchen making tea, the kettle screaming like it had something urgent to say, my phone on the counter buzzing with notifications I was trying to ignore. I had finally taken the advice I gave myself in my notes app—I was limiting social media, limiting the noise, limiting anything that could pull me back into that anxious spiral.Or at least, I was trying.Lake was in the bedroom, on a call. His voice was low, tight, and serious. Not angry. Not loud. Just… controlled. And that’s how I knew something was wrong.He wasn’t talking like himself.I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. I swear. But our apartment wasn’t big, and when someone changes their tone drastically, your body notices before your mind does.I turned off the kettle, pour

More Chapters
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status