Chapter 1

Danielle's POV

The day Robert Lopez received his nomination, he rushed back from the film set overnight.

Having not seen each other in over two weeks, he took me with a fierce, desperate hunger. Once we were done, I stared through my haze at the mess strewn across the floor, and it slowly came back to me—we were in the middle of a fight.

Feeling a little embarrassed and annoyed, I sank my teeth into his shoulder.

"Don't think this means I'm forgiving you."

Robert froze for a split second. He didn't pull away and simply allowed me to vent my anger.

I thought he'd start coaxing and placating me the next moment, but when he spoke, it was just to say, "Danielle, shall we break up?"

The words hit me like a brick, leaving me utterly stunned.

Meanwhile, he looked at me with a casual, detached gaze, as if the man who'd just completely lost control and fully satisfied himself moments ago hadn't been him, and as if what he had just asked was merely a trivial matter waiting for my decision.

It wasn't that we hadn't broken up and gotten back together before in our ten-year relationship. But at this moment, the aloofness in his expression told me that whether I answered "yes" or "no" no longer made a difference.

I clenched my fingers, got up, and scooted farther away from him. Just as I was wrapping the blanket around myself, his voice rang out again.

"Aren't you going to ask me why?"

"Is there a point?" I asked, looking back at him, my voice hoarse. "If I asked, would it change anything?"

Our eyes met. He was the first to look away, his expression unreadable.

"You're always like this."

I blinked in confusion. He let out a soft laugh, then climbed out of bed and started getting dressed.

"Actually, you know her. Hayley—my co-star in this new movie. Come to think of it, she was able to land the lead role partly because of your vote, too."

It was her?

My fingertips went completely cold.

As a relatively well-known talent manager in the industry, I'd managed quite a few rising actors. Hayley Freedman was one of them.

The first time I met her, she was still just an extra with barely any screen time. She'd stand in the corner quietly studying the veteran actors, yet she also possessed a good understanding of her character.

So, I signed her.

Later, when the director of Robert's coming-of-age romance asked me to recommend a leading actress, I gave her the opportunity.

"So…" I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat and looked at Robert. "Are you telling me all this right now just to disgust me?"

"I'm not that petty."

Fully dressed now, he walked slowly over to me. "I'm just saying that since you thought highly of her, you should know that she has a pure heart. She doesn't know about our relationship. I'm the one who couldn't control myself and went after her."

"You're willing to stay by my side without a title or a promise. But she can't. She needs a sense of security.

"So tomorrow, no matter the outcome at the awards ceremony, I'm going to publicly announce my relationship with her to everyone.

"I just want you to tell me now if you have any objections or if there's anything you want from me. I'll do my best to fulfill them. But after this, don't make things difficult for her."

Robert's words landed like a hammer, leaving my mind completely blank.

What did he mean by saying I was willing to stay by his side without a title or a promise, but Hayley couldn't?

He was the one who'd promised that he'd give me a home once he made it. And so, for the sake of his career, and to stand by his side as his equal, I had scraped and clawed my way through the entertainment industry, navigating various social circles just to secure opportunities for him.