Chapter 1

The video had no picture, but the car window wasn't fully closed, and the sounds inside carried through the gap.

"Ace, easy... You're being too rough..."

I recognized that sweet, coquettish voice immediately.

It belonged to Jolie Wolf, the fresh-faced new actress on the production.

Then came the heavy breathing of my husband, Ace Davidson, the award-winning actor who maintained a cold, untouchable image in public.

"You little vixen. I've had to look at you every day on set without being able to touch you. It's been driving me crazy."

"Oh, stop it. Alisson's still outside keeping an eye on things," Jolie said coyly. "Ace, I've been feeling nauseated these past few days. I took a pregnancy test, and I'm pregnant. When are you going to dump that old hag?"

The video fell silent for two seconds.

Then Ace's delighted voice rang out. "Really? That's wonderful! I'm finally going to have a child of my own! Don't worry, baby. Once I win Best Actor at the Starlight Awards, I'll come clean with her.

"She goes around barefaced every day now, looking like some middle-aged, frumpy housewife. How could she ever compare to your youthful beauty? If I weren't keeping her around so she'd continue working for me for free, pulling strings and securing business deals, I'd have gotten sick of her ages ago.

"Once I win the award and establish myself firmly in the industry, I'll give you and the baby the recognition you deserve."

"Really? You're the best, Ace! Mwah!"

The video ended there, freezing on the image of the black van rocking slightly.

I stared at the dark phone screen, my heart feeling as though an invisible hand had crushed it to pieces.

Five years of secret marriage. Five years of pouring everything I had into him.

I, Alisson Lawrence, had once been one of the most sought-after talent agents in the industry, with countless top-tier connections and resources at my disposal.

Five years ago, one of the biggest stars under my management betrayed me and turned on me.

My company faced enormous financial penalties, and a pack of unscrupulous paparazzi cornered me in an alley during a torrential downpour. They shoved and grabbed at me. One of them even raised a rock, ready to smash it into me.

At the critical moment, Ace, who was still working as a stunt double back then, rushed forward and shielded me with his body.

A rock split his forehead open, and blood mingled with the rainwater as it streamed into his eyes. He didn't even furrow his brow. He only looked at me anxiously, forcing a reassuring smile onto his face.

"Ally, don't be afraid. I'm here. No one's going to hurt you."

Later, at the hospital, I offered him a top-tier talent management contract, the kind other agents in the industry would have killed to secure, as a way of repaying him.

But he didn't even glance at it. He pushed the contract straight back toward me.

"Ally, I didn't save you for access to your resources or because I wanted to use you to climb the ladder. I just... couldn't stand seeing you suffer.

"I know I'm not good enough for you. I'm not asking you to look at me twice. I just don't want you to send me away.

"Even if all you let me do is work as your assistant or bodyguard, that's enough. As long as I have a legitimate reason to protect you and can watch over you from a distance, knowing you're safe, I'll be satisfied."

For the next six months, he truly asked for nothing.

When my stomach problems flared up, he'd stay awake all night making me broth. When someone tried to force me to drink, he'd rush in and take the alcohol in my place.

He even took on all kinds of stand-in jobs, getting beaten until his face was bruised and swollen, just to buy me a discontinued music box I'd casually mentioned wanting.

Back then, I was completely fooled by the mask of devoted, selfless love he wore.

Besides taking on the task of managing a newcomer with no connections or foundation, I also gave up opportunities to manage other artists.

I used every connection and resource I had, even spending the dowry my parents had left me, to turn him into the highly sought-after Best Actor contender he was today.

And what did I get in return?

Not only had he cheated on me, his own wife, but he was also disgusted by me for looking like an old, frumpy housewife.