Chapter 2

I took a deep breath, forcing down the tremors that shook my entire body, and patted Pudge on the shoulder.

"Thanks, Pudge. Keep a backup of this video, and don't let anyone find out about it."

Seeing how pale I was, Pudge looked worried. "Alisson, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I stood up and straightened my clothes.

As soon as I reached the center of the set, I heard a shrill, sugary exclamation.

"Oh!" Jolie Wolf was carrying a cup of scalding hot coffee when she came straight at me.

I instinctively stepped sideways to avoid her. The coffee spilled onto the ground, splashing onto the hem of Jolie's own skirt.

"Boo-hoo... Alisson, why did you push me?" Jolie's eyes immediately filled with tears as she clutched her ankle, looking utterly pitiful.

The crew members around us hurried over.

"What happened?" Dressed in his costume, Ace rushed out of the crowd in a panic and swept Jolie into his arms.

Jolie leaned against his chest, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Ace, I was just trying to bring Alisson some coffee out of kindness. She not only rejected it, but pushed me...

"I know Alisson is your agent and that she usually gets to call all the shots on set, but I haven't done anything to offend her."

At that, Ace whipped around and glared at me, his eyes icy. "Alisson! What the hell is wrong with you?

"Jolie's still a rookie. You're supposed to be the experienced professional here, yet you're throwing your weight around on set and bullying a young woman just because you've been in the industry longer. Have you no shame?"

Everyone around us looked at me with contempt, as though I really were some vicious old hag who used her position to bully others.

"I didn't push her. She walked right into me," I said calmly. I could barely be bothered to defend myself.

"Enough! You're still lying?" Ace cut me off sharply. "Apologize to Jolie right now! Otherwise, you're off this set today!"

I looked him straight in the eye for three seconds. Without arguing, I turned and walked off the set.

That evening, I stood on the balcony, gazing at the stars scattered across the sky, and suddenly felt that the whole thing was pointless.

If his heart was no longer with me, there was no need to make an ugly scene out of it. We might as well part ways amicably.

With that thought, I opened my laptop and contacted a lawyer about getting a divorce.

Just then, the door opened. Ace was home.

As soon as he came in, he habitually wrapped his arms around me from behind, showing none of the disgust he'd displayed toward me earlier that day. "Honey, I'm exhausted. We shot three scenes late into the night today. My whole body's about to fall apart."

"Earlier, on set..." I fought the urge to shove him away and let him hold me.

"Oh, honey, that was just an act for everyone else." Ace immediately interrupted me. He cupped my face in his hands, looking at me with deep affection. "You know how closely the obsessive fans and paparazzi are watching us these days."

"If I didn't distance myself from you and act like I couldn't stand you, they'd attack you online. I insulted you to protect you. And I was only indulging Jolie to keep the production on schedule.

"Honey, you're the most understanding woman I know. You understand that, don't you?"

How had I never realized just how shamelessly hypocritical he was?

If I hadn't seen Pudge's video, I might still be the fool who could be deceived by a few sweet words from him.

"You've worked hard," I said, lowering my eyes to conceal the coldness in them. "The Starlight Awards ceremony is next week. I've already prepared your acceptance speech."

"Honey, you're the best." Ace took my hand and kissed the back of it. "Once I win Best Actor, we won't have to keep our relationship a secret anymore. I'll let the whole world know you're my wife."

"You've endured so much over these past five years."

That night, listening to the soft snores of the man lying beside me, I lay awake for the first time in my life.

The next day, I went to the set as usual. As soon as I reached the outer perimeter, I sensed that something was wrong.

More than a dozen obsessive fans wearing face masks had gathered around my car.

Before I could react, someone hurled a bottle of foul-smelling, unidentified liquid straight into my face.

"You old hag! Stay away from our Ace!"

"You're always leeching off Ace! You shameless tramp! Go to hell!"

"Beat her to death! Ace only has us! Let's make her pay for him!"