Chapter 2

2.

There was a loud crash on the other end of the line.

After a long silence, Alan's voice came through, thick with excitement.

"Sienna! You finally said yes! I have been keeping this role open just for you!

I truly believe that with you in the lead, this film is going to sweep the awards!"

Before I married Grantley, his mother demanded that I quit acting to focus on the family.

For three years, I had been in a state of retirement.

I only appeared in public as Grantley's trophy wife for essential events.

I had almost forgotten what it felt like to be the youngest Best Actress winner.

But in one month, I would have my divorce papers and return to the career I loved.

"Sienna, when can you get to London? I am ready to start right now!"

I looked at the calendar and spoke softly.

"The 6th of next month."

That was the day I would pick up the final divorce decree.

The moment I had that paper in my hand, I would fly to London.

I spent some time discussing the character with Alan before hanging up.

As I got into my car to drive home, my phone chimed.

It was a special notification sound I had set for a specific person.

I tapped the screen, and Grantley's latest social media post popped up.

"I will do anything as long as you promise to stay with me."

The post included a photo of the signed divorce papers and a picture of him holding hands with Nina Hayes.

Grantley's account was seven years old.

He had only ever posted three times before this.

The first was the day I agreed to be his girlfriend.

The second was a congratulatory post when I won my Best Actress award.

The third was a high-profile declaration of love on our wedding day.

But now, those three posts had been deleted.

Only this new one remained.

In the comments, Nina's fans were throwing a digital party.

"Oh my god! The CEO and the gorgeous starlet! I am totally shipping this!

Our Nina deserves this! That old woman should have stepped aside a long time ago!"

Soon after, my name was trending on social media again.

The headlines were brutal.

"Former Best Actress Sienna Sinclair Divorced and Kicked Out of the Vaughan Family!"

"Shocking! The Model Couple of the Century Falls Apart After Three Years!"

When I married Grantley, I never thought we would end up here.

We had survived the days when the Vaughan family tried to tear us apart.

Yet, we couldn't survive Grantley's change of heart.

I pushed down the bitterness in my chest and left a comment under his post.

"Congratulations to Mr. Vaughan on his new beginning."

The moment I hit send, my former manager, Janice, called me.

"Sienna, about you and Grantley..."

Janice had been there since the start, watching me climb to the top.

Even though I had stopped acting, we remained close friends.

I could hear her hesitation, so I spoke first.

"Janice, it is true. Grantley and I have signed the papers."

Janice was silent for a moment, letting out a long, heavy sigh.

"I watched him pour his heart out for you back then.

I really thought he was different from the other rich bastards."

The sun filtered through the trees, casting shadows across my face.

When I married him, I thought he was a rare, faithful soul too.

Looking back, Grantley must have just been a very good actor.

He was so good that he even fooled an Academy Award winner like me.

"Forget it, let's not talk about him.

Make sure you are on time for the awards ceremony tonight. I am already here."

Before I got married, I had filmed one last movie called "Everlasting."

Because of the massive post-production work, it wasn't released until last year.

It had already won several international awards.

I had been nominated for Best Actress at the Global Film Awards because of that role.

The ceremony was tonight.

After hanging up, I drove straight to the venue.

As soon as I found my seat, there was a sudden commotion at the entrance.

I looked over and saw Nina Hayes entering, clinging to Grantley's arm.

Reporters swarmed them instantly, shouting questions.

"Mr. Vaughan, do you feel any regret about ending your three-year marriage to Ms. Sinclair?"

"Ms. Hayes, don't you think your behavior is unethical, given that Mr. Vaughan divorced for you?"

Facing the sharp questions, Nina lifted her chin and smiled brightly.

"I, Nina Hayes, would never be the other woman.

Grantley and I only officially got together after he was divorced.

His marriage with Sienna had problems long before I came along. It is not my fault."

Grantley looked at her with pure adoration.

"I have no regrets. When love dies, marriage becomes a prison.

Divorce is a liberation for both parties."