Chapter 3

3.

Every word felt like a knife twisting in my heart.

A prison...

So our marriage had become a suffocating cage to Grantley.

Janice, sitting next to me, gripped my hand in concern, her eyes full of pity.

I shook my head and watched Grantley carefully lift the train of Nina's dress.

I felt a self-deprecating smile touch my lips.

In truth, it had become a prison for me as well.

I knew our love had rotted, but I had kept my eyes closed, lying to myself.

Fortunately, in one month, we would both be free from that cage.

The ceremony began shortly after.

When it came time to announce the Best Actress winner, my palms were slick with sweat.

When I filmed "Everlasting," I thought it would be my final performance.

I had poured every ounce of my soul into that role.

Winning Best Actress tonight would be the perfect period to my domestic career.

The host held the envelope, scanning the nominees before speaking slowly.

"The winner of this year's Best Actress award is..."

"Nina Hayes!"

The room erupted into thunderous applause.

Nina leaned over and kissed Grantley on the cheek before floating up to the stage.

Disappointment washed over me, but I quickly masked it.

Janice leaned in and whispered furiously into my ear.

"Sienna, this is wrong. I checked with my sources.

The judges raved about your performance. You were the clear winner.

I bet Grantley bought her that trophy..."

Before she could finish, I shook my head.

"No, he wouldn't."

Grantley was a lot of things, but he usually kept business and pleasure separate.

He wouldn't play dirty behind the scenes.

Even when we were madly in love, he never pulled strings for me.

"The new generation is rising. Maybe her performance just moved the judges more."

Janice was still fuming.

"How could her commercial fluff beat your masterpiece?"

I patted her hand to calm her down.

"It does not matter anymore.

I am leaving for London in a month to start a new project."

Janice's eyes widened, and her voice shook with excitement.

"London?! Is it that director Alan who has been begging to work with you?"

I nodded with a smile.

"That is incredible! Alan is a world-class director.

Do not forget about me when you become an international superstar!"

I promised Janice I wouldn't, and she finally left to handle other work.

Since the Best Actress award was over and I had no other business there, I decided to leave early.

As I passed the backstage area, I saw Grantley standing there with a massive bouquet of red roses.

I clenched my fists and tried to walk past without being noticed.

Then, a sycophantic voice drifted from the shadows.

"Mr. Vaughan, we did as you asked and switched the Best Actress winner to Ms. Hayes.

Is there anything else you need?"

I froze in my tracks.

Grantley's casual voice followed.

"Just keep your mouths shut.

I do not want Nina to find out that the award was supposed to be Sienna's."