Chapter 1

1

On the seventh year of our relationship, my boyfriend posted a photo of him kissing his secret obsession on Instagram.

"My success today would have been impossible without your silent support," his caption read.

I laughed until my eyes stung.

Every single thing he had―his career, his fame, his clothes―came from my family.

If he couldn't live without her support, then it was time for this irrelevant bystander to exit the stage.

My brother immediately called his assistant. "Tell the Sterling Group to terminate every single contract with Xander Huxley."

My mother made a post of her own. "Anyone who works with Xander Huxley is an enemy of the Sterling family."

Even my grandfather chimed in. "Cut off every resource Xander Huxley has. Starting today!"

It was my twenty-second birthday, and it was supposed to be our seventh anniversary.

Instead, Xander chose this exact day to go public with Mila Young, the girl he always told me not to worry about.

Watching their sweet photo, I felt a wave of nausea so strong it turned into a burning rage.

Xander knew more than anyone that Mila Young was the person I loathed the most in this industry.

I was a B-list actress, known for my hard work and actual talent.

Mila, on the other hand, relied on dirty tricks and a face that people called "fragile" but I called "lifeless."

She only had a career because Xander was pulling strings for her behind my back.

Everyone in the industry knew I was the one who built Xander from nothing.

They knew we were together, even if we hadn't made it official to the fans.

No one expected him to choose my birthday to announce his love for another woman.

Was he insane? Or was he just trying to humiliate me at my own party?

My friends in the VIP lounge looked at me with pity, their whispers turning into open disgust for Xander.

Suddenly, the heavy doors of the lounge swung open.

Xander came running in, looking breathless and frantic.

He reached out to pull me into a hug, but I stepped back immediately.

He reeked of Mila's cheap, sickly-sweet perfume. The scent made my head throb.

Then, a delicate figure drifted in behind him.

I stared, my eyes widening in pure disbelief.

Xander actually had the nerve to bring Mila Young to my birthday party.

"Why is she here?" I demanded, my voice cold as ice.

Xander didn't even look guilty. He grabbed a microphone from the side table and addressed the crowd.

"Everyone, I have an announcement to make."

"I know it's Viviette's birthday, but I've kept this inside for too long."

"Mila, come here," he said, reaching out his hand.

Mila walked past me with a shy, triumphant smile and took his hand.

The way they looked at each other was sickeningly sentimental.

They were even wearing matching designer outfits.

I stood there like a ghost at my own feast.

Mila leaned into his arm, looking like the cat that got the cream.

Xander smiled at the room. "Vivi and I have reached an amicable breakup. Mila is the woman I truly love now."

"I hope no one judges us. My feelings for Vivi were never really about love."

"I want our friends and family to witness our happiness."

"Mila has supported me in the shadows for so long. It's time I gave her the status she deserves."

He didn't spare a single thought for how I felt.

I didn't even know we had "broken up," let alone amicably.

Doing this on my birthday wasn't just a slap in the face; it was an attempt to bury me.

I was the one who poured every resource I had into his career.

The people in this room were the elite of the industry.

By tomorrow, I would be the laughingstock of the city―the girl who got played.

He said Mila supported him? Did he have a conscience at all?

What about the millions I spent on his branding? What about the roles I secured using my family's name?

If I had spent that money on the lottery, I would have at least seen a return.

Spending it on Xander was like throwing gold into a sewer.

My best friend, Sienna, couldn't take it anymore. She slammed her glass onto the table.

Xander's manager, Brenda, hurried over to try and smooth things over.

"Vivi, honey, don't be mad. Xander is young and impulsive. He's just looking for a bit of excitement!"

"Just let it go for a few days. He'll come back to his senses and realize he needs you."

"Realize he needs her?" Sienna spat, stepping forward.

She didn't give him a chance to speak. She walked right up and delivered a stinging slap to Xander's face.

"Who do you think you are? You drained Vivi's resources for years and you're still barely a B-lister!"

"You two shameless snakes have a lot of nerve showing up here!"

"We are settling this right now."

"Xander, if you don't go to the press and tell the truth, I will ruin you myself!"