Chapter 3

3

I fell for Xander seven years ago when I saw him working as an extra.

Back then, he was a hardworking boy with honest eyes.

I always had an eye for talent, and I couldn't deny he was incredibly handsome.

I started looking out for him, making sure he got extra screen time and better lines.

Eventually, we exchanged numbers.

At first, he acted noble and turned down the opportunities I offered.

But once we became a couple, he started taking everything I gave him as if it were his birthright.

Looking back, there was never any heart in it.

It was all a calculated play for power.

Within thirty minutes of the party disaster, my mother and brother were at my penthouse.

The atmosphere was thick with tension.

"I told you years ago that boy was a bottom-feeder," my brother Landon said.

"Are you finally ready to listen, or do you need another slap from reality?"

He gave me a light, frustrated tap on the head.

I winced, unable to argue. "It happened. I was blind. I get it now."

"From now on, he's dead to me."

Landon glared at me. "Dead to you? That's it?"

"You were humiliated in front of the whole city and you just want to walk away?"

"Are you a doormat or a Sterling?"

I looked him in the eye. "I have a plan, Landon."

"Your plans usually involve buying him a new car!" he snapped.

I stayed silent, letting his anger wash over me.

He tapped my head again. "Little brat, are you even listening?"

My mom pushed his hand away and pulled me into a hug.

"Landon, stop it. Can't you see your sister is hurting?"

Landon rolled his eyes. "She's pathetic."

"Enough!" Mom scolded him.

She looked at me gently. "I trust you to handle this, Vivi. We won't interfere unless you ask."

"But if you're suffering, you tell us. Understand?"

I nodded, feeling the weight of her support. "I understand."

After they left, I began documenting every cent and every connection I had ever given Xander and Mila.

I wasn't going to let them breathe.

But they were faster than I expected.

The next morning, I woke up to a social media firestorm.

A twisted version of the previous night's events was trending everywhere.

My phone was blowing up with calls from Sienna.

"You finally picked up! I thought you'd gone into hiding!"

"Have you seen what those two snakes posted? You can't let them win!"

"Don't worry," I said, my voice cold. "I'm already ahead of them."

I logged onto X (formerly Twitter) and saw the headlines.

*SHOCKING: FAMOUS ACTRESS REVEALED AS JEALOUS STALKER.*

The top comment read: "I heard Viviette Sterling threw a fit because her ex moved on. She even hit his manager!"

Another person wrote: "I was at the restaurant. She was screaming like a maniac. Total spoiled brat."

The comments section was a disaster zone.

"I went to school with Vivi. She always stole other people's boyfriends. Once a cheater, always a cheater."

"She actually fired a manager for no reason? That's abuse of power."

Xander's and Mila's fanbases were out for blood.

"Stay away from our king! He deserves a pure girl like Mila!"

"Viviette Sterling is over! Cancel her!"

The situation was getting ugly. My brand deals started calling, asking for explanations.

Most of them wanted to drop me immediately to avoid the scandal.

My vision blurred with rage.

Tabloids were making up stories about me out of thin air.

Then, a "verified insider" posted a long thread.

"The truth is, Viviette tried to buy Xander's love. He wasn't interested, so she used her family's money to trap him."

"Now that he's found true love with Mila, Viviette is trying to destroy his career."

Xander himself liked that post.

His fans began sharing it like it was the gospel truth.

Suddenly, I wasn't the victim. I was the villain who couldn't take no for an answer.

I was the top trending topic in the country, and everyone hated me.