Chapter 1

My wife once fought tooth and nail to break into Hollywood just to chase after me. She confessed her love to me publicly on talk shows and red carpets.

“Garrett Cross is my sun,” she had told the press. “Brilliant and warm.”

“I came here just for him, and I’ll love him forever.”

Yet, in the eighth year of our marriage, the paparazzi caught her in a car, hooking up with a rookie actor for hours.

I spent a fortune to buy the raw footage before the tabloids could run it.

On the tape, I heard her softly cooing to that young boy.

“You’re my real favorite sun now,” she purred.

“Garrett is washed up. He doesn’t deserve me anymore.”

My heart turned to ash. I finally realized that no sun shines forever.

Maybe I had only lit up her world for a brief moment.

And like a fool, I thought it was eternity.

1.

Chelsea came home with an unnatural flush across her face and neck.

I sat on the couch, staring blankly at the TV while the cold takeout containers sat on the table before me.

She glanced at the messy table, her tone laced with irritation.

“Why didn’t you wait for me before eating?”

I pulled my eyes away from the screen and answered evenly, “What kept you so late tonight?”

She let out a dry laugh. “What, do I need your permission every time I get home late now?”

“My big-shot former A-lister, are you just sitting at home with too much time on your hands?”

I looked at her. Ten years ago, this girl followed me across the country just to be near me.

She used to swear she would be my number one fan for life. Now, her eyes held nothing but annoyance and exhaustion.

After eight years of marriage, whatever fire we had was burned down to a pile of messy ashes.

“I was just asking,” I said quietly.

“Stop asking stupid questions! I’m starving. Make me something to eat.”

She barked the order as if I were a servant on twenty-four-hour standby.

“Make it yourself. I’m exhausted.”

I stayed on the couch, not moving an inch.

“You haven’t shot a movie in years. All you do is lounge around the house. How the hell can you be tired?”

She tossed a designer gift box straight onto my chest.

“Here. Your anniversary gift.”

“I was busy yesterday and couldn’t make it home. Is that why you’re giving me this attitude?”

She spoke so casually, as if I were the unreasonable child in this house.

“Take the gift and wipe that dead expression off your face. Go make me something to eat.”

“Honestly, what’s the point of being married to a useless bum who stays home all day?”

I swatted the gift box away. It crashed to the hardwood floor with a dull thud.

“Don’t you have two hands? Feed yourself.”

Chelsea froze in shock before snapping with pure rage. “I spent hours picking that out! Garrett, don’t be an ungrateful prick!”

The box popped open, scattering bright green crinkle paper across the floor.

Resting right in the middle was a vibrant, emerald-green tie.

I let out a bitter laugh. “Hours picking it out, huh?”