Chapter 1

Backstage at the awards gala, in my custom haute couture gown, I watched my fiancé, Julian, slap a black card right across Bella’s face.

"It’s just a dress. On Chloe, it’s high fashion. On you? You look cheap."

Just as I felt a wave of warmth from his defense, glaring floating text flashed before my eyes.

[Ha! That’s not what he was whispering in the VIP dressing room yesterday.]

[The male lead is only with her for her family's fortune and industry connections.]

When Bella pulled out their secret matching necklace, I froze—it was identical to the custom piece around my neck.

Smiling, I unclasped mine and threw it straight into the trash can.

Julian panicked, wrapping his arms around me. "Chloe, you're the only one I love."

I shoved him off and pointed at the swarm of paparazzi bursting through the double doors.

"Director Drake, you'd better explain the baby in Bella’s belly first."

Backstage at the film awards gala.

I had just zipped up my designer gown when someone burst through the door.

Bella stood there, wearing the exact same custom dress, crying like a fragile victim.

"Julian, I swear I didn’t mean to. The brand sent the wrong rack," she sobbed.

"I didn't know this was your fiancée's special night."

My fiancé, Julian, an acclaimed indie director, was smoothing out my train.

Hearing her, he whipped out an Amex Black Card and slapped it straight across Bella’s face.

"It’s just a dress. On Chloe, it’s pure royalty. On you? You look like cheap trash."

"I told you before: don't flatter yourself."

He turned back and pulled me into his arms.

"Chloe, don't waste your breath on a nobody like her."

"Tonight's Best Picture award belongs to both of us."

The second the words left his mouth, bold, floating text began flashing across my vision.

[Pfft. That's definitely not what he was doing to her on the green room couch yesterday.]

[The rich heiress thinks she’s getting a proposal tonight. Little does she know, he's just using her family's trust fund to finance his dreams.]

[Who wants a prude workaholic anyway? Word is they sleep in separate bedrooms.]

[Bella is the only one who actually fuels his artistic passion!]

[Ugh, the original book's ending was way too soft on Chloe.]

[The leads end up traveling the world while Chloe raises their kid like a total doormat.]

Reading the floating comments, I instinctively pushed Julian away.

Bella stood frozen, her face pale.

Julian gripped my hand tightly, his voice turning ice-cold toward Bella.

"If Chloe hadn't been swamped with production schedules, you wouldn't have gotten a single audition."

"Bella, you were nothing more than a decoy."

"Now take the money and get out of my sight."

The crew members around us began whispering.

"Everyone knows Director Drake only cares about Chloe Vance. Some extras really don't know their place."

"Sleeping her way through casting and thought she made it to the A-list?"

"Just a side piece he got bored of."

[Don't talk too soon, sweeties.]

[Chill, he doesn't dare dump Chloe yet. He still needs her dad's production company.]

[That’s why our girl Bella wore the matching dress on purpose—to force him to face his real feelings!]

I pulled my hand completely out of Julian's grip.

Bella’s makeup was smudged, and her neckline slipped, revealing faint purple marks along her collarbone.

Biting back her tears, she walked toward Julian.

"Julian... are you really throwing me away?"

Julian grabbed for my arm again, trying to play the devoted fiancé.

Yet the slight tremble in his fingers gave away his panic.

"Fine. If that’s how it is."

Bella reached into her designer purse and pulled out a silver chain necklace.

"I actually believed you chose this design as the central prop of our movie because of me!"

My hand went to my own neck. Under my fingers was the identical pendant. A bitter chill ran down my spine.

Our joint career, my proudest project, had been marked by another woman all along.

"And this vintage film reel—you can have it back too!"

"You swore it was the rarest Kodak stock from your private collection! You said I was your one and only muse! It was all lies!"

She hurled the silver canister onto the floor.

"Hey! When have I ever lied to you—"