Chapter 1

My husband, the A-list Hollywood star Austin Montgomery, and I had been secretly married for three years. But today, I found private photos on his phone.

In the picture, my husband was kneeling between his childhood sweetheart Vanessa Ward’s thighs, carefully tracing a butterfly tattoo on her skin.

Just as I was about to confront him, a sudden car crash left him with amnesia.

When he woke up, he tenderly held Vanessa’s hand and claimed she was his wife.

My mind went completely blank. Before I could even speak, he had security throw me out of the hospital.

I was branded as an obsessed, violent stalker. For three long years, I endured endless cyberbullying and harassment from the public.

Three years later, Austin finally released a public statement to apologize to me. Vanessa stood beside him, giving me a playful, coquettish wink.

"Actually, I knew all along that Austin’s amnesia was fake," Vanessa whispered in my ear. "But he lost a bet to me back then. His punishment was to pretend to forget you for three years. You won't take it to heart, right, Sabrina?"

"Anyway, you should be used to being dragged on the internet by now. Just think of it as mental toughness training."

I stared at her, my eyes ice-cold.

"What about that butterfly tattoo?"

Austin’s face didn't even flicker.

"Vanessa literally stitched up a stab wound for me in a dark alley when we were teenagers. She saved my life. What's wrong with me giving her a tattoo? Stop throwing a tantrum over nothing, Sabrina."

"Now that we’ve cleared things up, we can have a public wedding. Consider it my compensation to you."

I didn't say a word. I just stared at him quietly.

Then, I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

The sharp slap echoed through the press conference hall. Every camera instantly locked onto us.

I spun around, my other hand rushing toward Vanessa’s cheek.

"Sabrina!"

Austin’s roar exploded behind me.

Before my fingertips could even graze Vanessa, a massive force shoved me from behind. Austin had pushed me away with brute strength.

I lost my balance and crashed backward, smashing right into a giant champagne tower.

Sharp glass shards sliced into my calves. Deep cuts opened up, and blood instantly stained my designer gown red.

Austin stepped forward, grabbing my collar and pinning me ruthlessly to the ground.

"Are you out of your mind?!"

I remained silent. Vanessa cupped her cheek and stood up, looking aggrieved.

"Sabrina, do you really have to be such a sore loser? We already explained it was just a bet. Besides, you’ve been living abroad these past few years, and your social media engagement has only gone up. Didn't you benefit from our clout?"

"Do you have any idea how many rising stars are begging to marry Austin? He’s literally offering to make you his official wife, and you're still playing hard to get?"

A bet?

A simple, casual bet in their eyes had thrown me into a literal hell of public hatred for three whole years!

The overwhelming abuse, the death threats, the word "SLUT" spray-painted all over my front door.

My mailbox had been stuffed with threatening letters containing razor blades, cursing my entire family.

My mother was too terrified to even step outside. Whenever I walked down the street, people would throw eggs and trash at me, screaming that I was a homewrecker who ruined a perfect couple.

And all of that pain, to them, was just a harmless little wager.

My eyes swept over Austin.

"I don't need your charity, Austin. Keep your title."

"Sabrina, stop talking nonsense, okay?" Austin’s voice softened slightly. He pulled out a silk handkerchief, attempting to press it against the bleeding cuts on my leg.

"Don't take it out on Vanessa. You know how we are. We've been bickering and teasing each other since we were kids."

I flinched away, avoiding his touch.

Oh, I knew exactly how they were.

I remembered my most important audition years ago. Vanessa had "accidentally" spilled hot coffee all over my dress, making me miss my slot.

All because Austin hadn't replied to her text message fast enough.

And then there was my award celebration party. She spiked my drink, making me lose control and embarrass myself in front of all the industry executives.

Every single one of their little games or fights ended with me paying the price.

And Austin?

He went from being anxious and apologetic at the beginning to a cold, indifferent bystander, claiming I was just "too sensitive."

That transition took him less than a year.

The atmosphere in the dressing room was suffocating.

Someone tried to break the silence.

"Alright, alright, it’s all a misunderstanding. Everyone, please stop filming."

A staff member stepped in to smooth things over, guiding the reporters to the backstage area.

Austin stood up, completely ignoring me.

Right in front of all the media cameras, he naturally reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair away from Vanessa’s forehead.

His touch was so tender, so protective. It looked like they were the married couple, and I was just a crazy intruder.

Vanessa faced the cameras, putting on a perfect show of a victim choosing to be the bigger person.

"I don't mind, really. Sabrina has probably been under a lot of pressure these past few years."

With that, she turned toward the catering table and picked up a thick slice of chocolate cake.

Vanessa walked over to me, her smile sweet and venomous.

The next second, she slammed the entire cake right onto my head.