A-List movie star Ethan Hayes tweeted late at night: [How does my giant nephew just disappear while we’re on a walk?!] I was just taking a screenshot to text my manager and gossip about it when someone knocked on my door. I opened it to find the stray cat I always feed, sitting right next to the exact kid from the movie star’s photo. "Human, do you like tiny humans?" 1 Between filming projects, I often feed the stray cats in my apartment complex. There’s one beautiful tabby with a huge pregnant belly who always meows when she sees me. Before eating, she always rubs against my legs and gives two little meows to say thank you. Very polite. After feeding her for a while, she memorized which door was mine and started leaving little trinkets on my welcome mat. At first, it was dead mice and sparrows. I got jump-scared a few times. Later, she upgraded to pretty leaves and little flowers. I couldn’t resist taking a picture and posting it on Twitter. [Who gets daily flower deliveries from a feline knight? Me, that’s who!] My fans flooded the comments, praising me for being sweet and the cat for being an angel. Unexpectedly, the notoriously aloof A-lister Ethan Hayes actually left a comment. [Human, as long as you like it.] The internet immediately exploded, and people started shipping us. [Holy crap! The Ice King Ethan Hayes is actually trolling online? If this isn't true love, what is?!] [Ahhh, my rare-pair ship is finally sailing! I’ve been shipping them ever since they walked past each other at that awards show!] [Chloe Bennett is Hollywood’s most wanted girlfriend! Mr. Hayes, you have excellent taste!] My manager, Sarah, called me immediately, demanding to know what exactly my relationship with Ethan was. I racked my brain, but the only interaction I could think of was squeezing past his seat at the Oscars and whispering, "Excuse me." "Does Ethan Hayes have a secret crush on you?" "How is that possible?! I’ve only been in the industry for three years. Our paths have literally never crossed!" I rubbed my temples, opening my messages to text Ethan’s manager, trying to figure out the most polite way to handle this. After all, if the gossip blogs got ahold of this comment and spun a narrative, we’d never be able to wash our hands of the rumors. I hadn’t even typed two words when my phone started vibrating. I answered it. A deep, slightly embarrassed male voice came through the speaker. "Chloe, I am so sorry. My nephew accidentally sent that comment from my phone." 2 After discussing it with Ethan, we posted a joint statement. It was official and polite, explaining the misunderstanding and expressing a mutual desire to work together in the future. Even though it was a huge mix-up, seeing Ethan follow me back and add my number made me so giddy I couldn't help but roll around on my bed. There was a rustling sound outside my door. I grabbed the bag of kibble and opened it. The beautiful, heavily pregnant tabby stared at me with huge eyes and gave a soft meow. "Luna, you don't have to climb all these stairs just to bring me stuff! You're about to pop, you need to rest." I muttered to myself while pouring the food into her bowl. Luna habitually came over to rub against my leg. Hearing my words, she meowed in slight dissatisfaction. She used her paw to push today’s gift toward me—a perfectly dried butterfly. I carefully picked up the butterfly, rubbed Luna’s head, and thanked her. Only then did she give two satisfied purrs and start eating. "Luna, why don’t you just move in with me? Running around outside with that big belly is dangerous." I gently patted her swollen stomach, genuinely worried. Luna ignored me. After finishing her food, she washed her face with her paws, shook out her fur, and turned to leave. I forcefully scooped her up and brought her inside, but she just circled the front door, crying to be let out. "Human, I have a family. I will come visit you next time." A soft, gentle voice suddenly echoed right by my ear. I looked down. Luna was brushing her tail against the door, meowing. I must be hallucinating from staying up too late reading scripts. I shook my head, laughed at myself, and opened the door to say goodbye. 3 A new TV series started production. I asked my assistant to feed Luna every day while I hurried off to the studio lot. It was just a small guest role, so I didn't have many scenes. After wrapping up for the day, I would wander around the backlots, feeding the studio strays. The weird thing was, I kept hearing strange voices in my ears. "Garfield, you’re already so fat, stop eating!" "Oreo, you’re acting psychotic again, go away, go away!" "Watch out for the humans! Someone knocked me out last month, and when I woke up, I didn't have the equipment to chase the ladies anymore, boohoo!" On my last day on set, I went to feed the cats one final time. I was staring blankly at the cats happily munching away when someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around. It was Ethan Hayes. He seemed to be filming a historical fantasy epic. His long hair was loose, his silk shirt was half-open, and a thin layer of sweat glistened over his defined chest. He didn't look like the internet's "Aloof Ice King." He looked more like... a siren. Maybe my stare was a bit too intense. Ethan uncomfortably pulled his collar together and crouched down to pet the cats with me. I snapped out of it, my face burning, and quickly bowed my head to say hello. Ethan offered a gentle greeting, the tips of his ears looking a bit red. He smoothly pulled a pair of disposable gloves from his pocket before gently stroking a kitten. "Are you... allergic to cat hair?" "No, I just have a very jealous little monster at home with serious double standards." He seemed to think of someone. The corners of his lips curled up, his eyes crinkled, and the starlight in his gaze melted away his usual sharp, intimidating aura. Ah! The internet's ultimate bachelor was taken! I was so dizzy from this massive piece of insider gossip that I honestly didn't even remember how I drove home. I was just picking up my phone to text Sarah all the details when a sound came from my door. I opened it. It was Luna. She held her head high, carrying a beautiful little calico kitten in her mouth. "Human, this is my prettiest child." 4 I stared blankly at Luna. She closed her eyes, tilting her head up, waiting for me to pet her. Wait, what is happening? Am I actually hearing cats talk? "Luna? Is that you talking?" "Human, do not make a fuss." Luna flicked her tail and carried the kitten right into my apartment. The little calico seemed to have just been weaned, but she wasn't afraid of people at all. She immediately waddled over to my leg, purring like a motor. "Human, I have already educated her. From now on, you are her mother." Luna’s tail wrapped around my ankles. I finally snapped out of my shock and picked up the calico. She just gave a sweet, tiny "mew." "Human, the child is too young to speak yet." As if reading my mind, Luna answered me while licking her paw. I'm getting a cat! And I can talk to cats! I scooped up Luna and gave her a huge hug. She resisted slightly, pushing my face away with her toe beans. "Human, do not be startling." Once I calmed down, reality hit me. I had two back-to-back shoots lined up for the second half of the year. I would barely be home. Looking at the adorable kitten, I had to tearfully decline. "Oh, Luna, I really want to adopt her, but I have too much work this year. No one will be here to take care of her." Luna looked up at me blankly, then silently picked the kitten back up in her mouth and walked out. I chased after her, trying to explain, but she ran too fast and disappeared down the hall. Crap. I made the cat mad. Desperate, I posted on an online forum. [I rejected a mother cat's kitten and now she's mad. How do I fix this?!] My fans immediately flooded the replies with advice. [Bribe her with wet food! Works every time!] [Cats don't hold grudges! Don't worry, Chloe baby!] [Just explain it to her properly next time you see her and give her lots of kisses!] Ethan Hayes also commented, short and to the point: [Good human. The cat won't stay mad.] The shippers built a massive comment thread under his reply. I suddenly remembered Ethan's exposed chest from earlier that day, and my face felt hot. Hot men are a hazard to my health. I rushed to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face. When I checked my phone again, Ethan was trending at number one. Did he cause a scene because he commented on my post again?! I hurriedly clicked the hashtag, only to find he had posted a photo with a three-year-old boy. [How does my giant nephew just disappear while we’re on a walk?!] The comments were chaotic. Some told him to call 911, some speculated it was his secret son, and others thought his account was hacked. I was just taking a screenshot to send to my manager when someone knocked on my door. I opened it. Luna was sitting there, elegantly grooming her paw. Sitting right next to her was the exact kid from the movie star’s photo. "Human, if you don't like kittens, that is fine. Do you like tiny humans?" 5 The little boy looked about three years old. He was pale and chubby-cheeked, but the moment he saw me, his lip quivered like he was about to cry. Luna swept her tail across his face and gave an impatient meow. "Do not cry. This is your new mother." Her fluffy tail distracted him. He broke into a smile through his tears, but very seriously corrected her. "I already have a mommy." Then, he let out a massive sneeze. I frantically scooped him up, brought him inside, and dug out a string cheese to shove into his hand. The culprit, Luna, was leisurely rolling on my rug, looking incredibly pleased with herself. I pulled up Ethan’s contact info, my thumb hovering over the call button in distress. How do I even explain this? Hey, my stray cat gave me your nephew as a gift? I looked at the little boy. He blinked his big, round eyes, and the curve of his smile looked exactly like Ethan’s. Is this actually his secret kid? The boy suddenly spoke. "Auntie, I'm so hungry." "I'll go find you something to eat!" I agreed instinctively, only realizing a second later what he called me. Wait, Auntie? Luna hopped over to my feet, purring while cleaning her fur. "Human, I have already educated him. From now on, you are his Auntie." Looking at Luna’s proud face, I couldn't bear to burst her bubble, so I just nodded along. Hiding in the kitchen, I braced myself and dialed Ethan’s number. "Mr. Hayes, hello. Um, your nephew seems to be at my apartment." There were a few seconds of dead silence on the other end. I was cringing so hard my toes curled. How do I explain this? No matter how I phrase it, I sound like a kidnapper! His manager, Mark, finally spoke, sounding completely baffled. "Are you telling me that Ethan's nephew bypassed the security gate, entered the building code, dodged the lobby concierge, and went straight to your door?" He was about to say more, but Ethan cut him off. The man’s clear voice sounded raspy and exhausted. "Chl... Thank you. Could I trouble you to bring him over to my place?" 6 Ethan had already caught a chill from filming in the rain, and running around in the wind looking for his nephew had pushed him into a high fever. His manager, Mark, drove over to pick us up. Seeing the little boy happily eating at my dining table, Mark’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Leo is actually behaving for you?!" So his name was Leo. I had just boiled him a quick bowl of mac and cheese, but he was eating it like it was a Michelin-star meal. The moment Leo saw Mark, however, he burst into tears. Mark expertly pulled a teddy bear out of his bag, hiding his face behind it, and tried coaxing him in a high-pitched voice. But no matter what he did, Leo refused to leave. Mark could only look at me helplessly. "Ms. Bennett, could you please help us bring Leo home?" Me? "I've only known him for a few hours. I doubt he even likes me that much." But Mark’s pleading look was too much. I tentatively walked toward Leo. To my surprise, the kid immediately reached his arms out to me. "Auntie Chloe, hold me!" Mark was stunned. He looked at me, then at Leo giggling in my arms, and a look of sudden realization dawned on his face. I frantically waved my free hand to explain, but Mark practically shoved me into the back of the SUV. "It's totally fine! We never pry into our artists' private lives." I held Leo like he was a ticking time bomb. He fell asleep the second the car started moving. That unique, sweet smell of a sleeping toddler filled my senses. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and slept soundly, not even waking up when we parked. I had no choice but to carry him all the way up to Ethan’s penthouse. As we stepped out of the private elevator, a few paparazzi disguised as delivery men brushed past us. Camera flashes went off behind my back. Mark frantically tried to block them while I kept my head down and rushed Leo inside the apartment. 7 Ethan was wearing soft loungewear and a medical mask. His eyes were completely bloodshot; he clearly hadn’t slept all night. He nodded at me. "I am so sorry. This must have been a huge hassle for you." I smiled and shook my head, gently placing Leo on the massive bed. I tried to stand up, but my hair was locked in the kid's tiny, iron grip. Ethan walked over, wrapped his hand gently around my hair, and began carefully prying Leo’s fingers open. His movements were incredibly light. His gaze was focused and warm, and the tiny mole near the corner of his eye was entirely too captivating. I couldn't look away. "Got it." I don't know how long I was staring, but when I snapped out of it, Ethan’s beautiful eyes were locked onto mine. I couldn't read the expression under his mask. "Sorry, sorry! I didn't sleep well, spaced out for a second." I jumped back, my face burning like a furnace. I pulled out my phone and started babbling nonsense. "Um, my cat is calling me home." It is a universal truth that when people are embarrassed, they pretend to be very busy with their phones. But to my absolute shock, my phone actually started ringing. I hurried out of the bedroom. Sarah’s piercing scream nearly shattered my phone speaker. "Chloe Bennett! Since when do you have a secret child?!" Wait, what??? 8 I opened Twitter. #ChloeBennettSecretChild #ChloeAndEthan #ChlethanIsRealWeAreSaved My vision went dark. I instinctively looked up at Ethan. He whispered something to Mark, then looked at me apologetically. "You might have to stay here for a few days." Ethan took my phone. I have no idea what kind of smooth-talking he did with Sarah, but when he handed it back, my manager actually sounded thrilled. "Chloe, just stay at the A-Lister's place and learn from him for a few days! You don't have any shoots this week anyway." Then she hung up. I stared at Ethan, completely lost. He patiently explained. The paparazzi had snapped photos of me carrying a child into his building. Right now, they were swarming the lobby and the street outside. If I was photographed leaving, it would be a PR nightmare. As for the trending hashtags and the news, his PR team was already handling it. "I am truly sorry. I promise my team will make sure this doesn't negatively impact your career at all." Ethan started coughing, his voice sounding even more raw and raspy. I suddenly remembered he was a sick patient, yet he had been standing here negotiating with my manager for my sake. I nodded to let him know it was fine, but then a thought popped into my head. "Um, won't your girlfriend mind?" "Girlfriend?" Ethan frowned. "I don't have a girlfriend." Then who was the "jealous little monster" he mentioned? ...Was it Leo? An unexplainable wave of joy washed over me. I couldn't stop my lips from curving up, and I was still smiling when I woke up the next morning in his guest room. I was still in a daze when a chubby little hand started smacking my cheeks. "Ahhh! Ahhh!" I opened my eyes. It was Leo, looking incredibly panicked. "Auntie Chloe, Uncle Ethan is too hot!" 9 I bolted out of bed and ran to Ethan’s room. He was burning up, his skin radiating heat. I called Mark, but he was stuck at the agency headquarters handling the PR crisis and couldn't get back immediately. I ransacked the bathroom and kitchen, but I couldn't find any fever reducers. Seeing my panic, Leo burst into tears. Between trying to comfort a screaming toddler and frantically searching for medicine, I was losing my mind. "Human children are so much trouble." A familiar voice echoed. Luna leaped down from the windowsill and strutted over to Leo. Miraculously, he stopped crying instantly. "Human, the medicine is in the second drawer of his nightstand." I didn't have time to process how Luna knew where the meds were. I yanked the drawer open, found the pills, and rushed back to the bed. Ethan groggily opened his mouth. As I placed the pill on his tongue, the tip of it grazed the palm of my hand. The sudden tickle sent a jolt straight to my heart. I helped him sit up to drink some water. He forced his eyes open halfway. "Thank you, Chloe." His pronunciation of my name was so soft, I almost thought I imagined it. Seeing him start to sweat, I let out a sigh of relief. I was just about to turn and leave when he let out a low groan. "What's wrong?" I sat on the edge of the bed, letting him lean his weight against my shoulder. Those eyes—the ones legendary directors constantly praised as "cold, regal, and untouchable"—were currently drooping like a pathetic, kicked puppy. It was impossible not to feel soft toward him. "Headache," he mumbled, sounding exactly like he was pouting. I reached up to check the temperature of his forehead. He grabbed my hand and pressed it firmly against his skin. "That feels better." Having never been this intimately close to him, my face flushed. But I had no choice but to indulge him, using my cool hands to soothe his forehead, his cheeks, and his neck. His burning Adam’s apple bobbed up and down against my palm, making my thoughts entirely chaotic. Thank God Luna had dragged Leo out of the room to play. Otherwise, seeing my face this red, they probably would have thought I caught the fever too. Ethan seemed to still be uncomfortable. He kept holding my hand, guiding it lower, over his collarbone, and resting it flat against his chest. The firm, burning heat of his skin beneath my fingertips felt like it was setting me on fire. He let out a comfortable sigh, sending a shock of electricity from my hand straight down my spine. He held my hand against his chest with one hand, while his other hand slowly slid around the back of my neck. Maybe it was pure instinct, but his hand on my neck gently pulled me downward, bringing my face closer to his. Why did his lips look even more flushed and... inviting when he had a fever? Without realizing it, I held my breath and leaned in.
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