After watching my A-list actor husband star in a steamy, R-rated thriller with a rising starlet, I accepted an invitation to join a divorce reality show. My best friend patted my shoulder with a loud laugh. "Doing PR for your husband's new movie again? You're going all out for this!" Everyone thought this was just playful banter between the entertainment industry's ten-year model couple. They all tried their hardest to play matchmaker and "help" us reconcile on the show. The man who was notoriously quiet and never understood romance clumsily but earnestly prepared surprises for me on camera. Yet, no matter how hard he tried to please me, at the end of every episode, I selected the "Still Want a Divorce" option. Even the audience couldn't stand it anymore, flooding the internet with comments saying I didn't deserve him. It wasn't until the season finale, seeing my unwavering insistence on divorce, that his eyes turned red. He dropped to his knees right in front of me. "Chloe, I have never done a single thing to betray you. Why won't you give me one more chance?" I smiled. "Alright. I'll give you three chances." "Three questions. If you can answer just one of them correctly, I will drop the divorce." Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief, including Ethan himself. After all, when it came to knowing me, if Ethan ranked second, no one would dare claim first. But after I asked the very first question, everyone was dumbfounded. 1. "In the third year of our marriage, my cravings suddenly changed." "That year, what was my absolute favorite fruit?" Hearing the question, the tense audience in the studio immediately relaxed. Ethan looked like a massive weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He even shot me a confident smile. "Chloe, this is way too easy. Want to swap it for a harder one?" I shook my head and wrote my answer on a card, handing it to the host. "Just answer the question." Ethan's pen flew across his whiteboard. In less than two seconds, he was done. When he flipped his board around to reveal the word "Apples," a wave of relief washed over the crowd. In the observer's booth, Olivia Hayes—this year's hot favorite for Best Actress—laughed and teased, "It looks like Chloe is just throwing a little tantrum with Ethan. She might choose 'divorce' every episode, but her heart is clearly still tied to him." "You two are really making us and the audience part of your little roleplay, aren't you?" I ignored her passive-aggressive teasing. I simply looked at a brimmingly confident Ethan. "Are you sure that's your answer?" Ethan's lips curled up. He leaned back in his chair, all his previous tension completely gone. "Chloe, back then, there were times we could barely afford to eat. But you would rather skip buying groceries just to buy apples. If it wasn't because you loved them, why else would you do it?" "We even got into a huge fight over it." "Besides, when it comes to anything regarding you, I couldn't forget it even if I tried." When those deeply affectionate, captivating eyes locked onto me, the studio erupted into deafening cheers. I stared at the face I had once loved so desperately. Without saying a word, I slowly turned to the host. The host, who had been swooning over our "romance," smiled sheepishly. She quickly pulled out my answer card, fully intending to announce Ethan's victory. But as her eyes scanned the card, she froze. A flash of pure shock crossed her eyes. "Mr. Vance, you..." "You got it wrong." 2. In an instant, the studio went so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The confident smile on Ethan's face stiffened. But having weathered countless PR storms, he quickly regained his composure. "Chloe, you aren't doing this on purpose, are you?" "I remember photos of you buying apples went viral back then. Your fans even nicknamed you the 'Apple Beauty'." "Not to mention, you were slicing apples at home every single day. The whole house smelled like apples. How could I possibly remember it wrong?" In the audience, Ethan's super-fans began to defend him. "Exactly! During an interview back then, you even said you were super interested in fruit farming and wanted to plant your own apple trees! If that isn't loving apples, what is?!" "Chloe, you've already made things so difficult for Ethan in the previous episodes. Could you stop pushing your luck?" I ignored their aggressive questioning and calmly asked, "Ethan, do you remember what happened that year?" Ethan let out a cold chuckle. "Of course I do." "I offended some powerful people and was practically blacklisted by the entire film industry. If you hadn't stayed by my side and encouraged me, I probably never would have gotten the chance to make my comeback." "That's why I can't figure it out. We survived those brutal days together, so why do you want to walk away from me now?" His eyes grew dark, carrying a profound, indescribable sorrow. The cameras and fans frantically snapped photos of his "vulnerability." I remained ice-cold. "Yes. Because of some drama, you offended an A-list director and couldn't get a single role for over half a year." "Until a low-budget, indie arthouse film approached you. They wanted you to play a mute orchard farmer who falls in love with a city girl, only to be abandoned by her." "Honestly, you can barely even find that movie online anymore. But that specific role is what laid the groundwork for your massive comeback." "It was because that niche indie film got critical acclaim that you were able to return to the big screen and book the blockbuster that made you the massive star you are today. Do you remember all of that?" My voice grew quieter as I spoke. The grief I tried so hard to mask began to bleed through my words. Yet Ethan still looked entirely confused. "What does that have to do with your question?" I looked up at this man—the man who claimed to know everything about me, yet had completely erased the reality of our past. I let out a bitter laugh. "Did you forget that when that role was offered to you... you didn't want it?" "You didn't want to stoop so low as to play a rural farmer. You wanted to reject the script outright." "I was the one who forced you to take it. I was the one who went out every day to buy apples and saplings. I spent hours in our backyard researching how to plant them, studying the differences between apple varieties, and writing notebooks full of research." "Those notes became the foundation of your character research. I was the one enduring the blistering sun and pouring rain. But in the end, you were the one who got all the fame and glory!" Years of deep-seated resentment made me want to scream, but my rational mind forced the agony down. Ignoring my grief, Ethan maintained his eerie calm. "Okay, so? What was your favorite fruit?" I looked up at him. I was so used to him casually brushing past my pain. I said flatly, "Green tangerines." Hearing that answer, Ethan suddenly laughed. Even Olivia, sitting in the observer's booth, couldn't help but interject. "Chloe, it's a known fact that you hate sour things." "Look, even if you feel like you sacrificed a lot for Ethan back then and want some payback now, there's no need to tell a self-contradictory lie, is there?" The entire studio's gaze bore into me, but I didn't feel an ounce of pressure. I just said calmly, "You're right. So what exactly do you think caused my cravings to change so drastically?" I looked at Ethan and caught a fleeting, subtle flash of guilt in his eyes. I smiled. I stopped looking at him and shifted my gaze to Olivia, who had been gunning for me all night. "Because back then, I was already pregnant." 3. Under the shocked gasps of the entire studio, Ethan lost his composure. He clearly hadn't expected me to reveal this. His voice was laced with panic and shock. "Chloe, you never told me..." "Second question." I coldly cut off his interrogation. "What is my favorite movie?" This question was a trap. Over the years, whenever I was asked this in public interviews, my answer was always different. But they all shared one common trait: my answer was always "Ethan's next movie." When he first made his comeback, it didn't make much of a splash. It was me who willingly burned my own public goodwill, constantly bringing him up in my interviews, using every glowing adjective in the dictionary to hype up his movies just to get the public curious about him again. Later, a paparazzi happened to catch a video of him visiting me on set. Despite coming from an elite family and looking flawlessly glamorous, when I tossed my half-eaten lunch box at him, he ate my leftovers without a hint of disgust. After that video leaked, Ethan was instantly crowned the entertainment industry's "Ultimate Good Husband." Suddenly, offers for "perfect husband" roles came flooding in, many from top-tier directors. But he politely declined them all, citing one single reason: I would get jealous. So, in the public eye, I became the obsessed, insanely jealous wife, while he was the brilliant talent whose career was being held back by his overwhelming love for me. Thinking of the past, I gave a self-deprecating laugh. I looked quietly at Ethan, waiting for his answer. "Roman Holiday." Ethan looked incredibly confident. "Chloe, I know I'm right about this one. I read your diary." "You wrote that you and I were like the main characters in Roman Holiday, just in reverse." "You also wrote that it was your favorite movie, but it had your least favorite ending." "Actually, I've always wanted to tell you: we will never be separated like the characters in that movie. I've been using my actions to prove that status and background are illusions. Our love can overcome anything." "So why... why won't you just give me a chance?" He suddenly buried his face in his hands. This man, who never showed weakness to the public, now looked so fragile that even his hair seemed to weep. But I just watched him and said slowly, "You're right. That was my favorite movie." Ethan's head snapped up, the sorrow in his eyes instantly replaced by overwhelming joy. "But that was in the past." "My favorite movie now is Breaking the Cocoon." Hearing those words, the shock in Ethan's eyes was instantly swallowed by deep, undeniable guilt. In a fraction of a second, every single pair of eyes in the studio darted straight toward Olivia Hayes in the observer's booth. Because everyone knew that Breaking the Cocoon was marketed as a movie based on the real-life love story between me and Ethan. Yet the male and female leads were played by Ethan... and Olivia. 4. "Chloe, what is that supposed to mean?" Olivia shot up from her seat, looking flustered and defensive. "Ethan and I were just professional co-stars. You two are having marital issues; there's no need to drag me into the mud!" "Besides, you were the one who dropped out of the role citing 'health reasons.' The production team had no choice but to beg me to step in at the last minute to save the project." "I've already faced enough controversy over this movie. If you're still this insanely jealous, I suggest you lock your husband in the house and never let him leave. Otherwise, he's going to have to interact with women when he steps outside. Wouldn't that just kill you?" The audience began whispering aggressively. Even the live stream chat was overwhelmingly on Olivia's side. "Is Chloe crazy? She's throwing shade at an actress who literally just did her job?" "Ethan is so unlucky. He actually fell in love with a woman whose jealousy knows no bounds. The fact that he hasn't divorced her yet proves how much he loves her." "Why do the good guys always end up with the worst women? I loved their chemistry in Breaking the Cocoon. Too bad Ethan got married so young. Sigh." "Just divorce her already! It's exhausting to watch. What kind of man could possibly satisfy a toxic drama queen like Chloe?" While the audience murmured and Olivia fumed—almost storming off the set if the producers hadn't stopped her—Ethan maintained his facade. He looked like a man utterly exhausted by my antics, yet still desperately trying to hold onto his gentle patience. "Chloe, whatever is going on between us, let's not drag innocent people into it, okay?" "I don't want a divorce. But I am so, so tired. I've given you full access to my phone. I itemize every single expense just so you can interrogate me about it." "If I've done all of that and you still refuse to believe I'm innocent, I don't know how else to defend myself." I didn't even bother engaging with his lies. "You got the second question wrong." "Now, for the final question." "Host! I request a recess!" Olivia angrily interrupted me. I didn't shut my mouth like she wanted; instead, I kept my eyes locked directly onto Ethan. "What is the most unforgettable anniversary gift you ever gave me?" After getting the green light from the director, the host walked over with a forced smile to physically intervene. "Chloe, we're pausing the recording for a break. Let's save the last question for the second half." "You must be exhausted. Why don't you take this time to rest..." "It was the fireworks display I prepared for you last year," Ethan answered rapidly. "Yes. And no," I immediately replied. Ethan laughed, a sound born of pure frustration. "Stop torturing me. Tell me, how is it 'no'?" A tragic, chilling smile crept onto my lips. The tears I had been fighting back finally breached my defenses, streaming down my face. "Ethan, do you really not know?" I suddenly reached up and unzipped my elegant evening gown, letting the fabric drop. The second my bare skin was exposed to the studio lights, a collective, horrified gasp echoed through the room. 5. Seeing that everyone had gotten a crystal-clear look, I immediately pulled my dress back up. Without another word, I headed straight for the dressing room. I knew my goal had been achieved. Once this episode aired, there was absolutely no way Ethan could refuse my demand for a divorce. But just as I turned to leave, Ethan grabbed my arm. He hugged me fiercely from behind, crying, his voice trembling like a child who had just lost his favorite toy. "No, Chloe, you never told me about this." "I thought you were just mad at me back then, which is why you ignored me for months. I didn't know you..." If this were a few years ago, hearing this kind of pathetic, remorseful confession would have moved me to instant forgiveness. But today, I simply peeled his hands off me and said calmly, "Enough, Ethan." "Your acting is incredible. But I am no longer your leading lady. You don't need to put on a performance for me." "I'll see you at the lawyer's office in a week to finalize the papers. If you refuse to sign, I will gladly explain the answers to those last two questions to the entire world." "You wouldn't want to see your precious career burn to the ground, would you?" Feeling his grip loosen, I walked away without looking back and entered my private dressing room. I had barely sat down when the door was shoved open. I thought it was Ethan, coming to grovel and beg. But when I turned around, I saw Olivia Hayes—the face that had made me sick to my stomach so many times I had fantasized about taking us both down together. Seeing me sitting there, calm and collected, she sneered. Her sharp red acrylic nails dug into the palms of her hands. I thought she was going to hurl threats or passive-aggressive insults at me. But the very first thing she said, her voice tight with suppressed rage, was: "Name your price." 6. For a second, I was stunned. Seeing my silence, she scoffed, walked over, and unapologetically dropped onto the sofa, staring at me with lazy arrogance. "Chloe, drop the act. You retired from acting years ago. You suddenly causing a huge scene, demanding a divorce, and going on a reality show... it's all for money, isn't it?" "I've already done my research. After your mom died, your family's financial situation was a disaster. I heard your grandmother and younger sister are bedridden with a severe illness. Their medical bills run into the millions." "Back in the day, you emptied your entire savings to fund Ethan's comeback. But once he got famous, he kept an iron grip on the finances. So while you look glamorous to the public, you're actually completely broke." "Since you only came on this show to extort money to pay for your family, let's make a deal. I'll give you eight million dollars, after taxes. The only condition is that you withdraw from this show immediately. Deal?" Staring at Olivia's brazen, entitled face, I smiled faintly. "Why not add a clause that requires me to divorce Ethan?" "After all, you only came back to the States for him, didn't you?" Olivia's face darkened. She laughed coldly. "So what if I did?" "He and I were engaged originally! We dated for years! If his family hadn't gone bankrupt back then, causing my snob of a father to force us apart, I never would have lost him." "If we're talking about who came first, you are the homewrecker." "I admit, after I came back and we shot that movie, we did have a physical relationship for a while. But so what?" "I never badmouthed you to him. I never pressured him to divorce you. Our fling was strictly contained to the filming period. We were just 'set spouses'. I didn't actually destroy your marriage." "But look at you. Instead of trying to improve your own career, you act like a bitter, nagging housewife, obsessing over these trivial things. Don't you find it pathetic?" Olivia was getting more and more worked up. She only stopped when Ethan, who had walked in unnoticed, let out a low growl: "Shut up!" Seeing Ethan's face looking like murder, she scoffed, turned on her heel, and stormed out. The door slammed shut. I looked at the man standing just a few feet away—a man I had once loved with everything I had—and smiled calmly. "You heard her. She offered eight million to buy me out. What about you, Mr. A-List?" "I'll give you a discount. Five million, plus the signed divorce papers, and I won't leak a single word." "You make more than that on a single commercial. Why be so stingy?" Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose, looking displeased. "Chloe, I told you. As long as you drop the divorce, I will transfer every single asset I own into your name." "I didn't want to use dirty tactics. You forced my hand, over and over again!" I watched him quietly. I didn't even have the energy to laugh anymore. Married for ten years. My husband had just won Best Actor at an international film festival, pulling in tens of millions in endorsements. Yet, aside from a few hundred dollars of grocery money in my pocket, I had absolutely zero savings. Who would believe that? But it was the absolute, unvarnished truth. After a long, silent standoff, Ethan sighed and pulled me into his arms. "The recording for the show ends today. I promise you, none of the footage from today will ever see the light of day." "Your body... I'll find the best doctors in the world to fix it. As long as you stop bringing up divorce, I will cover your grandmother and sister's medical bills in full." "Chloe, believe me. Even if I did things in the past that hurt you, even if I played around... it meant nothing. It was never my intention to hurt you." "From now on, I will love you and spoil you a thousand times more. I will never let you suffer another grievance." "Stop making a scene, okay?" I didn't struggle. I just stood there, letting his final sentence echo in my mind. Stop making a scene. It seemed that after every massive blowout, he would use those exact words as the final verdict. As if every tragedy in our marriage was just a solo tantrum thrown by me. Starting with my "outburst," and ending with my "apology." But this time, I truly refused to play along. No matter how moving his performance was, I remained as cold and unyielding as a stone. "Ethan. From the very beginning to this exact moment, I only have one demand." "Divorce."
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