"Josie! Mr. Cross is drunk again. Do you think you could come pick him up?" Three in the morning. Another call from Ethan Cross's driver. "Aaaaargh! He can just drop dead!" I couldn't take it anymore. This was already the fifth time this month! "Honey, kisses~ Come get me and take me home." The words had barely left my mouth when I heard that infuriating voice belonging to Ethan on the other end. Ethan and I grew up together, practically childhood rivals. We were even born on the same day. But we never got along. Put us in the same room for more than ten minutes, and a fight was guaranteed. And yet, despite all that... The day we graduated college. Both sets of our parents were supposedly in a terrible car accident, clinging to life. Their last wish? To see us married. What could we do? For their supposed dying wish, sniffling and crying, Ethan and I went down to City Hall and got the license. Only after we got back did we find out. What car accident? What critical condition? It was all fake! Just like that. We were inexplicably living the married life. It’s been three months now. But we’ve always slept in separate rooms. No other reason than this: I knew perfectly well. Ethan had a girl he loved but couldn't have. The girl he murmured "Sweetheart" to in his sleep. I have zero interest in being the other woman. So, I always kept things within safe boundaries. But it wasn't until this month that I discovered something. Ethan had a weird habit I'd never noticed! As soon as he gets drunk. He’s like a completely different person. Normally, he’s got this permanent scowl, all arrogant and untamable. After drinking, he turns into this clingy baby who just whines "Honey" at his wife! Everyone thinks he spoils me rotten. In reality… We’re lucky if we don’t end up punching each other. 2 I drove my sports car to the private room the driver mentioned. Pushing the door open. A thick wave of alcohol mixed with cigarette smoke hit me, and I instinctively wrinkled my nose. I scanned the room. I knew most of the people inside. His college buddies. Before I could even say anything. Ethan, all six-foot-something of him, practically tackled me in a bear hug. He buried his head in my neck, nuzzling against me. The faint scent of booze mixed with a pine fragrance wasn’t actually unpleasant on him. "Honey, you're finally here." His warm breath tickled my ear as he spoke. My knees went weak, and I almost stumbled. But to outsiders, this scene? It just cemented the illusion of our loving marriage. A sudden chill ran down my spine. Even though this had happened many times before. I still couldn't get used to Ethan's sudden intimacy. I reached out and pinched his side, hard. "Ah…" My back stiffened. I glanced nervously over my shoulder at the man leaning on me. That sound… Did that just come from Ethan? "Alright, alright, break it up! Take your flirting home, you two!" Someone shouted from the crowd. My face flushed crimson from my neck to my earlobes. I immediately dragged this total spectacle, Ethan, out to the car. The driver put up the partition. Ethan, apparently clueless about self-preservation, leaned in again. His handsome eyes seemed clouded with a mist, looking wet and vulnerable. "Honey, you're so beautiful." "..." "Honey, why aren't you talking?" "..." "Honey, you..." "Ethan, say one more word and I'm throwing you out of this car!" 3 The next morning, my alarm woke me. I rolled over. Only to feel a wave of warmth coming from beside me. I opened my eyes. Ethan was lying next to me, completely naked! Probably because of the alarm, his handsome brow was furrowed into a line. I subconsciously slowed my breathing. I had to admit. It was a total waste that Ethan didn't become a movie star with that face. "Like what you see, Josie?" Caught red-handed. My heart skipped a beat. "Ethan, either get out of my bed yourself, or I'm kicking you out." Ethan seemed used to this. He propped his head up with one hand, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Josie, don't be so heartless..." Before he could finish. I’d already kicked him squarely in the stomach. I've been taking kickboxing since I was a kid. That kick was definitely enough to make him feel it. I slowly got up. "Ethan, next time you get drunk and I have to clean up your mess, we're meeting at the courthouse." Last night. I'd scrolled past Ava Miller’s social media feed. She had 'accidentally' liked a post from a gossip blog detailing evidence of her and Ethan's supposed romance. Ava is the hot new actress signed under Ethan's company. Rumors about their special relationship have been flying around externally. I always knew Ethan kept a strict distance when it came to relationships with women. This was the only time. He let a woman use his name for publicity. So, I often wondered. The "Sweetheart" Ethan muttered about… it must be her, right? If that’s the case, then I’m definitely getting out of here. I saw Ethan quickly stand up. His eyes were sharp and clear. He sneered, "In your dreams, Josie." "..." 4 The Cross and Keller families have been friends for generations, going back to our great-grandfathers. Both families started in real estate. But in recent decades, the Cross family branched out into the entertainment industry. S.T., the entertainment company under the Cross umbrella, has launched countless stars. You could say just stepping into S.T. already made you halfway famous. But me? I deliberately went against him. I majored in Broadcasting and Hosting. Logically, after graduation, I should have smoothly transitioned into S.T. But right at that moment. Ethan, with his big mouth, had to say: "The thought of you working under me someday makes me feel good." I instantly turned around and found his biggest rival, Apex Media. Apex's boss, Daniel Chen, was a senior when I was in college. We met during a club activity. We hit it off later and became pretty good friends, able to talk about anything. Plus, Apex launched that "campus heartthrob" actor, Jake Ryan, last year. So, they're also a hot commodity in the industry. The moment I got to the office. Daniel was there, looking like he'd been specifically waiting for me in my office. "Ethan had another meltdown yesterday?" I paused. "How did you even know?" "Are there any secrets in this industry that last till the next day?" I just smiled without saying anything. Daniel suddenly put his arm around my shoulder. "Look, you don't like Ethan anyway. Why not just divorce him already and be with me?" I pushed him away. "No way. If I get divorced, half my assets get split. Anyone touches my money, I fight them." I meant it as a joke. But Daniel seemed to take it seriously. He leaned closer to my ear, pointing at a trending topic on his phone. "Find proof he's cheating, and you can kick him out with nothing." Before I could respond. The door opened. It was my assistant, Sarah. "Josie... they're rushing us over there. Maybe we should head out?" I sighed. Because the person I was interviewing this time... Was none other than Ava Miller! 5 The interview was a live stream. By the time I got there after hair and makeup, Ava was already surrounded by a crowd. We were actually college classmates, but we never got along. But she was also one of the few people who knew Ethan and I were married. "Miss Miller, regarding the trending topic about your accidental 'like,' is there anything you'd like to clarify for everyone?" The director across from me was frantically signaling me. Because the script clearly said: [What is your relationship with Ethan Cross?] Asking me, the actual wife, about his rumored girlfriend's relationship status? Dream on! Whatever else Ethan was, he was technically my husband. Even if he was cheating on me, there was no way I was going to put the metaphorical green hat on my own head. I watched as Ava very seductively brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. Then, she covered her lips coyly. "Eth... oh, no. Mr. Cross and I just have a boss-employee relationship. Perfectly professional, so of course, there's nothing to clarify!" Damn it, my fists were clenching! "You're right, Mr. Cross does have good taste. Naturally, he wouldn't…" Before I finished. I copied her gesture, covering my own lips. Four years of college had taught me all about Ava’s fake-sweet routine. I specifically asked the makeup team for a natural, "no-makeup" makeup look. Right now, I was probably radiating even more faux sweetness than Ava. I could feel the collective gasp in the air. I immediately moved to the next question. "After hitting it big with 'Crown of Shadows,' how has your mindset changed?" "Oh, not much has really changed. People who like me know, I've always taken fame and criticism in stride." "..." If this wasn't live. I might have actually rolled my eyes at Ava. I vividly remembered junior year when she lost a role. She smashed six cups in our dorm room. Ava wanted to keep talking, but I cut her off directly. "Okay, let's move to the next segment. Please call the first contact in your recent calls list and tell them 'I miss you.'" I took her phone from Ava's assistant. I never expected it. The first name on the list was Ethan! Looking at the call time, it was just three hours ago! I did a quick calculation. Wasn't that right after I left the house this morning?! I let out a cold laugh. Didn't expect Ethan to be such a time management expert. One second he's getting out of his wife's bed. The next, he's calling his idealized love interest? Distracted, I accidentally dialed the number. The studio instantly fell silent. "What's up?" Ethan's distinctively cool voice came through the speaker. Yeah, right. Keep pretending. If I didn't know what a mess Ethan was when drunk. I might have actually been fooled. "Ethan, what are you doing?" Ava cooed. "Looking over contracts." "Are you free for lunch? I wanted to treat you." I scoffed internally. But my body traitorously leaned closer. Wanting to hear Ethan's reply. "I…" "Watch out!" Ava and I simultaneously looked towards the source of the shout. A hanging light fixture directly above was suddenly swaying precariously. The next second, Ava grabbed my arm. She reacted almost instantly, pulling me out of the danger zone. We both fell heavily to the ground. I never imagined the person saving me would be Ava! "Josie, are you okay?!" I saw Daniel sprinting towards me. I wanted to say something. But everything in front of me started to blur. Then, I just blacked out.
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