For me, the global superstar Austin Sterling refused all on-screen kisses and kept a cold distance from every female artist in the industry. He wrote endless love songs, chronicling our ten-year romance for the world to hear. Everyone knew he was a "simp"—a man hopelessly, dangerously devoted to me. Until I found the photos. The photos of him and my best friend, tangled together in a betrayal that dated back two years. It took me a long time to let go of everything, to stage my own death and leave. And then, he lost his mind. 1 At the Grammy Awards, Austin Sterling took home the Artist of the Year trophy. When the host asked about his next move, he leaned into the microphone and said: "My wife is pregnant. I’m stepping away from the spotlight for a year to focus entirely on her." Austin was born with a cold, sharp handsomeness. Standing at six-foot-three, he usually radiated a chilling indifference that kept people at a distance. But at that moment, his eyes were overflowing with joy and anticipation. The corners of his mouth lifted into a natural, involuntary smile. The whole country knew Austin Sterling was "love-brained." Two years ago, at the peak of his fame, he announced our marriage. It caused a massive exodus of fans, ended several high-profile contracts, and sent his career into a freefall. A reporter once asked if he was pressured into the marriage or if he regretted marrying so young. He looked directly into the lens, his voice steady and sincere: "I was the one who pressured her. I can’t live without her. I wanted to tie her to my side forever." "Marrying Sienna is the greatest stroke of luck in my life." That interview went viral, and Austin’s "devoted husband" persona won him immense public sympathy. He focused on his music and acting, relying on pure talent to claw his way back to the top. Finally, today, he stood at the summit again. And yet, because I was pregnant, he announced another year-long hiatus. In an industry where you’re forgotten in a week, this move was professional suicide. But he told me he didn't care. He just wanted to be with me. At night, he would pull me into his arms, humming love songs until I fell asleep. Austin loved me very, very much. I could feel it. That was why, two years ago, when the "System" told me my mission was complete, I refused to leave. I married the man I had nurtured and mentored from a struggling trainee to a global icon. The System warned me: "The human heart is a dark forest. Do not gaze into it for too long." But I believed Austin would love me forever. What did it matter if my real body was dead in another world? Wasn't living in a beautiful dream a form of happiness? Until I found the photos. Austin and my best friend, in a state of intimate abandon. The timestamp on the files went back two years. Which meant, before he ever proposed to me, he had already betrayed me. 2 When I woke up in the morning, Austin was already researching prenatal recipes. He had cleared his schedule. He just wanted to be there for me. My morning sickness was brutal; I couldn't keep anything down. So, he spent his days coming up with new, enticing dishes. Pregnancy made me lethargic and irritable. I felt useless and out of focus. So, he bought a hoard of magic tricks to perform for me, trying to make me laugh. Once, while trying to produce a rose from a fireball, he accidentally singed his forehead. His bangs were scorched into curls. As I applied ointment to his skin, tears of pity blurred my vision. He simply handed me the hair clippers and told me to give him a buzz cut. He joked that he’d go for the "tough guy" look—a scar and a buzz cut, the ultimate protector vibe. But I was still sad. He pulled me close and whispered: "Sienna, if it’s too hard... we don't have to have the baby." "I only need you." His voice was incredibly soft. He genuinely pitied me, yet he was terrified that I might actually choose to give up the child. The giant whiteboard in our study was covered in scribbles. Visitors thought he was working on new lyrics. But if you looked closer, you’d see they were baby names. We designed the nursery together. Whenever I made a little handicraft, he’d praise me: "I hope our child turns out exactly like you." He was so, so excited for the baby’s arrival. I never once doubted his love for the child. But the part that broke me... Was knowing that this love wasn't exclusive. Long ago, he had already shared it with someone else. "Austin, I want to see the ocean. It’s been a while." "Sure, honey. Where to?" "Let’s go to Montauk. Madison is there. We haven't seen her in forever." Austin’s hand tightened on mine for a split second, but he quickly flashed a smile: "It’s been cold there lately. You’re pregnant; we should go somewhere warmer. Let’s wait for the summer to visit her, okay?" He spoke with such tenderness, acting as if he were only considering my well-being. I searched his face for a crack. There was none. He was a classically trained actor. Flawless performance was his specialty. But his cloud storage backup didn't know how to act. That morning, I was looking for an old file on a spare phone and accidentally opened his auto-sync gallery. I saw a world of data I didn't recognize. I realized it was Austin's private account. Years ago, for convenience, I used to sync my photos to his drive. But after getting a new phone and taking fewer pictures, I had forgotten all about it. As I scrolled through the old memories, my heart felt sweet. Until the later photos hit me like a physical blow— Austin, sleeping in various hotel rooms, always with the same person beside him: my best friend, Madison. Sometimes, they were naked, entwined in bed. Sometimes, Austin was asleep, and Madison was taking a playful selfie with him. Sometimes, the angles were suggestive and blurred... The earliest photo was dated two years ago. And the updates had continued, off and on, ever since. 3 In the ten years I had known Austin, Countless starlets and colleagues had tried to get close to him. He was too beautiful, and his public persona was so cold and distant—like a moon hanging high in the sky. People looked up at him, and they longed to possess him. But he always told me, "Sienna, unless you don't want me anymore, I’ll never leave your side." "Sienna, stay with me. I will never betray you." "Sienna, marry me. Stay with me forever." His words were so moving. His eyes were so sincere. Was it all a lie? They say the onlooker sees most clearly, so I wanted to ask someone. But my entire life in this world revolved around Austin. All my friends and associates were from his circle. Except for Madison. She was the only non-industry friend I had made during my mission. Madison was sharp, fiery, and brave—like an untamable wild mare. In the past, when my mission hit a wall, I would often go to her for advice. She always told me I was too soft, that I didn't know how to say no, and that I’d end up suffering for it. I would laugh and say, "Well, I have you. You’ll always knock some sense into me and show me the way." In this world, the two people I cherished most were Austin Sterling and Madison. Now, that world had finally, completely collapsed. 4 Regarding the trip, I insisted on Montauk. Austin had no choice but to agree to drive me. The night before we left, I heard him get up in the middle of the night to make a secret phone call. "I’ve booked the tickets and the hotel. You have to leave tonight..." "I’m begging you. Sienna isn't emotionally stable right now. She’s your friend; you know she can't handle this." "Madison, I’ll give you anything you want, except for this." After a long silence, he hung up in the bathroom and climbed back into bed. Seeing that I was "sleeping soundly," he kissed my forehead. Austin fell asleep. I finally opened my eyes. In the darkness, my tears soaked the pillow. 5 Montauk was beautiful. Austin booked a luxury beachfront villa so I could wake up to the sound of the waves every day. I mentioned wanting seafood, so he woke up at dawn to go to the docks, waiting for the first catch of the day. He took it to a local restaurant to have the chef prepare it. He even said he wanted to watch and learn so he could cook it for me himself. Around noon, the doorbell rang. Austin wasn't back. It was Madison. Austin had told her to leave last night, but clearly, Madison had no intention of obeying. "Sienna, I don't want to hurt you," Madison said, cutting straight to the point. "But I don't want to settle for less, either." "I've been with Austin for a long time." Madison always acted like the type who said whatever was on her mind. But I realized now that it wasn't like that at all. What she said and what she felt weren't always aligned. She said she didn't want to hurt me, but she had shown up specifically to do just that. In the past, when she saw a "green tea" girl trying to manipulate Austin, she’d teach me how to spot them and how to defend myself. But she was the one hidden deepest of all. She met Austin through me. She became the "cool bro" to both of us. She played the "big sister" role when we fought. She shared secret little moments with Austin that I knew nothing about. She covered for him at parties I didn't attend. They had a first time, a second time, a third... and then countless more. "So what do you want me to do?" I asked coldly. "Are you still expecting me to give you advice?" Madison let out a short laugh. "You probably don't even know. I was going to leave the country, but Austin went to the airport to stop me." A dull pain throbbed in my lower abdomen. "So? You think Austin will divorce me for you? He loves me." I realized, as the words left my mouth, that even I didn't believe them anymore. "Is that so?" Madison sneered and stood up. "Then let’s see who he chooses in the end." Madison left shortly before Austin returned. Acting guilty, he noticed the extra teacup on the table and asked if anyone had visited. I told him it was a lady from next door who brought over some local pastries. Austin told me not to open the door for strangers. I nodded and ate the hot meal he brought back. Suddenly, nausea surged, and I ended up throwing everything up in the sink. Austin tenderly patted my back and handed me a glass of water. "Austin, do you love me?" "Of course." "Only me?" "..." Austin nervously asked what was wrong, if I had seen some tabloid gossip. I shook my head and said I was just too invested in a TV show. In the show, the abandoned female lead was so pitiful. Austin laughed and said shows were fake, but his love for me was real. In the middle of the night, Austin was woken by a vibrating phone. He declined the call several times, but the person on the other end was persistent. He finally had to hide in the bathroom to call back. "What? Which hospital?? I’m coming right now!" Austin hurriedly started putting on his clothes. I pretended to just wake up and asked where he was going. He stammered, saying a relative of his had been hospitalized and he had to go check on them. Maybe much later, when he wasn't so nervous, he’d realize how ridiculous his lie was. He was an orphan. He grew up in the system. He told me when we married that I was his first and only family. So who was this "relative" that suddenly appeared? "I'll go with you." I wanted to give him one last chance to be honest with me. But he quickly held me down. "No, it’s the middle of the night. Go back to sleep. I’ll be right back." Without waiting for me to say anything else, he hurried away. For the next several days, he spent his time at the hospital. He hired a nanny to cook for me and kept me confined to the house. But I faked a stomach ache and went to the hospital myself. 6 Austin and I had our location shared on our phones. Usually, we didn't check, but he was so preoccupied with his "relative" that he didn't notice I was already standing outside the hospital room. Through the glass window, I saw this scene— A beautiful, haggard woman with bandages on her wrists, suggesting a suicide attempt. A handsome, gentle man carefully blowing on a bowl of porridge, feeding her spoon by spoon. They looked like a peaceful, happy young couple. The image made it hard to breathe. Suppressing the urge to gag, I dialed Austin’s number. Austin saw the call, and a flash of panic crossed his face. He wanted to decline it. But Madison reached out and hit the "Accept" button. "Sienna... what is it?" Austin’s voice was dry. "Austin, where are you?" I tried to keep my voice as steady as possible. "I’m with that relative. I’ll be home soon." As soon as he finished, Madison leaned in and kissed his neck, then suddenly bit him hard. Austin couldn't help but let out a sharp gasp of pain. My heart skipped a beat. "Okay. I’m hanging up." Maybe I couldn't hold it back; my voice carried a hint of a sob. Austin panicked. "What’s wrong?" "Nothing. Just a bit of a stomach ache." "Stomach ache? I’m coming home right now..." He started to stand up, but Madison grabbed him, looking at him with teary, pitiful eyes. Austin softened. "Traffic is bad right now. It’ll take me a while to get back. Look, I’ll call the nanny. Have her take you to the clinic immediately." I smiled. "Okay." I hung up and watched them. Madison playfully reached into Austin’s waistband to pinch him. Austin grabbed her hand, tucked it back under the covers, and then leaned over to tell her something—likely telling her to rest and stop acting out. I suddenly felt a violent urge to vomit. I ran into the restroom and threw up until my face was covered in tears. My phone pinged. A message from Madison: Porridge made by Austin is the best. Attached was a photo of Austin holding her hand as he slept by her bedside. I closed my eyes and booked an appointment at an OB-GYN clinic. Austin, you were so excited for this baby. But I’m not. 7 The doctor told me the procedure carried a high risk. The hospital refused to do it. I walked out of the hospital into the warm breeze, but my heart felt colder than ever. I knew I had two choices: Either endure a violent "death" to trigger the system and enter an unknown next world—which could be worse than this one. Or, stay here, pretend I know nothing, and continue to live in the sweet, hollow illusion Austin had built. My mind was a mess. Thoughts raced through my head until my phone rang. It was the nanny. "Ms. Sterling, where are you? Mr. Sterling is home and he's frantic." I checked my location. Austin was at the villa. But half a minute later, the dot started moving again, heading straight for Madison's apartment. The nanny said, "He took a call. A woman was crying on the other end, and he just bolted again..." This was my future. Austin might maintain our marriage, but he would always have a soft spot for Madison. I would be trapped in this eternal triangle, suffering without end. I chose to walk away. 8 The risks for my procedure were too high for the major hospitals. I needed a private clinic. Miraculously, it was as if fate had heard my wish. I found a private clinic online. I followed the address. This was where I would say goodbye to this world. The street was quiet. The clinic looked clean. The office had a faint scent of cedarwood, and the doctor was refined and cool. He didn't take the massive bribe I offered. He just lowered his eyes, pursed his lips, and thought for a moment. I noticed his name tag: Dr. Silas Thorne. "Are you sure?" He looked at me, his eyes unreadable. I nodded. "Have you really thought this through?" I nodded again. "Yes." He didn't say anything else. He took the payment. "Thursday. Come back then." I felt a sense of relief, as if something had finally been settled. But leaving the clinic, the heatwave felt exhausting. I went to a nearby cafe for a piece of cake. My phone had died. The cashier asked if I had cash. I looked at my empty pockets, feeling humiliated. Just then, a payment card was tapped behind me. It was Dr. Thorne. "Together," he said simply to the cashier. The cafe was tiny. By the window, there was only one wooden table and two chairs. So I sat across from Dr. Thorne. He had his coffee; I had my cake. Neither of us spoke. But I had a very strange feeling. As if I had lived this moment before. Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out behind me: "Sienna?" It was Austin. He looked furious. He marched over, pulled me behind him, and glared at Dr. Thorne. "Who the hell are you?" he asked coldly. I tried to explain, but Austin cut me off. He grabbed my hand, showing my wedding ring to the doctor. "Don't you know you should keep your distance from a married woman?" "Austin!" Terrified of offending the doctor I needed, I pulled Austin back and apologized to Silas. "I’m sorry... thank you for the cake." I signaled him to leave quickly. Dr. Thorne said nothing. He gave Austin a cold, indifferent glance. Just as Austin opened his mouth to say something even more unpleasant, Silas turned and walked away. I breathed a secret sigh of relief. The next second, Austin gripped my shoulders nervously. "Who is he? Why aren't you answering my calls?" I pointed to my dead phone and briefly explained the cake situation. Austin pulled me into an anxious embrace, sounding both helpless and protective. "You can't just take food from a strange man." "Don't do it again." I smiled in his arms. "It was just a piece of cake. Why the temper?" Austin tightened his grip. "Don't you understand? It’s because I love you. It hurts to see you with anyone else." His voice was deep and pleasant, his warm breath brushing against the skin of my neck. His words were always so moving, so warm. I smiled softly. "I understand." Of course I did. I gently pushed him away. "I'm hungry. Let's go home." "Okay, let's go home." Austin gallantly opened the door for me and waited by the curb for an Uber. As we turned the corner, while he wasn't looking, I pulled the ring off my finger and dropped it into a trash can.
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