The moment my A-list actress ex and I broke up, my agent booked me on a fully livestreamed dating show. On set, the host leaned in. "Liam, have you ever been in a serious relationship?" I kept my voice low. "Yeah. She was too clingy. We broke up." Next, she turned to the superstar Celina Mellon. But Celina's eyes were locked on me, unblinking. "I have. My ex is on a dating show now." The live chat exploded. "The goddess Celina was in a relationship?!" Before the crew or the audience could even process it, she offered the camera a devastatingly sweet smile. "This one, actually. The one we're on right now." Within minutes, hashtags like #CelinaMellonSecretEx and #IsTheHeartSignalGuyHerEx were dominating the trending topics for the rest of the day. 1 Heart Signal was a celebrity dating show that was a phenomenon before a single episode even aired. The biggest draw was the "Frostfire" ship—the pairing of superstar Celina Mellon and rising star Evan Frost. They'd just wrapped a historical drama where their characters were locked in a tragic, love-hate romance that had viewers obsessed. When Evan made his entrance, the live chat went into a frenzy. OMG EVAN IS HERE! HE'S SO HOT! Evan and Celina on the same show? This is basically their public announcement, right? I'M SHIPPING THIS SO HARD. FROSTFIRE IS EVERYTHING! My reception was… different. The moment I walked on screen, the comments turned sour. Why the hell is Liam Xie on this show? Ugh, gross. He's such a clout-chaser. Obviously just here to leech off Frostfire's fame. Guess any publicity is good publicity if you have zero shame. The show was broadcast live, with a polished, edited version released weekly on streaming platforms. I was the first to arrive at the luxurious villa, and I immediately claimed a seat in the farthest corner, hoping to disappear into the upholstery. The second person to walk through the door was Celina Mellon. My ex-girlfriend. 2 I subtly shifted in my seat, trying to put a little more distance between us. She just raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. But before she could say a word, a bright, cheerful laugh echoed from the entrance. "Hey, everyone! You're all here already!" Evan strode in, all youthful energy in a black tank top and jeans. "Liam, my man, long time no see! And Celina! So good to see you again!" He slid onto the sofa right next to Celina, instantly launching into an animated conversation as if they were old friends. A massive screen on the wall displayed the live comments in real-time. I glanced at it. OMG OMG FROSTFIRE IS REAL! HE SAT RIGHT NEXT TO HER! The way Celina looks at Evan is pure fire! You can see the sparks! Just get married already! I've already set aside money for a wedding gift! Ten minutes later, all eight contestants—four men and four women, a mix of celebrities and professionals from other fields—had arrived. The producers kicked things off with a simple icebreaker: "Have you ever been in a relationship before?" Evan shot a shy look at Celina. "No, I haven't. But I definitely have an ideal type I admire." The live chat went wild again. When it was my turn, I kept it brief. "I have. We broke up. We just weren't compatible." The haters in the chat seized their chance. LOL, 'not compatible' means his personality sucked and she got sick of him and dumped him. Then, it was Celina's turn. The room held its breath. A slow, deliberate smile touched her beautiful lips. "I have," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "My ex is on a dating show." 3 Her words were a bombshell. The live chat erupted, and I could see the show's director practically vibrating with excitement off-camera. The director’s voice came over the speaker, unable to resist. "Could you tell us which dating show?" Celina's gaze flickered towards me for a split second, so fast you could have missed it. I pretended not to notice. Right. What was her game? Was she trying to use me to generate buzz for her new PR-manufactured relationship with Evan? Nice try. I wasn't playing along. The director, practically salivating for the scoop, pressed again. "You can't tell us?" Celina let out a light laugh, as if it were all just a joke. "It's the one we're on right now." The live chat detonated. IS SHE FOR REAL?!?! It has to be Evan! Her ex is Evan! That's why their chemistry in the drama was so insane! OMG she came on this show to win him back! THIS IS THE MOST EPIC LOVE STORY EVER. I AM SO HERE FOR THIS! 4 The show had its viral moment. The director was thrilled. I, however, was not. During a bathroom break, I shot Celina a text. Have you lost your damn mind? She replied almost instantly. Yep. And you’re the one who flooded it. Me: ??? She didn't write back. The show was still filming, so I couldn't stay away for long. I washed my hands and headed back out. We were moving on to choosing rooms. The last person I wanted to share a room with was Evan, but of course, he slung his arm around my shoulder like we were best friends. "Hey, Liam, let's be roommates! We haven't had a real chance to catch up. We could talk all night!" I pulled away, my voice cool. "We're supposed to draw lots. Let's just stick to the rules." Cut the fake buddy act. The last time we were on a show together, he used me as a stepping stool, building his "straight-shooter" persona by having the editors maliciously splice my footage. The whole country ended up hating me. Did he really think he could pull the same trick twice? The chat was already eating it up. What's Liam's problem? Evan is being so nice and Liam is just a total jerk. Evan, just ignore him. He's not worth your time. Ignoring the comments, I walked up and drew a card first. Well, what do you know. My luck had turned. I got the single room. Another male contestant suggested, "Hey, let's help the ladies with their luggage." I saw Celina start to walk toward me, and I reacted on pure instinct. I grabbed my suitcase and practically sprinted up the stairs like my life depended on it. 5 That evening, the producers introduced the "Heartbeat Message" segment, where we could send one anonymous text to another contestant. After some thought, I sent one to Laura, a young actress who was about as famous as I was. It was a beautiful day today. Hope you can stay happy. Ping. My phone lit up. Someone had sent me a message. The water you think is in my head? They’re the tears I cried over you. I knew instantly it was from Celina. This woman was insane. The live chat was busy speculating. Who sent Liam a message? Definitely not Celina. Evan got one that said he looked handsome today. That was 100% from Celina. Wait, is that message calling Liam crazy? LMAO that's hilarious! 6 The next morning, I woke up whenever I felt like it and wandered downstairs. Evan was already in the kitchen, presenting Celina with a bowl of breakfast. "Celina, I know you have a sensitive stomach, so I made you some special oatmeal." Celina looked up, her gaze flicking past him to where I stood on the stairs. "My stomach is fine," she said flatly. Evan's smile faltered for a second before he recovered. "Well, I remember that one time on the set when you had that awful stomachache. It really scared me. I'm just glad you're all better now." Celina didn't reply. Hoping to avoid them both, I started to turn back toward my room. "Not eating breakfast?" Celina's voice stopped me. "I'll eat later, thanks," I said politely. Evan bounced over to my side, all smiles. "Skipping breakfast is a bad habit, you know! I made a whole pot of oatmeal for Celina, and there's no way she can finish it all. You should have a bowl too!" He said it with the casual authority of a boyfriend. His fans in the live chat were swooning, even this early in the morning. Having a boyfriend like Evan would be heaven. Celina, you better appreciate him! Aww, she said her stomach was fine because she didn't want him to worry! They care so much about each other! Liam, get out of the frame! You're ruining the shot! 7 Trapped, I decided my only escape was to cook for myself. I headed into the kitchen and started making pasta. My grandmother taught me how to cook, and her recipes were legendary. Back when Celina and I were still together, she used to wrap her arms around me and beg, "Babe, can we have a date at the farmer's market today? Please?" I'd laugh and poke her side. "Is this a date, or are you just hungry again?" She'd flip me over onto the couch, pinning me down, her dark, intense eyes staring into mine. "If you don't let me crave food, I'll just have to crave you instead." I could never say no to her. We'd put on disguises, dress down, and sneak off to the market hand-in-hand. The villa's pantry was limited, but I found everything I needed for a simple, spicy tomato and basil pasta. Soon, the rich aroma of garlic and herbs filled the air. Laura, the other actress, came downstairs, sniffing dramatically. "Who is tempting my soul with that incredible smell?" "Laura, you haven't eaten yet, have you?" I offered politely. "I made a small pot, enough for two." Before Laura could even take a step, Celina was there first. Her eyes, the ones her fans claimed could generate electricity, were wide and pleading like a kitten's, fixed on the simmering pot. "Can I have some?" I deliberately took a step back. "Sorry, I already offered it to Laura." The live chat scoffed. It's just a bowl of pasta. What's the big deal? Celina, let Evan cook for you! Evan is an amazing cook! He's a total catch! Evan must have seen the comments scrolling on the big screen. He shot me a playful wink. "I'll make some pasta too! How about a little cook-off, Liam? See whose is better?" 8 The kitchen had two stovetops, so Evan started his performance. Every movement was graceful, designed for the camera. "Celina, could you help me with my apron strings?" he asked, holding up an apron, his eyes full of hopeful pleading. As if on cue, Celina also picked up an apron—a frilly pink one—as though she had already anticipated his request. Laura and I stood off to the side like spectators at a tennis match. She leaned in and whispered, "I've already placed my bet. Five bags of spicy chips says I know who Celina's ex is." I was surprised. "Where are you placing bets?" "You don't know? The internet is going crazy with polls guessing Celina's ex. Evan's currently got 99% of the vote." A flicker of morbid curiosity hit me. "How many votes do I have?" I whispered back. Laura gave me a look of deep pity. "0.008%." "..." Just then, Evan let out a sharp cry. "Celina?" But Celina, holding the pink apron, was walking straight toward me. She moved so fast I didn't have time to react. Before I knew it, she had slipped the apron over my head. Her cool fingertips brushed against the nape of my neck, and an involuntary shiver ran down my spine. She seemed not to notice, her expression perfectly serious as she tied the strings snugly behind my back. "Good luck with the competition, Liam," she said, stepping back with a faint, knowing smile. "I'll be waiting for your pasta." 9 I had no intention of competing with Evan. I was about to take the stupid apron off when I heard him shout in pain. "Ah! Hot!" He'd lifted a pot lid, and the steam had apparently burned him. He looked at Celina like a wounded puppy. "Celina… could you get the burn cream for me? It's in my suitcase in my room." His fans in the live chat were frantic. Oh my god, Evan burned himself! It must hurt so much! Celina, go get the cream for him! Hurry! Is Celina frozen in shock? Why isn't she moving? I couldn't help but look at Celina. She was smiling—a completely innocent, harmless smile. "I'm a woman," she said slowly, her voice clear as a bell. "It wouldn't be appropriate for me to go into a man's room." She tilted her head. "Evan, is your leg okay?" "You should probably go get that cream yourself. If you wait any longer, your hand might just heal on its own." I barely managed to stifle a laugh. She was actually letting her sharp-tongued, true self show on camera. I glanced at Evan's hand. It was fine, just a little red from where he'd been rubbing it himself. But he was playing up the pain, hissing through his teeth. "Celina, how can you joke at a time like this? Fine, fine. I'll go get it myself." He turned and stormed upstairs. The live chat went into overdrive. Okay, no more guessing. Celina's ex is 100% Evan. I'm calling him my brother-in-law from now on! Celina, please win him back! My Frostfire ship cannot sink! 10 After breakfast, it was time for the paired-up date activity. The rules were simple: the men would draw names blindly. As luck would have it, I drew Celina. And Evan drew Laura. The live chat was already spewing vitriol. Is the production team trying to torture us? Making me watch Celina on a date with Liam is worse than making me eat a hundred flies. Liam, you better have some damn sense and switch with Evan right now or I'll curse your entire family. The comments got uglier and uglier. And it triggered my defiant streak. I was actually going to offer to switch with Evan, but not anymore. I turned to Celina with a polite smile. "Well, Ms. Mellon, it looks like you're stuck with me today." Celina returned my smile with one of her trademark serene ones. "The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Xie." The date the producers had arranged for us? A haunted house attraction. I just had to thank them for that. Celina and I had been to one before. In public, she was all cool composure, but she was secretly terrified of ghosts. The last time, a staff member in a ghost costume scared her so badly she shrieked and clung to me like a limpet, refusing to let go. If that got filmed, my entire family getting cursed online would be the least of my worries. "You better be brave in there," I warned her in a low voice while we waited to go in, away from the cameras. "And don't you dare jump on me." Celina looked at me with wide, innocent eyes. "Phobias are a psychological condition. I can't control it." "If you can't control it," I threatened, "I'll start leaking all your embarrassing secrets." That seemed to pique her interest. "What secrets? Do tell." I leaned closer, my voice barely a whisper. "That the public's 'Ice Queen' is actually a secret softie who still sleeps with a stuffed animal and has the emotional maturity of a nine-year-old." Celina's eyebrow arched, and a slow smile spread across her face. "You know, when you put it like that, it sounds kind of adorable." "..." She was unbelievable. 11 The haunted house was dark and reeked of fake dread. A bloody, severed head dangled from the ceiling, swaying gently. I could feel Celina practically pressing herself against my back. "It's all fake, Celina!" I said, a little too loudly. "Don't be scared!" "It feels pretty real to me," she hissed. Just as she finished her sentence, a monster-faced actor leaped out from a dark corner. Celina screamed, a genuine, piercing shriek, and her hand shot out, grabbing my wrist in a death grip. "Liam! Where are you?" I almost laughed out of sheer exasperation. Where am I? In your clutches! "Celina," I said, trying to stay calm. "If you're really that scared, just hold onto my shirt. I'll get you out of here." She didn't hesitate, her fingers immediately lacing with mine. The night-vision camera was rolling. The footage would be grainy, but it would be clear enough. At that point, I just gave up. I started running, pulling her along with me, shouting nonsense. "Just run, Celina! If you can run faster than the ghosts, they can't get you!" I think I made her laugh. She squeezed my hand gently. I squeezed back, hard. She laughed again, her voice a low murmur only I could hear. "Go ahead. Take it all out on me." When we finally stumbled out of the exit, the expressions on the crew members' faces were priceless. A mixture of shock and pure, unadulterated glee. My makeup artist discreetly showed me her phone with the live chat feed. AM I DEAF? WHAT DID I JUST HEAR?! Celina called Liam 'Liam!' like that! SHE HELD HIS HAND! SHE WAS HOLDING ON SO TIGHT! Okay everyone, calm down. We all know Celina is terrified of ghosts. It was just an instinctual reaction to fear. 12 Back at the villa, Evan was sitting on the sofa with red-rimmed eyes. The big screen with the live chat was right next to him. I took a peek. Poor Evan! My heart breaks for him! He twisted his ankle and couldn't go on his date, and he had to watch Celina with another guy. I bet Liam is secretly gloating right now. Celina's hand is tainted now. Ugh… That last one was so ridiculous I almost choked. I couldn't help myself. I looked right at the camera monitoring the living room and said to the audience, "Her hand is tainted? Should she cut it off, then?" The viewers in the livestream were stunned into silence for a second. What is he doing? Is he talking to us? Is he mocking us?! Just then, Celina came over, having changed her shoes. "What are you laughing at?" she asked. "I'm laughing," I said, "at the idea of you becoming a female Captain Hook." Celina: "?" The chat suddenly erupted with "HAHAHAHA." Celina is so confused! How does she look so beautiful even when she's completely baffled? You know… I'm suddenly starting to feel a little bit of chemistry between Liam and Celina? Person above me, do NOT ship this! Forbidden! 13 The production team knew how to stir the pot. That night, they arranged a game of "Truth or Dare." In a twist of fate that was definitely not staged, Celina and I both drew the exact same dare: "Call your ex." Right. No manipulation there at all. I answered honestly. "Blocked her number, deleted her from my contacts. Can't do it." A few of the other contestants gave a polite, awkward laugh. But Celina was looking at me, her gaze intense. "Unlike Liam," she said slowly, her voice carrying across the room, "I'm the one who got blocked. I can't call him or text him." The director, just off-camera, looked like a starved animal that had just stumbled upon a feast. The chat buzzed with speculation. Wait, what? Am I sensing some real drama here? It's just for the show, guys. It's scripted! Celina's ex is obviously Evan. Don't fall for it! Then Celina added, her eyes still on me, "I wish he would unblock me." The director couldn't contain himself. His voice piped in from off-screen. "If he did, what would you want to say to him?" Celina didn't miss a beat. "I'd want to ask him where I can get the limited-edition handbag he bought me repaired. One of the studs fell off." The director was speechless. The chat went wild with laughter. That's my queen! Celina, you could just ask Evan right there where to get it fixed! Why fix it? Just get back together and have Evan buy you a new one! And then, Celina turned her haunting gaze back to me. "Liam," she asked, her voice deceptively sweet. "Do you know where it can be repaired?" Me: !!!
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