The whole world knew I was Nathan Bell's most hated ex-girlfriend, the top celebrity singer. On a reality show, a young idol casually turned on the car stereo and played the default playlist. It was my song. Two seconds into the intro, Nathan, sitting in the passenger seat, spoke coldly: "Terrible. Skip it." He skipped. It was my song again. He skipped again. Still my song. Nathan’s face looked terrible. He glanced at the driver and sighed. "Kid, you have awful taste for someone so young." The young idol hesitated, then weakly spoke: "Bro, this is your car. And that's your playlist..." Nathan: "?!" 1 Nathan and I are the entertainment industry's most famous feuding exes. Our track record is legendary. Since we debuted, roughly a third of our songs have been direct disses at each other. I don't remember who started it. It was just: he releases one, I release one; he releases one, I release one... Hatred is the number one productivity fuel. Stimulated by Nathan, I managed to pump out ten albums in two years. Back when we were dating, only our close friends knew. But nothing escapes the all-seeing eye of the internet. Our lyrics, when pieced together, read like a public argument. #NathanBellAndAlyssaLane: Hollywood's Pure Hatred Couple #NathanBellAndAlyssaLane: Did They Dig Up Each Other's Graves? #NathanBellAndAlyssaLane: Why Did They Break Up? How Can They Be This Bitter? These ridiculous, trending topics popped up one after another. Our motto: No peace, only beef. Nathan and I topped the charts for months. Then, at the end of the year, the platform forced us to attend the awards ceremony. The host asked: "To both of you, who do you want to thank most for your success today?" I listed everyone: "My family, my friends, my manager, my fans..." Nathan looked straight at me. "I want to thank my ex-girlfriend for dumping me. She gave me endless inspiration for my breakup songs. She is..." He smirked, a thin, fake smile. "...My muse." He calls me a "paint-by-number zombie" and "Picasso's failed abstract project" online, but in person, I'm his muse? The guy is a piece of work. Always passive-aggressive. On the way home, I wrote a new song: Muse is your cheap tears, Packaging lies to cover fears. Voice cracked, career is down, Go home, wash up, and forget this town. My exit killed your drive, New album tanks? No surprise. You deserved the cruel break, I'm gone, no double take. That night, I posted the demo and announced a new album. Fans went wild, tagging Nathan. He finally logged on late that night. He liked my post, then left a friendly, neighborly comment: [6.] [Alyssa Lane, you just wait. 'Smiley face' emoji.] 2 Making Nathan miserable makes me happy. I slept great. My manager, Dawn, warned me the next morning that I had a gala to attend. "I hear Nathan will be there. If you don't want to break the internet, be civil. Put on a friendly face for the cameras." I thought she was exaggerating. With so many stars, we probably wouldn't even cross paths. I was wrong. The damn event organizer seated Nathan and me together! I sat down, and a figure quickly dropped into the seat beside me. Nathan was in a midnight-blue custom suit, looking tall and handsome. At first glance, he was picture-perfect. Remembering Dawn’s desperate plea, I forced a smile for the cameras. Fine. I can play nice. "Good evening, Mr. Muse." "Well, if it isn't Ms. Rhyme," Nathan retorted. "Did you suddenly learn human decency? Talking to me now?" See? You can't give him an inch! The event was live-streamed. The camera zoomed past us, and the comments went crazy: [Muse Bro and Rhyme Sis are together again! Keep the camera locked on them!] [Midnight Blue Suit and Deep Blue Dress! What a gorgeous couple.] [Bro, Sis, please date again! Just for our entertainment.] The industry pros are the worst gossips. Since I walked in, several people had already tried to subtly ask about Nathan. Now, I could feel dozens of eyes on us. Nathan was uncomfortable, too. His ear tips were red. I quietly stared at the table. Wow, this is a very... wooden table. The chat was a riot: [Don't you guys think Nathan and Alyssa look like they'd have cold, hate-fueled sex?] [What's hatred? Hatred is just love that hasn't found an outlet!] [Healthy relationships are nice, but a twisted romance has a unique flavor. You wouldn't understand!] 3 I couldn't stand it. I looked around for someone to switch seats with. "Does sitting next to me offend you that much, Ms. Lane?" I glared at him. "Yes. I can't stand it." I scanned the room. I didn't know many people well enough to ask for a favor. Fine. Just endure it. Nathan saw I was defeated and looked smug. "I told you. Stop fighting. You're destined to be stuck with me." Psycho. "Lyss, want to swap?" A familiar voice. I turned. Hollywood's A-list actor, Ethan Cole, was standing behind me. "Yes! Thank you! You're a lifesaver!" I stood up immediately. "Hey, you—" Nathan instinctively grabbed my wrist. "What? You'll miss me?" "Ha." He scoffed, his lips twitching, slowly letting go. "Get away from me. Good riddance." [She stood up, and he reached out to grab her wrist! Did you see that? He's panicking.] [I'm dying! Who would dare sit next to Nathan and Ethan? The air pressure is low enough to form icebergs.] [I hear Alyssa dated Ethan, too. Nathan's face is green. The rumors must be true.] [Rival meets rival. The tension is real.] [I'm so jealous of Alyssa. She only dates hot guys.] Total fabrication. Ethan is my cousin. My parents are overseas, so I grew up with my Aunt's family. He's practically my big brother. He starred in my MV years ago, and we got linked by the press. Nathan still doesn't know the truth. I wasn't about to tell him. Ethan needed to leave early. "I need to go. Don't forget my Mom's birthday party next week." "Bro, what should I get her?" "Get her a boyfriend. That's what she wants most." I pouted. "She keeps pushing me. I haven't found anyone decent." "Oh, really?" Ethan paused, stifling a laugh. "I thought maybe you were still hung up on your ex." "No way! I got over him ages ago!" Ethan cleared his throat and gestured behind me. I turned. Nathan was staring at me with a wounded gaze. If looks could kill, my cousin would be smoking. [I won't say who is desperately jealous, but you can smell the bitterness through the screen.] [Nathan: I'll watch you forever! Forever!] [Alyssa, please comfort him. He looks like he's shattering.] I smiled, narrowing my eyes. I flipped him off where the cameras couldn't see. Ha! Nathan glowered at me. He turned away, his face pale, his lips a thin line. He didn't look at me again. Poor little man. Can't handle a little heat. 4 You can't get cocky. I was too excited after baiting Nathan and forgot I was wearing four-inch heels. I twisted my ankle. Then, my ride broke down halfway. I was hobbling alone through the dark underground parking garage. What a tragic life. "Well, well. If it isn't Ms. Lane, enjoying a midnight barefoot stroll?" A Lexus van pulled up next to me. The rear window rolled down. "A stroll? Are you blind? I twisted my ankle." Nathan saw my swollen ankle and frowned. "No one picking you up? Get in." I was stubborn. "I don't need your help. I can call a cab." "Alyssa, are you getting in or not?" "No." "Fine. Be tough. Tougher than when you dumped me." The next moment, Nathan got out and hauled me over his shoulder. "You bastard! Put me down!" I was shocked to be airborne. He threw me into the back seat, roughly. He pulled a first-aid kit from the car. "Take your shoe off." "Why?" "Stop talking! What do you think? I'm going to steal your heels and sell them on eBay?" I thought, You would. Nathan massaged the swelling gently while applying pain relief cream. It felt good. But it tickled. I instinctively pulled away. "Stop moving. I've touched you everywhere else. Why be shy now?" "Shut up." "Cough, cough, cough..." A loud cough came from the front seat. "Bro, be careful what you say. I'm still here." I looked forward. "Little Zach, is that you? Long time no see!" Zach is Nathan's assistant and has been with him for years. When Nathan and I broke up, he got blackout drunk and threw up all over Zach. Zach's salary tripled immediately. I was, in a way, the reason for Zach's career advancement. "Long time no see, Sister Alyssa." Zach is usually quiet, but today he was very talkative, asking about me. Nathan kept glaring at Zach and making strange faces. I was confused. "Are you having a face spasm?" "Oh!" Zach suddenly understood. "Sister Alyssa, do you have a boyfriend right now?" If I said yes, it was a lie. If I said no, I'd lose face in front of my ex. I was trying to figure out an answer. Nathan chimed in, passive-aggressively. "She probably broke up with him. What kind of useless boyfriend leaves her to limp out alone? He ran off, the coward." I realized they were talking about Ethan. Nathan still didn't know the truth. "We were never dating, so stop spreading rumors. I hate seeing my face all over the news." "Oh, so you broke up." Fine. Let him think that. I looked at my phone and heard a suppressed chuckle next to me. I turned and saw a fleeting smile on Nathan's face. "What are you laughing at?" "Nothing." "Yes, you were! I saw it!" "You have eye problems. Go get checked." "Want to bet? Bet your miserable life!" "Kneel and beg me, and I'll take that bet." Zach quietly raised the partition. He couldn't watch this mess.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "386973", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel