Chapter 1The Secret Wife Scandal

In the third year of my secret marriage to a movie star, a photo of us making out on the street went viral.

Usually mild-mannered, my husband, Lucas Hale, flew into a rage.

"Gather all the evidence! I'm suing! I'll handle the situation with Claire myself!"

Handle me?

I drafted a divorce agreement and threw it in front of Lucas.

But his eyes turned red, and he demanded:

"Babe, am I that shameful to you?"

"Just because I paid someone to expose our relationship, you want to divorce me?"

Me: ?

* * *

I was having dinner when I got a call from Lucas's assistant.

His voice was frantic: "Claire, Lucas is drunk. He's making a scene and demanding to see you. Can you come pick him up? It'll look bad if he gets paparazzied."

Before I could answer, I heard Lucas’s deep voice in the background: "Babe, I feel sick."

I coaxed him gently: "Lucas, let your assistant drive you home. I'll meet you there, okay?"

"No! I'm waiting right here on the curb. Come pick me up, please?"

At the same time, I heard his assistant let out a high-pitched screech of panic.

When I rushed over, Lucas was sitting on the curb, collar undone, eyes rimmed with red.

"Why are you actually sitting on the ground?"

Hearing my voice, he looked up. His eyes were hazy with drunkenness, but he smiled.

"Babe, you're finally here. I waited so long."

He stumbled to his feet. His assistant tried to help, but Lucas pushed him away.

"You can go. My wife is here."

As soon as I got close, he pulled me into a hug. The scent of wood and faint alcohol wrapped around me.

He buried his face in my neck, his voice raspy and whining.

"Babe, my head is spinning."

I rubbed his head. "Just sleep it off at home."

"Kiss me first. If you kiss me, I won't feel bad anymore."

I looked around nervously. "Let's go home first. What if someone takes a picture?"

He pulled me into a nearby alley and lowered his voice.

"There's no one here. Is it okay now?"

Before I could react, he cupped my face. A kiss laced with alcohol landed on my lips. My mind went blank, and my heart hammered.

I spent the whole night worrying about paparazzi. He, on the other hand, slept peacefully with a smile on his face, holding me tight.