Chapter 1The Billionaire's Secret Fan Account

Five years in Hollywood and I was still a nobody. My only option was to go home and agree to an arranged marriage with a man I'd never met.

My fiancé apparently hated me. He didn't even show up to our engagement dinner. Instead, he called me to lay down three ground rules.

"Hello. I already have someone I love. You don't need to waste your time on me."

"You are free to date whoever you want. I won't interfere."

"This marriage is purely a business transaction. We will divorce in exactly one year. Prepare yourself mentally, and don't come crying to me when it's time to sign the papers."

He rattled off his demands and hung up immediately.

Meanwhile, I stood at the door of his home office, lost in thought.

The entire room was filled to the brim with my merchandise.

* * *

I changed my name and braved Hollywood for five years. Despite agencies throwing all sorts of resources my way, I just never managed to break through. I was the definition of a C-list actress.

So, I had no choice but to bow my head to my parents and fulfill my end of the bargain: an arranged marriage to secure our family's business interests.

My fiancé was Carter Sterling, the cold, quiet, and ruthlessly efficient CEO of the Sterling Group.

According to my friends in high society, Carter had a face so sinfully attractive he could be considered a modern-day incubus.

It was easy for people to let their guard down around him, thinking he was a refined and easygoing guy.

But in reality, the true Carter was cold-blooded, harsh, emotionally detached, and cared only about the bottom line.

By the time my friend finished describing him, her tone had grown entirely sympathetic.

"Chloe, everyone feels so sorry for you."

"Having to marry a cold-blooded monster like that."

"Who knows what kind of miserable life you'll have to endure."

I gripped my phone tightly.

After a long silence, I could only let out a helpless, bitter laugh.

After hanging up, I opened my social media management app.

I hit publish on the retirement statement that had been sitting in my drafts for months.