Chapter 1Gradually drifting away

During the press junket, a reporter from *Variety* leaned into her mic. "Mr. Hayes's new film has some very intimate scenes with his co-star. As his wife, what are your thoughts on that?"

I gave her my best media-trained smile. "I think it looks sweet."

The reporter blinked, thrown for a loop. "And you don't think that will affect your relationship with Mr. Hayes? Especially since he's famously never taken on romantic roles before."

"It won't."

"Why is that?"

"Because we're already divorced."

The interview went viral.

And my phone blew up.

A voice, tight with fury, crackled through the speaker. "What the hell are you talking about, Ava? Since when are we divorced?"

I knocked on his hotel room door, divorce papers in hand.

"Since right now."

* * *

**#EthanHayesAvaReedSplit**

**#EthanHayesScarlettMay**

**#ScarlettMayHomewrecker**

The interview exploded, dominating the top three trending topics on Twitter.

My phone was having a seizure from the non-stop calls and texts. I finally switched it to Do Not Disturb and leaned back in the black SUV, trying to breathe. On the tablet next to me, a steamy BTS clip from Ethan’s new movie played on a loop—him and Scarlett May, locked in a kiss so intense it practically melted the camera.

My agent, Jen, stared at me, her mouth agape. "You're divorced? When did this happen?"

"He cheated," I said, my voice flat.

Jen instantly understood. She shut off the tablet, and the car fell silent, the only sound my own ragged breathing. She sighed, wanting to comfort me but not knowing how. "Ava, you and Ethan have been together for seven years. Everyone knows you're Hollywood's golden couple. Are you sure there isn't some kind of misunderstanding?"

I didn't answer. I just lowered the tinted window, letting the cold city air rush in to dry the tears threatening to spill over.

Last night, I got a text from a trusted source with a photo. Ethan and Scarlett May, checking into a hotel. I’d spent hours sobbing, my body convulsing with a grief so deep it felt like it was tearing me apart. Then, I called my lawyer and had him draw up the papers.

It's precisely because we were together for seven years that the betrayal was so unforgivable.