Chapter 1The Star-Maker

My husband, Leo, and I were the Hollywood dream. Childhood sweethearts who’d made it, from high school theater to the Oscars. For him, I’d given up my own acting spot at Juilliard, choosing instead to become his manager.

But when he finally won his Oscar, a new face appeared: his “little protégé,” Chloe, nearly ten years younger and buzzing with a desperate kind of energy.

And between her and me, he always chose her.

He let me take the fall for her mistakes, let me be humiliated by her antics, all while swearing, “She’s just like a little sister to me.”

Then I saw the TMZ blast: Leo and Chloe, in a passionate kiss outside Musso & Frank.

I had to laugh. Since when do you kiss your sister like that?

* * *

When Leo loved me most, he proposed to me live on the Oscars red carpet, at the absolute peak of his career.

The internet broke. He lost over a million followers that night.

He just kissed me and said, “It was worth it.”

We’d made it. We’d survived the climb.

But five years into our marriage, Chloe, his new co-star, latched onto him, and everything changed.

On our date nights, her name was in every story. Even when I changed the subject, he’d find a way to bring it back to her, a soft, unfamiliar smile on his face.

Today was my birthday. It was also, coincidentally, Chloe’s.

On set, the crew threw Chloe a massive surprise party.

When Leo and I got back to our hotel, he got a call, and that same soft smile appeared. He grabbed his jacket. "You rest up. I'm just going to... take a walk."

My heart gave a stupid little jump.

All day, "Happy birthday, Chloe!" echoed around the set. They’d even gotten her a huge, custom-baked cake. Not a single person had wished me a happy birthday.

But I didn't care. All that mattered was that he remembered. He’d never forgotten.

He was going out to get me a surprise. A gift, and a cake just for me.