Chapter 1The Female CEO Visits the Set

The CEO of our parent studio, Seraphina Frye, visited the set today. She brought a box of artisanal chocolates, worth a cool ten thousand dollars, for the leading man, Aiden Reed.

The whole crew started joking around, begging for a piece.

So I joined in the fun. “Hey, sis, where’s mine?”

Her warmth vanished the second she looked at me. “In your dreams,” she said, her voice like ice.

Of course, some freelance photographer caught the whole thing on camera, and the clip went viral.

I was crucified online. “Who does this guy think he is? Does he even own a mirror? Trying to start shipping rumors with Ms. Frye.”

“He’s a nobody trying to steal Aiden’s girlfriend. Pathetic.”

Later, Aiden’s friends dragged me into a dressing room, tore my clothes, and filmed a humiliating video, all to “teach me to respect my superiors.”

Un-fucking-believable.

All I did was ask my own sister for a piece of chocolate, and now I’m public enemy number one?

* * *

“You piece of shit! How dare you try to move in on Aiden’s girl in front of everyone!”

“Get on your knees and apologize, and maybe we’ll let you go. Otherwise, we can end your career right now. Don’t believe us? Try it.”

Aiden’s cronies shoved me hard, sending me sprawling onto the cold floor of the dressing room.

One of them was Lucas, the second male lead in this production.

He’d gotten the part by kissing Aiden’s ass—a part that was originally mine. I was demoted to the fourth male lead.

Now, he sat perched on the makeup counter, phone in hand, recording my humiliation. Another guy pinned my shoulders, forcing me to my knees.

“Apologize! Did you forget what we told you? You think you can get away with poaching from a senior actor?”

I was speechless.

“What are you even talking about? I wasn’t poaching anything. Everyone else was joking around, so I asked for a chocolate! Besides, Seraphina Frye is my sister. Why would I need to ‘poach’ anything?”

Lucas rolled his eyes so hard I thought they’d fall out.

At his unspoken signal, the guy behind me kicked me squarely in the back.

“Shameless bastard. You’ve got some nerve calling her your sister.”

This was ridiculous.

The only reason I didn’t sign with Seraphina’s company was to avoid accusations of nepotism.

Plus, her attitude toward me has always been a confusing mix of hot and cold, completely unpredictable.

So, we had a silent agreement to keep our relationship private.

And now, here I was, paying the price. Nobody believed me.

Lucas sauntered over, phone still raised, and kicked me again.

“We’re all in the same business! You think we’re idiots?”

“Ms. Frye is the head of a major entertainment empire. You think you can just claim to be related to her?”

“We looked into it. Seraphina Frye has no brother. Stop trying to ride her coattails.”

“If you want to survive in this industry, you’ll get on your knees and apologize properly. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you never work in this town again!”

Lucas shot a look at the guy next to him.

The man behind me pulled out a utility knife, its blade glinting under the lights, and pressed the cold steel against my cheek.

I froze, tilting my head away, holding my breath, terrified that one twitch would leave a permanent scar on my face.

“It’s true!” I choked out. “My father and Seraphina’s father served together in the army. My dad saved Mr. Frye’s life. After my parents… after the accident, I went to live with the Fryes. Seraphina really is my sister. I swear, I have no romantic feelings for her. If I did, don’t you think I would have made a move years ago?”

They exchanged uncertain glances. For a moment, they hesitated.

Lucas made a call. It sounded like he was talking to Aiden.

“Right. I get it.”

The moment he hung up, he delivered another vicious kick, this time right to my chest.

“You lying piece of shit! Aiden just asked. Seraphina said she doesn’t have a brother.”

The world spun, and my head slammed against the floor. It felt like my skull had cracked open, static flooding my vision.

I only came back to my senses when they grabbed my collar and started shaking me violently.

I should have known Seraphina would deny me.

Ever since I was a kid, she’d felt like I had stolen her parents’ love.

She even accused them of favoring a boy over their own daughter.

A wave of bitter injustice washed over me.

Just then, a girl with a messy neon-pink mohawk and ripped fishnets swaggered in.

She whistled, looking me up and down.

“He’s cute. Not like I’m losing out here. But… he’s not gonna call the cops, is he?”