Joel Gleason, my childhood sweetheart and fiancé, promised he'd marry no one but me. But then, to help Jenny Swisher, my adoptive sister, get through her depression, he secretly married her.

I didn't hesitate for a second before agreeing to marry Conrad Lennon, Jasselton's most untouchable heir, who'd been in love with me for years.

After seven years of marriage, he still spoiled me rotten. He clung to me every night like he couldn't get enough. And there was nothing he wouldn't do for me.

I really thought I'd found happiness at last. But one day, after we'd slept together, I heard him talking to his best friend.

"Jenny's an international best actress now. When are you dumping Jean?"

"It doesn't matter. I wouldn't end up with the person I love either way. Besides, I have to keep an eye on Jean. I can't let her ruin all the happiness Jenny worked so hard for."

I booted up the computer in Conrad's study and stumbled upon a hidden folder. Inside were over 100,000 photos of Jenny, plus 100 unsent love letters.

I'd been fooling myself long enough. It was time to wake up. I got myself a fake body and got ready to start a fire.

That was it. Conrad and I were done for good.

After ordering the props I needed, I turned off the screen. Tomorrow I'd be gone from Conrad Lennon's life exactly as planned.

I turned around and suddenly found myself looking into his charming, smiling eyes.

He'd waited outside long enough for the smell of nicotine to fade, then warmed up to the room temperature before carefully slipping his arms around me from behind.

"Why are you still up?" he asked.

Conrad's familiar warmth melted into mine. His arms should have been my refuge, but all I felt was a cold stab of bitterness in my chest.

I'd been his wife for seven years, and he'd spoiled me utterly. Everyone in Jasselton knew how much he lavished me with luxury and indulgence.

He told me he'd fallen for me at first sight when we were kids and had secretly loved me for 14 years.

At our wedding, his eyes had been red with emotion as he vowed that marrying me felt like a dream come true.

Knowing about my past, Conrad used his family's influence to go all-out against Joel Gleason—the man who'd abandoned me—and even sabotaged Jenny's career to get revenge for me.

He said he couldn't stand anyone who'd ever hurt me. He acted so well that even a best actress like me couldn't spot a single false note.

It stung to remember how he'd always murmur "Jean" in those intimate moments, but something about the way he said it never felt right.

I'd brushed it off as just his strange way of pronouncing it. Only now did I realize that bastard had probably been saying "Jen" all along.

I ducked my head and quickly brushed away the tear welling in the corner of my eye.

Conrad didn't seem to notice. "Your so-called 'sister' just won Best Actress. There's an industry party tomorrow, but you should stay home with me instead. No point in going just to get upset over her."

I counted in my head. This had to be at least the 100th time he'd used that excuse to keep me out of the spotlight.

Back then, I told myself it was just his possessiveness. So I gave in helplessly, stepping away at the peak of my career.

Only now did I realize it was never about me. He just wanted to clear the path for Jenny.

"I'm meeting Gideon tomorrow. He wants me for the leading lady in his next film. I can't miss this," I said.

"Don't worry about it. You don't need to go. I've got you covered. Even if you never work another day, I'll always take care of you," he assured.

However, it wasn't about fame or money. I'd told Conrad once that my dream was to star in one of Gideon Zettler's films and to earn that role purely on my talent.

At the time, Conrad kept promising to support me in making it happen. He hadn't forgotten. But Jenny also wanted the lead role, so my dream was destined to become her stepping stone.

Noticing my silence, Conrad said gently, "Jean, don't be childish about this, okay? These parties will always be there. What really matters is the time we have together. Don't you think so?

"The day after tomorrow is our seventh anniversary. I've got a surprise planned you'll never forget. Sounds good?"

I forced a smile. "That's wonderful. And I've got something special for you too."

Conrad and I wouldn't be celebrating any anniversaries after this one.

I'd let him have his little victory.

In the middle of the night, after Conrad drifted off with his arms around me, I couldn't help but slip out to the study.

The way he used to whisper Jenny's name in bed, along with the photo albums and love letters I found on his computer, shattered whatever hope I still had.

Still, our seven years together meant something. We'd shared too many sweet moments for me to just walk away.

I stepped up to the small safe on the desk. It felt like Pandora's box, full of mystery and danger.

Back when Conrad and I were tangled up together in the study, I'd asked him more than once what he kept inside that meant so much to him.

But he always avoided answering, never giving me the code. Instead, he'd just tease me to guess.

I tried my birthday, his birthday, even our anniversary, but nothing worked. My hands shook as I entered Jenny's birthday, praying for the first time that I'd gotten it wrong.

The safe clicked open.

My heart sank into the abyss. Inside, there was a pair of matching rings, their inner bands engraved with "Conrad & Jenny".

They were old-fashioned but looked brand new, clearly cherished and carefully preserved by their owner.

I felt like every bit of strength left my body, and my heart might as well have been ripped out. Even someone as clueless as I should get it by now.

Conrad never loved me, not even for a second.

…

The next day, for once, I didn't cave to Conrad's demands and decided to go to the industry party.

His expression darkened slightly, but he didn't try to stop me. Instead, he said, "Fine, we'll go. But you'll need to stay close to me. With how gorgeous you are, and your 'sister' lurking around, I need to be able to watch your back."

He acted like some overprotective guard dog, but I knew he was afraid I'd slip out of his grip and steal Jenny's spotlight.

As if I cared.

I was about to fake my death and vanish for good. All I wanted was to say goodbye to the directors and screenwriters who'd helped me over the years.

All eyes snapped to Jenny and me the second we arrived.

"Jean's obviously Gideon's next leading lady. She's got Conrad's support, and her acting's in a league of its own."

Jenny's face darkened. She marched over and cut into the conversation. "What makes you say that? That role is mine!"

The crowd sneered, their lips curling in contempt.

"You're still not as experienced as Jean, are you? Don't get ahead of yourself."

"Exactly. You might be Mrs. Gleason now, but see those Lennons over there? Come on, we all know who's getting that."

"Oh, please, you won one measly Best Actress award. How about a little humility for once?"

Jenny stomped her feet in frustration. "Just you wait! You'll all be eating your words soon enough!"

She shot me a venomous glare. "Enjoy your little victory while it lasts. We'll see who's laughing when you're crawling in shame!"

She spat in disgust, stepped right up to me, and shoved me hard.

I staggered, lost my balance, and banged my knee hard against the corner of the table. Sharp pain shot through me, bringing tears to my eyes.

But Conrad, who'd promised to protect me, just looked the other way and let her do whatever she wanted.

I looked down, trying to push back the ache building in my chest.

Suddenly, the lights in the banquet hall went dark, unveiling the film's true leading lady.

"Let's hear it for… Jenny Swisher! And a special shout-out to Jeremy Landon, our top screenwriter with over 10 billion dollars in box office earnings. This time, he didn't take a single penny for the script.

"In fact, he put in 300 million dollars just to get Jenny as his star in his new film. Because she's his one and only leading lady, his muse!"

Jenny stepped onto the stage, grabbed the microphone, and mocked, "Jean, you still can't beat me at anything after all these years. You loser!"

Standing on the center stage under the spotlight, Jenny soaked up the attention, reveling in her victory.

I looked up at Conrad beside me. He held my hand, yet his eyes shone with nothing but joy for Jenny. He finally saw her get everything she'd ever wanted.

My eyes darkened, and a bitter laugh welled up inside me.

The day before, I had come across Jeremy's script in the study at the Lennon residence. The title page said, "For my one and only leading lady, Jenny Swisher."

"Jeremy Landon" was nothing more than "Jenny" and "Lennon" blended into one. It was Conrad's quiet way of honoring a love he could never admit.

I'd seen it coming, but watching it happen right before me still made my chest ache with a dull, persistent pain.

Gideon stepped closer and said gently, "Don't worry. You'll always be the leading lady in my films."

I shook my head with a bitter smile. "That's kind of you, but I don't think I'll ever have that chance again."

Playing dumb, Conrad pulled me into his arms and comforted me. "How about I fund a few films so you can enjoy the thrill of the spotlight? I've got a surprise for you tonight at Wharfside Promenade. Trust me, being loved by me beats being any leading lady."

I forced a smile. Words that used to feel sweet now stuck to me like old, sickly frosting. But I didn't want him to suspect anything, so I swallowed them down anyway.

"Sure," I replied.

I was planning to leave after thanking Gideon and the other industry veterans.

Conrad sent the driver away and offered to take me for a ride. He was just about to start the engine when his phone buzzed with a text.

I stole a glance at the screen. I knew that number. It was Jenny's.

His expression shifted instantly, and he hesitated before turning to me. "Jean, there's an emergency at work. Do you mind going to Wharfside Promenade by yourself?"

I paused for a moment before smiling. "Don't worry about me. Go take care of what you need to."

Conrad kissed my forehead, then rushed back toward the banquet hall.

I started the car and returned to the Lennon residence instead of heading to Wharfside Promenade.

From now on, I'd be putting everything into preparing for my own staged death, which was happening soon.

I gathered every last memory of Conrad and me. I erased every digital trace, even the backups in my cloud. As for the physical ones? I burned them all.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed with an anonymous message. I opened it to find a photo of Conrad, drunk, passed out beside Jenny.

"He kept taking drinks for me, even though he's got a stomach condition. You won't blame me for that, will you, Jean?"

"Yeah, he'll openly feud with the Gleasons and snatch my opportunities, but in private? He's paid me back tenfold. Do you know why?"

"Did you even notice Conrad's been following me around like a shadow since we were kids? He's always been in love with me. Marrying you? That was just his way of keeping you under control."

"Or did you actually believe someone could ever love you for no reason?"

"He told me that every night, he could only stand sleeping with you by pretending you were me. He said you were just Joel's leftovers. You weren't even a virgin when Conrad took you. You disgust him!"

Text messages flooded in, one after another.

But I stayed calm, picking up speed as I packed my things.

After moving the fake body to the bedroom and making sure it would be burned completely, I doused the entire room in gasoline.

Then, I forwarded all of Jenny's texts to the most notorious paparazzi in the entertainment business. I pulled out the SIM card, broke it in half, and tossed it into the bushes.

I hit the detonator and walked alone toward the far horizon. Ahead lay only darkness, but it didn't matter. Dawn would come eventually.

…

Meanwhile, Conrad had no idea what was happening on the other side.

He looked down at Jenny, his voice unintentionally sharp. "Why are you here, Jenny? Tomorrow is Jean's and my anniversary. She'll get suspicious."

Jenny's eyes welled up. "So this is my fault?"

Conrad panicked and immediately backtracked. "No, that's not what I meant. I'm sorry, Jenny."

Jenny crossed her arms and gave a quiet huff, reluctantly accepting his apology.

Just then, Conrad's phone rang. It was Ernest Hale, the Lennon family's butler.

Conrad frowned and silenced the call. This went on over a dozen times before he realized something was off. "What is it?"

"Mr. Lennon, it's bad news. Mrs. Lennon… s-she set herself on fire! We tried everything to put it out, but… it was too late," the butler replied.