Bridie walked down the center of the red carpet with a rapid, aggressive pace.

Her black dress hugged her body perfectly. Every step she took commanded the attention of the photographers.

Behind her, Alaina was sweating. The heavy pink gown dragged on the carpet, making it impossible for her to keep up.

Every time a photographer yelled Alaina's name, Bridie casually shifted her weight. She struck a pose.

Bridie used her long legs to take massive, commanding strides, her pace aggressive but perfectly calculated. Every time Alaina tried to catch up, Bridie would stop dead in her tracks, hitting a flawless, powerful pose that acted like a brick wall against the cameras. She reached the press zone with absolute dominance, leaving Alaina suffocating in her shadow.

A reporter from E! News lunged forward, shoving a microphone into Bridie's face. His eyes were wide with excitement.

"Bridie! You look absolutely stunning tonight!" the reporter yelled over the crowd.

"Thank you," Bridie said. Her voice was polite, but her eyes were dead.

The reporter's smile turned sharp. He smelled blood. "So, Bridie, your ex-boyfriend Jory Chambers has been linked to Alaina Cherry recently. Any thoughts on their blossoming romance?"

The cameraman instantly zoomed in. The lens was inches from Bridie's face, waiting for her to break down or scream.

Alaina finally reached the edge of the press zone. She stopped, holding her breath, waiting for Bridie to embarrass herself.

Bridie's face went completely blank. Jory's pathetic, lying face flashed in her mind.

Her stomach churned with physical disgust.

She didn't cry. She didn't yell.

Instead, Bridie rolled her eyes. It wasn't a subtle movement. It was a massive, dramatic eye roll. Her irises disappeared completely, leaving only the whites of her eyes showing pure, unfiltered contempt.

She let out a cold, sharp laugh directly into the microphone.

"Who is Jory?" Bridie asked, her tone flat. "Do I look like I know people from the garbage dump?"

The reporter actually gasped. He pulled the microphone back a inch, completely stunned by the brutal insult.

The paparazzi went absolutely feral. The flashes strobed so fast it looked like lightning. This was the headline of the month.

Alaina heard the words "garbage dump." All the color drained from her face. Her fingernails dug so hard into her palms they almost drew blood.

Bridie didn't wait for a follow-up question. She turned her back to the reporter, flipped her hair, and walked away.

She pushed through the heavy glass doors of the theater lobby, leaving the screaming reporters behind.

Five minutes later, Twitter exploded.

The hashtag BridieOrtegaEyeRoll shot to the number one trending spot in the United States.

GIFs of her eye roll flooded the timeline.

Regular users praised her. She said what we all want to say to our toxic exes.

Jory and Alaina's fans swarmed her mentions, calling her trash and a bitter loser.

Inside the lobby, Harriet stared at her phone. The analytics were off the charts. Harriet pressed her fingers to her temples, looking like she was in physical pain.

Harriet stomped over to Bridie. "Are you out of your mind? !" Harriet hissed.

Bridie casually took a flute of champagne from a passing waiter. She took a slow sip.

"I just told the truth," Bridie said, shrugging.

She raised an eyebrow at Harriet. "Look on the bright side. I own the headlines tonight. Alaina didn't even get a scrap."

The premiere ended. The black Lincoln drove away from the theater, the inside of the car heavy with tension.

Bridie sank deep into the leather seat. She held her phone with both hands, her thumbs flying across the screen at lightning speed.

She was logged into her main verified Twitter account, fighting Jory and Alaina's fans in the replies.

A hater tweeted: You're just a jealous psycho.

Bridie replied instantly: Jealous of what? She looks like an unpeeled flamingo.

Another comment popped up: Your acting is garbage.

Bridie typed: My bad acting is still better than your idol's botox-filled zombie face.

Her blood was pumping. She opened her profile and changed her bio to: Forever young, forever speaking harshly.

Harriet sat next to her, watching the trending numbers climb higher. Harriet's face was red with high blood pressure.

Harriet lunged across the seat. She snatched the phone right out of Bridie's hands.

"Hey!" Bridie yelled, reaching for it. "I wasn't done destroying the one named 'Jory's Abs'!"

Harriet shoved the phone deep into her designer purse and snapped it shut. "You are banned from the internet for the rest of the night. If you post one more thing, I am tearing up your contract."

Bridie groaned. She slumped back against the window, running her hands through her styled hair in frustration.

Harriet sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Fine. I'll buy you dinner. Whatever you want. Just calm down."

Bridie's eyes instantly lit up. "K-Town. The most expensive Wagyu hotpot place."

The car made a sharp U-turn. Thirty minutes later, they pulled into the dark back alley of an exclusive restaurant in Koreatown.

Wearing black baseball caps and masks, they followed the waiter into a private, soundproof room.

A pot of boiling, spicy red broth was set on the table.

Bridie stared at the plates of perfectly marbled A5 Wagyu beef. Knowing she didn't have to pay for it made the knot in her chest loosen.

"Two bottles of Jinro soju!" Bridie yelled to the waiter.

"Bridie, no," Harriet warned.

But the waiter already placed the green bottles on the table. Bridie cracked one open and poured a full glass.

She tossed the alcohol back. The burn hit her throat, warming her stomach.

Her cheeks flushed a deep pink. Her eyes grew cloudy and unfocused.

She shoved a piece of meat into her mouth and started slurring her words. "My dad is a capitalist dictator," she mumbled, slamming her glass on the table. "He threatened to cut off my black card if I step out of line! I'm walking on thin ice with zero freedom!"

Harriet sighed, picking up the tongs to cook more meat for her. Harriet just listened as Bridie complained.

Two hours later, Bridie was completely wasted. She laid her head on the sticky table, giggling to herself and muttering about making millions of dollars.

Harriet paid the massive bill. She grabbed Bridie by the arm and hauled her heavy, limp body up.

The driver helped shove Bridie into the backseat of the Lincoln.

The car drove smoothly to the edge of Beverly Hills, pulling into the underground garage of Bridie's apartment building.

Harriet dragged Bridie out of the car and pushed her into the private elevator that went straight to the penthouse.

"Go straight to bed," Harriet ordered, stepping back as the doors closed.

The elevator shot upward. Bridie leaned heavily against the metal wall, her eyes half-closed, watching the floor numbers blur together.

With a soft ding, the doors opened directly into her penthouse.

Bridie stumbled forward, her legs wobbling as she stepped out of the elevator.

Bridie pushed open the heavy oak door of her apartment. She kicked off her high heels, letting them hit the floor with a clatter.

The apartment was pitch black. The only light came from the neon city glow bleeding through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

She let out a loud hiccup. She reached for the smart light switch on the wall, but her hand slapped empty drywall.

Suddenly, the hair on the back of her neck stood up.

She squinted into the darkness. A massive silhouette sat perfectly still on her living room sofa.

A heavy, aggressive scent hit her nose. It was cedarwood mixed with sharp mint.

The alcohol in Bridie's brain instantly evaporated. Her heart slammed against her ribs.

A stalker.

She held her breath. She reached over to the entryway table and wrapped her fingers around the cold metal handle of a heavy umbrella.

She slipped her jacket off and dropped it to muffle her footsteps. She crept toward the sofa like a predator.

The figure didn't move. The faint blue light from a phone screen illuminated a razor-sharp jawline.

"Die, you freak!" Bridie screamed.

She swung the heavy umbrella down with all her strength, aiming right for the intruder's shoulder.

The man moved with terrifying speed. He shifted his torso, dodging the metal rod completely.

The umbrella smashed into the leather sofa with a loud, dull thud.

The man stood up instantly. A large, burning hot hand shot out in the dark. His fingers clamped around Bridie's wrist like an iron vice.

Bridie thrashed wildly. She brought her knee up, aiming for his groin.

The man cursed under his breath. His free hand shot out and wrapped around her waist.

Using his massive size advantage, he lifted her off her feet and slammed her back against the freezing glass of the window.

Bridie gasped. The cold glass bit into her bare back. Both of her hands were pinned above her head.

The man leaned in. His hot breath brushed against her ear.

"Murdering your husband, Bridie?" a low, raspy voice chuckled in the dark.

Bridie's entire body went rigid. Her pupils dilated in pure shock.

The man let go of one of her wrists. He reached over and slapped the wall switch.

The crystal chandelier blazed to life. The sudden light blinded her.

Bridie blinked rapidly. The face of Evander Byers hovered inches from hers.

He wore a black silk pajama shirt, the top three buttons undone. He stared down at her, his eyes dark and amused.

Bridie's whole body shook with rage. "How did you get a key to my apartment? !" she screamed.

Evander slowly released her wrist. He reached into his silk pocket and pulled out a gold keycard.

"I have legal residency here," Evander said, his voice maddeningly calm. "I am your fiancé."

Bridie let out a hysterical laugh. She pointed a shaking finger at the door. "Get out!"

Evander ignored her. He walked over to the kitchen island and poured a glass of water. "The prenup states we must cultivate our relationship. I am fulfilling my legal obligation."

Bridie charged at him. She reached for the glass to throw the water in his face.

But the alcohol finally caught up to her. Her knee buckled.

She pitched forward. Evander dropped the glass and caught her instantly. His strong arms wrapped securely around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest.

A dark, satisfied smirk touched the corner of his mouth.

The rich cedar scent on his body rushed into Bridie's nose. She ground her teeth together, but her muscles were completely useless. She couldn't break free from his suffocating grip.