"Brother, I’m done hiding my identity. I’m ready to take over and I’ll marry the man you wanted me to."

I said the words into the phone before hanging up, my grip tightening around the device as my heart pounded in my chest.

My eyes burned as I stared at the evidence of my husband's betrayal—the red lace thong and a tube of lipstick, both nestled inside the pocket of Derek's jacket. I had only grabbed it to do the laundry, expecting nothing more than loose change or the crumpled receipts he often forgot. But instead, my fingers brushed against silk and plastic.

I was certain these weren’t mine. My mind instantly went to his co-star, I was sure she was the owner of these.

A bitter laugh bubbled up in my throat.

“Five years…” I murmured, tears rolling down my cheeks.

Five years of being the perfect wife, the devoted woman who stayed in the shadows while he thrived in the limelight. Five years of swallowing my pride, my dreams, my own identity for his sake.

And for what?

Tonight was even supposed to be special. Derek’s new movie premiere was just hours away, and the world was buzzing about his performance. I had planned everything—the surprise, the announcement, the moment that was supposed to be ours. I had even bought him a car, the perfect gift to celebrate his success. More than that, I had been ready to tell him about the baby. Our baby.

But none of it mattered anymore. My hands clenched at my sides as I stepped back from the wardrobe, bile rising in my throat. I had been such a fool.

Derek had always insisted secrecy was necessary. "The contract, Lexie," he would remind me, his voice gentle but firm. "You know I can’t have a public relationship right now. It’s all about the image."

And like an idiot, I had believed him. I had let him keep me in the dark, hidden away like some shameful secret.

But now, the truth was staring me in the face. There was another woman.

I stumbled out of the bedroom, the red lace clutched in my fist, my vision blurring as I grabbed my car keys and stormed out. My mind raced, but my destination was clear.

The city square buzzed with life, bright screens illuminating the night sky. And there he was. Derek Jones, larger than life, flashing that same charming smile that once made my heart flutter.

But this time, he wasn’t alone.

Allison Green, his co-star, sat beside him, their bodies angled toward each other like they belonged together. The chemistry between them was undeniable. And then he said it, the words that shattered whatever was left of my delusion.

"We just couldn’t keep it a secret anymore."

My breath hitched as I watched his arm drape around her shoulders like it was the most natural thing in the world. Allison giggled, leaning into him, her eyes glowing with adoration.

"The chemistry we had on set was so real, we couldn’t ignore it. It just felt… right," she gushed.

"How long have you two been together?" the interviewer asked, smiling like they were the romance of the century.

Derek hesitated, glancing at Allison before turning back to the camera. "A while now," he admitted. "Long enough to know she’s the one."

The one.

The world tilted. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto a bench, staring blankly at the screen. The laughter, the excitement of the crowd, the flashing lights—it all blurred into white noise.

I had given him everything.

And he had thrown me away like I was nothing. But I wasn’t done yet. Derek and Allison weren’t going to walk away from this unscathed.

The idea came to me like a lightning strike. A dummy account.

I spent the next hour setting it up, carefully choosing a name and profile picture that would appear authentic, like someone with inside knowledge. Once it was ready, I began typing.

Breaking news: While Derek Jones and Allison Green celebrate their so-called love story, sources reveal a shocking twist. Derek Jones may have another woman in his life—a woman carrying his child.

I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the keyboard before adding the next part.

Attached are photos and messages that confirm the pregnancy, hidden from the public eye. Derek’s perfect image may not be so perfect after all.

My heart pounded as I attached the pregnancy test—the one I had been saving to surprise him with. It wasn’t a lie. It was his child, and now the world would know.

I took a deep breath, staring at the screen. With one final click, the post went live.

I sat in my apartment, staring blankly at the city lights through the window. The viral post I’d created hours ago had already spiraled out of control, dominating every gossip site and social media platform. My phone buzzed on the coffee table, but I ignored it.

Then the door burst open.

“Lexie!” Derek’s voice boomed, his face red with fury as he stormed inside.

I didn’t flinch. I didn’t even stand. I just turned to face him, my expression blank. “What are you doing here?”

He slammed the door shut behind him. “Don’t play dumb with me,” he snapped. “Did you do it? Are you the one who posted that garbage about me online?”

I tilted my head, feigning confusion. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists at his sides.

“Don’t lie to me, Lexie. The post is everywhere—people are saying I got some woman pregnant. Do you have any idea what this is doing to my career?”

I shrugged, leaning back against the couch. “Sounds like you have a lot on your plate, Derek. Maybe you should take it up with whoever posted it.”

He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. “Are you pregnant?”

The words hung in the air.

“No,” I lied smoothly, my voice steady. “Why would you think that? Didn’t you tell me not to get pregnant?”

His gaze bore into mine, searching for any sign of weakness. “You better not be,” he growled. “Because if you are, I’ll make sure that baby never sees the light of day. There’s no way I’m letting anyone ruin my movie premiere.”

I felt my stomach churn, but I kept my expression neutral.

“Why does it matter?” I said. “Is it not true, Derek? Did you not lie to me, use me, and then announce your relationship with Allison to the entire world?”

His eyes flickered, and for a moment, he looked unsure. Then he straightened, his voice turning defensive. “That’s not what it looks like. The thing with Allison—it’s just for promotion. You know how this industry works.”

I laughed bitterly, the sound cutting through the tension in the room. “Do I? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re trying to have it all—your career, your perfect image, and Allison on the side.”

“Lexie,” he said, his tone softening as he tried to reach for my hand. “You’re overthinking this. None of it is real. It’s you I care about. You’ve always been the one for me.”

I didn’t respond, letting the silence stretch between us until he finally spoke again.

“Listen,” he said, his tone shifting once more. “The movie is the most important thing right now. Let’s just get through this, and then we can focus on us. I promise. We’ll talk about marriage soon.”

I forced a small nod, pretending to accept his hollow reassurance. “Sure, Derek. Whatever you say.”

“Good,” he said, his smile returning as if he had won me over. “Why don’t we go out for dinner tomorrow? Just the two of us. We can talk more then.”

Before I could answer, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, his face tightening. “I need to take this,” he said quickly, already heading for the door.

I didn’t have to ask who it was. Allison’s name lit up the screen, the sound of her voice faintly audible as he answered the call.

“Hey, babe,” he said, his tone warm and comforting as he stepped into the hallway.

He didn’t even say goodbye to me.

That was the last straw.

The moment the door closed behind him, I stood and began packing. When I finally stepped outside, a black limousine was waiting for me.

As I climbed inside, my phone buzzed. Alex’s name appeared on the screen.

“Lexie,” he said. “I’ve been hearing some things. Were you and Derek in a relationship?”

I hesitated. “Yes,” I admitted quietly.

There was a pause on the other end. “And you didn’t tell me? Why?”

“Because Derek told me not to,” I said. “It would’ve violated his contract. He swore it was for the best.”

Alex let out a bitter laugh. “And now this? He used you, Lexie. Do you see that now?”

“I see it,” I said, my voice firm. “And I want him to pay for it.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Pull out our investments from his agency,” I said without hesitation. “And sabotage the movie. I don’t care how—just make it fail.”

Alex didn’t even hesitate. “Done.”

For the first time in days, I felt a sense of satisfaction.

Before heading back to the family estate, I made one last stop.

The hospital loomed ahead as the limousine pulled into the parking lot. My hands trembled as I stepped out, the reality of what I was about to do settling in my chest like a stone.

This baby didn’t deserve to be tied to Derek. To his lies, his selfishness, his betrayal.

I had no choice but to abort this.

Days had passed since Derek barged into my apartment, furious about the viral post, but not once had he tried to check on me after leaving.

He didn’t care.

The realization hit me like a slap to the face. I had wasted years of my life on someone who couldn’t even be bothered to ask if I was okay.

My gaze drifted to the television, where muted voices flickered across the screen. I hadn’t turned the volume on—it was always the same. News about Derek and Allison, their movie, their scandal, and the fallout that followed. But today, something caught my attention.

I turned the volume up, my pulse quickening as the reporter’s words filled the room.

“Breaking news: Derek Jones and Allison Green’s much-anticipated movie has flopped at the box office, with critics and audiences alike refusing to support the film amidst the swirling scandal.”

I leaned forward, gripping the remote tighter as the segment continued.

“The backlash has been swift. Fans have accused Derek of lying and deceiving his audience, while Allison has faced harsh criticism for her role in the alleged affair.

Endorsement deals have been pulled, and sources close to Allison say she’s struggling to cope with the fallout.”

A photo of Derek and Allison appeared on the screen, both of them looking visibly upset.

“In a recent interview, Derek Jones denied the pregnancy rumors, stating, ‘This is nothing but a baseless attack on my character. If the woman behind this has any proof, she should come forward instead of hiding behind a screen and trying to ruin my career.’”

I let out a bitter laugh. Baseless attack? Proof?

They wanted proof?

Fine. I would give them proof.

For hours, I sat at my desk, crafting the article.

I started with the truth:

“My name is Lexie Gray, heiress to the Gray Corporation. For five years, I was in a secret relationship with actor Derek Jones, hidden from the public eye due to his contract restrictions. During this time, I supported him in every way, sacrificing my own career and dreams to help him succeed.”

I attached photos of us together—ones he thought would never see the light of day. There were snapshots of us laughing at private dinners, walking hand in hand, and even a few candid moments he hadn’t noticed I captured.

I included the receipts—the pregnancy test, the car keys I had planned to gift him, everything.

Then I exposed his lies.

“Recently, I discovered that Derek had been using me for years, planning to discard me once he achieved his goals. His public relationship with Allison Green was nothing more than a betrayal, as he promised me love while plotting to replace me. Attached are recordings and messages that show his true intentions.”

I sat back, staring at the screen. The evidence was damning.

With one final breath, I hit “publish.”

The article spread like wildfire.

Within minutes, my phone buzzed with notifications—headlines popping up, social media exploding with comments, and news outlets picking up the story.

“Lexie Gray Exposes Derek Jones!”

“Gray Corporation Heiress Breaks Silence on Five-Year Relationship with Derek Jones!”

“Scandal Deepens: Proof of Betrayal and Lies!”

The public response was immediate and brutal.

“I knew Derek was shady!”

“This poor woman. He used her and thought he could get away with it.”

“Derek and Allison deserve each other—two liars caught in the act.”

I watched the chaos unfold from the comfort of my estate.

My phone rang, Derek’s name flashing across the screen.

I ignored it.

It rang again. And again.

Finally, I answered, my voice cold. “What do you want?”

“Lexie, what the hell is wrong with you?” he shouted. “Why would you do this? Why would you lie like that?”

“Lie?” I asked. “What exactly did I lie about, Derek? The photos? The messages? Or the fact that you were planning to dispose of me once you started your own agency?”

There was a beat of silence before he spoke again, his voice trembling with anger. “You don’t know what you’ve done! You’ve ruined my career! Do you understand that? Do you even care?”

I laughed bitterly. “Care? Derek, you didn’t care about me for five years. You used me, lied to me, and then flaunted your relationship with Allison like I didn’t exist. So no, I don’t care about your career.”

“You didn’t have to do this.”

“And let you walk away unscathed?” I shot back. “Not a chance.”

He took a shaky breath. “Lexie, listen. We can fix this. I’ll make it right. Just take the article down.”

Before he could say another word, I added, “Enjoy your downfall,” then I hung up, and blocked him.