Chapter 3: Lights, Camera, Jealousy

“Just keeping it real.”

Only then did the guests start chatting again:

“Haha, if you two really split, all the gossip I’ve eaten over the years was for nothing!”

“Yeah, you guys don’t even act divorced. How could it be…”

I wiped sweat from my forehead in silence.

Sorry to disappoint, folks. But that’s just how it is.

The show wasn’t live, so I figured it’d blow over.

But what I didn’t expect? Someone in the audience leaked a video online.

Twitter blew up.

The hashtag #EthanMarshallReeseCallahanDivorce shot to the top.

“Wait, they were married? My whole worldview just collapsed!”

“Ethan is so classy, how could he be into that loudmouth? My ship just sank.”

“Don’t blame him. Maybe he realized she was a mess and dumped her.”

“No, I was there—he said it was just for show. Why are people spreading rumors?”

“Yeah right, when has Ethan ever played things up for effect?”

...

Watching the drama heat up, I started feeling guilty.

Honestly, with my reputation, if people found out I’d secretly married and divorced Ethan, I’d probably get blacklisted.

Denise called, frantic.

“Reese, you’ve really done it this time! Tell me the truth, was there something going on with Ethan?”

I mumbled, “We’re already divorced. What’s there to have…”

Denise cursed for a while, then suddenly switched gears:

“But Ethan… does he really kick and steal the covers?”

I paused.

“Actually… that’s not the half of it.”

Denise was startled: “Does he talk in his sleep? Snore?”

I sighed, not sure how to explain.

“No, not that. He’s just too restless—always pulling me close, hogging the blanket, then climbing on top of me. Anyway, I couldn’t sleep.”

Denise laughed so hard she started hiccuping.

I was helpless: “So what do I do now?”

She cleared her throat, all business now:

“You’ve got a livestream for your new series soon, right? Play up your on-screen pairing and try to bury this mess.”

I went quiet.

I did have a new show coming out, and I was the second lead.

But if I remembered right, Ethan was directing.

Sure enough, on promo day, Ethan showed up again. Still in that black silk shirt. Figures.

I was taking photos with my on-screen partner, Lucas Kim.

Our cardboard cutouts stood together in front of the backdrop.

Lucas and I made a heart for the camera.

Ethan acted like he didn’t see us, walked over, and moved Lucas’s cutout aside. Then he put the female lead’s standee next to me and snorted.

Of course, the livestream views spiked the moment Ethan appeared.

Comments rolled in:

“What’s with moving Lucas’s standee?”

“Is he jealous? Don’t yell at me, but…”

“Honestly, Ethan looks mad that Lucas and Reese are too close…”

“LOL, his eyes are shooting daggers. They really might’ve been married.”

“Chill, it’s just for show. You’re reading too much into it.”

...

Lucas noticed and whispered to me:

“Reese, did you really divorce Ethan?”

I was stunned, didn’t answer.

Ethan strode over.

“What are you two whispering about? Let me in on it.”

Lucas’s eyes went wide, like he’d seen a ghost.

Me: …I’ll pass, thanks.

Ethan just smiled, not in a hurry.

Luckily, the host came over and took Lucas and me to our seats.

Lucas whispered as we walked, “Reese, Ethan doesn’t look happy. Should we keep playing up the ship?”

I tugged his sleeve: “Of course!”

The segments were all planned. No way we could drop the act, even if we wanted to.

After intros, the host started the first game.

Paired up, we had to recite the next line from a script scene, earning points for a correct answer.

When it was our turn, the scene was: my character, the senator’s daughter, asks Lucas’s character, the rookie cop, to help her escape a gala.

When it was time for the next line, Lucas blanked.

I tried to quietly prompt him, but suddenly the other group’s answer paddle shot up.

Ethan, holding the paddle, didn’t even hesitate. He recited the line perfectly:

“Carter always plays by the book, but his heart belongs to the senator’s daughter. If she asks him to break the rules, he’d do it a thousand times over.”

Lucas nodded: “Yes, that’s it!”

The host shook his head: “It is, but the point goes to them. Lucas, you gotta step it up.”

Lucas, grumbling: “Let’s do another. I can get it.”

Backstage played another scene—cop and senator’s daughter watching sunrise over the city.

Lucas jumped in: “I know this one! ‘To Carter, she’s like the sunrise—brilliant and dazzling, but out of reach.’”

He waited for the verdict.

Ethan quietly said: “Missed a word.”

“It’s: ‘Though brilliant and dazzling, still out of reach.’”