Chapter 1

Backstage at the awards ceremony, I watched my fiancé, Felix Fairchild, hurl a black credit card at Ivy Jordan’s face.

“Lena Sullivan is ravishing. What the hell are you wearing?”

He turned and wrapped me in his arms, declaring tonight’s award was ours.

But then, a barrage of glaring comments floated before my eyes.

[Tsk, that’s not what he said yesterday in the break room on set.]

[The supporting female lead is still waiting to get engaged after winning. Is the male lead only with her for her family’s investment and connections?]

[What’s the point of being with a boring woman like the supporting female lead? They’d just sleep in separate rooms after marriage.]

[The director only feels creative passion when he’s holding our Ivy!]

That was when I realized I was living inside a novel.

He was the director, I was the supporting female character, and Ivy Jordan was the true female lead of his heart.

He was with me only for my family’s investments and connections.

The token of love he gifted me? He’d long ago prepared an identical one for Ivy.

Even the career we built together was etched with her shadow everywhere.

Later, Ivy, dressed in the gown I had torn, collapsed pitifully into his arms.

He carried her away, letting the award trophy smash into my hand without a single backward glance.

The comments all said the supporting female lead was dull and tedious, and deserved to be dumped.

What they didn’t know was that once I stopped loving him, he and his precious female lead combined weren't even worth my attention.

[The director only feels creative passion when he’s holding our Ivy!]

[Too bad this novel’s ending lets the supporting female lead off way too easy.]

[The male and female leads end up traveling the world, while the supporting female lead raises their kid. A total doormat.]

Staring at the flood of messages across my vision, I instinctively shoved Felix away.

Ivy Jordan stood there, face ashen.

Felix gripped my hand tightly and said to Ivy, ice-cold, “If Lena wasn't so busy with work, you think it’d be your turn?”

“Ivy, you're nothing but my shield.”

“Now take the money and disappear. Right now.”

The surrounding staff started whispering.

“Everyone knows Director Fairchild only has eyes for Producer Sullivan. Some small-time actors really don't know their place.”

“A woman who climbed up through the casting couch, and she’s actually dreaming of a rich family?”

“Just a pastime Director Fairchild got bored of.”

[Don't speak too soon.]

[Relax, he still doesn't dare to fall out with the supporting female lead. After all, he needs her family's investment.]

[That's exactly why our Ivy wore the same dress on purpose to provoke him, so he'll see his true feelings!]

I yanked my hand free from Felix’s grip.

Ivy’s makeup was half-streaked with tears, her dress strap slipping down to reveal a few suggestive red marks.

Fighting back tears, she walked toward Felix. “Felix, are you really going to send me away?”

Felix reached for me again, attempting to make a stand.

But his slightly trembling fingertips had already betrayed his heart.

“Fine. Those were your words.”

Ivy pulled a necklace from her bag.

“I thought you chose this as the film’s most important symbol for my sake!”

Touching the identical necklace around my own neck, I suddenly felt a wave of irony.

So, our shared career had long been carved with another woman's mark.

“That rare vintage film reel you gave me? I don’t want it anymore!”

“You said it was your entire collection, that I was your only one. Thinking back, it was all a lie!”

With that, she threw a box onto the floor.

“Hey! When did I ever lie to you?”

Felix protested reflexively, still clutching my hand.

I’m a nostalgic person. In this digital age, I insist on using film for certain important shots.

To appeal to me, Felix spent a fortune hunting down vintage film reels, calling it the testament of our love.

He once said the most precious reel would be saved for our wedding day.

Now I understood. It wasn't that he was reluctant to use it; he had long ago used that unique treasure for Ivy.

“The script we stayed up all night revising? I’m giving it back too!”

Saying this, Ivy pulled a stack of papers from her bag and tore them viciously.

[So exciting! The female lead is forcing the male lead to make a choice!]

“Ivy, don’t...”

Finally, Felix let go of my hand.

Ivy’s eyes were red, her hands pausing their destruction. “You feel sorry? You admit it?”

Felix picked up the film box from the floor and turned back to me.

“If you want to make a scene, do it outside. Don’t delay Lena’s award.”

Ivy yanked her dress zipper open.

“Since you don’t want me, I’ll go find myself a new investor.”

“I’ll let everyone see right now just how much I’ve sacrificed for your film.”

“Are you insane?” Felix tore off his own jacket and wrapped it around her.

Ivy seized the moment to hug him tightly, pressing her whole body against him.

Felix let her embrace him, not pushing her away.

[Heh, who can resist a sexy little wildcat? The director’s been hooked for a long time.]

[You can't blame the male lead for changing his mind. The supporting female lead is like a work machine, totally devoid of fun.]

[Huh? The supporting female lead ruined the awards ceremony, won't the male lead hate her?]

[How could he? The male lead loves this kind of thing, playing hard to get.]

[It won't ruin anything. In the end, for the big picture, the supporting female lead will step up and clarify things for them and keep investing.]

[She’s a tool, confirmed.]