Chapter 1

To climb the Hollywood ladder, my girlfriend hooked up with an industry heavyweight and cut me out of her life completely.

Before kicking me out, she used his influence to seize my sports car, my Beverly Hills villa, and every cent in my bank account.

"Julian, I’m with a kingmaker now. I’m destined to be an A-list superstar. You’re just a bottom-feeder indie director stuck in the dirt. Did you really think we were ever in the same league?"

I couldn't help but find her words utterly ridiculous. After all, wasn't that "industry titan" she worshiped just an employee handpicked by my family?

At the star-studded press launch for a massive blockbuster, my girlfriend, Chloe, walked center stage arm-in-arm with the famous director, Marcus Vance.

Dressed in a pristine white evening gown, she looked like the brightest star in the night sky.

Even though the man she was clinging to was a greasy, bloated forty-something creep, she showed him the exact same breathless affection she used to give me.

My gaze hardened. A sharp ache pierced my chest.

Just this morning, Chloe had slapped an eviction notice down and thrown me out of our villa.

"Julian, do you have any idea how much of my time you’ve wasted? How many career-making roles I’ve missed because of you? Did you actually think I’d have the patience to sit around and wait for you to make it?"

"Consider all your savings my compensation for the years I lost on you. Now pack your crap and crawl back to whatever ditch you came from."

When she locked me out and I tried to text her, I found out she had already blocked my number and frozen me out of our shared assets. I was left standing on the curb without a single dollar.

I honestly didn't understand. Why was she acting like this out of nowhere? Why throw me out?

When Chloe and I first got together, I told her point-blank that if she ever needed high-level connections or studio backing, I could provide them in a heartbeat.

Back then, she just laughed, telling me that indie directors already had it tough enough, and she didn't want me humiliating myself begging executives for favors on her behalf.

For three years, everything had been wonderful between us. So why the sudden, vicious betrayal this morning?

I wanted answers, but she had already sped off in my car.

After tracking her down through my family’s private network, I arrived here at the studio launch.

Up on the stage, Marcus was beaming, basking in the spotlight.

"Thank you all for coming to our production launch," Marcus announced into the mic. "More importantly, today also marks our official engagement party! We hope you will all share in our happiness."

With that, Marcus gave a smug smile and took Chloe's delicate hand.

The crowd below instantly erupted into cheers and wild applause.

Chloe nestled against Marcus’s arm even closer, beaming with a radiant smile.

"Thank you, everyone! Marcus and I are going to be together forever."

Three years ago, she had whispered those exact same words into my ear. Why was she saying them to another man now? Did she have some kind of unavoidable problem she couldn't tell me about?

I pushed through the crowd toward the stage and yelled out:

"Chloe! Did you break up with me just for this guy?"

Seeing me appear out of nowhere, a flicker of panic flashed across Chloe's face. But it vanished just as quickly, replaced by a cold sneer.

"Who are you? Do I even know you?"

My mind went blank. We had lived together for three full years. How could she say that?

The first time I met Chloe was on a gritty indie set.

Back then, fresh out of film school, I poured my passion into setting up an independent production to shoot my very first feature film.

I deliberately chose not to ask my family for a single cent. I wanted to build my career from the ground up, entirely on my own merits.

In the beginning, several experienced extras showed zero respect for me, shouting over my directions and trying to walk all over me.

It was Chloe who stepped up. She told me a director needed to stand his ground, and she tore into those disrespectful extras until they fell in line.

After that, our conversations grew deeper. We grew closer, day by day, until we fell in love.

Yet this morning, she dumped me without a shred of mercy. I had to know the truth.

Up on the stage, Marcus glared down at me, his face twisting into a scowl.

"Where the hell did this piece of garbage crawl out of? Crashing my engagement party? You got a death wish, kid?"

The rolls of fat on his cheeks wobbled as a sinister grin spread across his face.

"Babe, do you know this clown? Or is he an ex-boyfriend? Because if he is, I’d love to give him a proper welcome."

In an instant, every camera and pair of eyes in the hall turned toward me. Many of those gazes were laced with icy cruelty.

Chloe’s face turned slightly pale. She hurried to grip Marcus’s hand, rubbing it affectionately.

"Marcus, don't be ridiculous! You're the only man I've ever loved in my life. I don't know this weirdo at all! Where is security? What do we pay them for, letting some stalker wander in here? Throw him out!"