Chapter 4

I ripped my jacket out of her grip with force.

"Save it. Luna, starting today, I want nothing to do with you. We are completely over. I truly hope you manage to stay afloat in that shark tank you call an industry."

With that, I grabbed my suitcase and walked out the door without looking back.

She seemed to chase after me, screaming something hysterically behind my back, but I didn't care in the slightest.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by a ringing phone. It was Luna.

The second I picked up, her shrill, furious voice blasted through the receiver.

"Luke Hayes! What the hell did you say to the landlord?! Why is she refusing to rent to me no matter how much money I offer?!"

"It's just a house! Did you really have to be this petty? I wasn't even asking you to pay the rent, and you went out of your way to slander me to her!"

I didn't utter a single syllable. I hung up immediately and blocked her number for good.

Last night, I had simply informed the landlord of the true situation.

Without me vouching for her, why on earth would the billionaire landlord give an actress the time of day?

What I didn't expect was just how utterly shameless Luna could be.

Unable to reach me by phone, she actually mailed a wedding invitation straight to my address.

As a newly crowned Best Actress, announcing a sudden wedding was enough to trigger a massive media storm.

I originally couldn't care less. But then rumors began circulating online claiming that Luna had a secret billionaire sugar daddy backing her.

Netizens even started digging, claiming this backer was none other than the reclusive second son of the real estate conglomerate Hayes Group.

Which was me.

However, I had always kept a low profile and grew up abroad for most of my youth. The paparazzi had zero photos of my face.

Curious netizens flocked to Luna’s Ins comments, asking if she was really marrying into the Hayes family dynasty.

Luna promptly posted a coy, ambiguous emoji in response.

Instantly, the rumors exploded out of control.

Unable to stomach her dragging my family's name through the mud to legitimize her fraud, I grabbed the invitation and drove straight to the wedding venue.

When I arrived, the ceremony had just begun.

Luna spotted me standing below the stage. She froze for a split second, then flashed me a deeply smug, provocative smile.

Reporters below the stage were almost clambering over the railings with their microphones.

"Julian, rumors say you are the second heir of Hayes Real Estate. Is that true? Have you been the one funding Ms. Vance’s career all along?"

"There are reports that Mr. Hayes has been living abroad until now. Now that you're finally stepping into the spotlight, do you plan to take over the family enterprise, or enter the entertainment world yourself?"

Realizing that everyone genuinely believed Julian Miller was the Hayes heir—believed he was me—my brow furrowed into a deep scowl.

Julian didn't look guilty in the slightest. Facing the sea of flashing cameras, he smiled with effortless poise.

"My focus will primarily remain on our family. Of course, I will also fully support Luna’s acting career."

"Naturally, I am someone who prefers privacy, which is why I’ve kept a low profile overseas for so long. I hope everyone here can respect my wishes today and refrain from publishing too many close-up photos of my face."

I let out a silent, contemptuous scoff.

He wasn't humble; he was just terrified of getting caught playing dress-up.

I couldn't stand the farce for another second. I strode directly up onto the stage.

The harmonious, glamorous atmosphere shattered instantly. Whispers rippled through the hall as confused eyes locked onto me.

"Julian Miller, do you have any shame left?"

Seeing the chaos unfold, Luna’s expression turned utterly hideous.

She shoved herself in front of Julian, glaring at me with raw disdain. "We're already broken up! Are you still not done harassing me? You actually have the nerve to crash my wedding?!"

"Let me tell you something, Luke: I have real power backing me now. If you have any sense, you’ll get the hell out of here right now. Otherwise, if you cross the second heir of Hayes Real Estate, you won't even be able to survive in this city!"

Looking at Luna’s arrogant, barking face as she borrowed stolen power, I found it almost comical.

I looked left and right across the room.

"Second heir? Where is he? Call him out. I’d love to meet him."

She crossed her arms with a sneer. "A penniless peasant like you isn't worthy! Get lost before you end up dead without even knowing how you died!"

Just then, a cool, commanding woman’s voice cut through the grand hall from the entrance doors.

"I heard my son was having a wedding here today. How come nobody bothered to invite me?"