Chapter 1: Lights Behind the Curtain
The cameras flashed like lightning, blinding and relentless. Every corner of the red carpet shimmered under their assault, and every scream from the crowd felt like thunder pressing against Lena Grace's ears.
"Lena, over here!"
"Miss Grace, look this way!"
"Lena, who are you wearing tonight?"
She tilted her chin slightly, giving them the practiced smile she had mastered years ago. Perfectly angled lips. Slightly narrowed eyes. A glimmer of mystery without arrogance. The nation's sweetheart, the idol who could do no wrong.
At least, that was what they thought.
Behind the dazzling dress and flawless makeup, Lena's chest felt heavy, like chains were dragging her deeper into the role she had been forced to play for years. Every step she took on the red carpet was a lie. Every smile was a mask.
Because Lena Grace—America's angel, Hollywood's rising star, sweetheart of millions—was married.
Her fingers itched to touch the thin gold band hidden under her sleeve. She had slipped it onto a chain that dangled discreetly around her neck. A talisman. A reminder of who she really was when the lights turned off.
The crowd roared louder as another car pulled up behind her.
The flashbulbs went wild. Screams pierced the night.
She didn't need to turn around to know who had just arrived.
Adrian Cole.
Her husband.
The industry's golden boy. Charismatic, magnetic, adored. The kind of man who could command a room simply by walking into it. He stepped onto the carpet in a tailored black suit, his sharp jawline and striking blue eyes sending the crowd into hysteria.
"Adrian! Adrian, over here!"
"Adrian, smile for the fans!"
"Adrian, are the rumors true—you've landed a role with Hollywood's newest starlet?"
Lena's stomach tightened. She kept her gaze forward, her expression serene. The perfect idol. But her pulse betrayed her calm, thundering in her ears as Adrian moved closer.
Their eyes met for half a second.
And in that instant, the world around them fell away.
The crowd disappeared. The flashes dimmed. For just a heartbeat, there was only him—the man she had whispered vows to in the quiet of dawn, the man who held her when she cried, the man she called husband when no one else could hear.
But the spell shattered as quickly as it came.
Adrian's smile widened, charming and easy. He turned his attention to the reporters, laughing at a question about his "next big project." Lena exhaled slowly, forcing her lips into another perfect curve as her manager tugged at her arm.
"Keep walking," her manager hissed softly. "You're blocking the flow. And don't even think about looking back."
Lena obeyed. She had no choice.
---
Backstage at the awards show, the atmosphere shifted. The noise of the crowd dulled into a low hum, replaced by the chaos of staff running with headsets and clipboards.
Lena sat in the dressing room chair as her stylist adjusted her gown. Her reflection in the mirror looked flawless—hair shimmering under the soft lights, lips painted a delicate rose. Yet all she could see was the hollowness in her own eyes.
"Breathe," she whispered to herself.
The door creaked open.
Her pulse spiked.
Adrian stepped in, closing it softly behind him. The lock clicked, shutting out the world.
"Five minutes," he murmured, glancing at the clock. "That's all we have."
Lena's breath caught. For a moment, the mask slipped. She turned in her chair, and her eyes softened as he crossed the room.
He reached her in three strides, his hand brushing her cheek. The warmth of his touch broke through the layers of cold she had wrapped around herself.
"Hi," she whispered, almost afraid to let the word leave her lips.
"Hi." His smile wasn't the dazzling one he wore for cameras. It was small, tender, real.
They stayed like that for a moment, their foreheads touching, the weight of their secret pressing down between them. Two years of marriage, and yet they could only steal fragments of time like thieves in their own lives.
"I hate this," Lena whispered. "Pretending you're not mine. Pretending we're strangers."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "I know. But you also know what's at stake. If this gets out—"
"Our careers are over," she finished bitterly.
The silence stretched. They had said these words a hundred times before, and each time, they cut deeper.
Adrian's fingers brushed the chain around her neck, feeling the ring hidden beneath her gown. "Someday, Lena. Someday we won't have to hide."
Her eyes stung. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that love could outshine fame, that their vows meant more than contracts and fans.
But before she could speak, there was a knock at the door.
"Lena! Adrian! You're both up in two minutes!"
They pulled apart instantly. Masks snapped back into place. Adrian smoothed his suit, Lena dabbed at her lipstick. Strangers once more.
"See you out there," he said softly, his smile practiced once again.
And then he was gone.
---
Onstage, the spotlight burned down on Lena as she accepted her award. The crowd erupted, chanting her name. She held the golden trophy high, her smile radiant.
But as she looked into the audience, her gaze found Adrian seated near the front, applauding with the same effortless charm.
To everyone else, they were colleagues. Rivals. Stars in the same galaxy, orbiting apart.
But Lena knew the truth.
Every beat of her heart whispered it.
Every glance she stole confirmed it.
Every night she cried alone reminded her.
Adrian Cole wasn't just her co-star. He wasn't just her friend.
He was her husband.
And in a world where love was the greatest scandal of all, their secret was the most dangerous one of them all.