Scarlett's POV
The mansion door handle felt ice cold under my sweaty palm. Behind this door waited fifteen strangers who had no idea I was about to become their worst nightmare.
"Action!" Jake's voice boomed from somewhere behind the cameras.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The cameras followed me like hungry wolves, their red lights blinking like evil eyes.
"Hello, everyone!" I called out, my voice sickeningly sweet. "I'm Scarlett, and I'm here to find love!"
The living room fell silent. Madison looked up from where she sat surrounded by men, her perfect smile faltering when she saw me. She was even prettier in person, which somehow made everything worse.
"Another girl?" Ryan, the muscular athlete, looked confused. "I thought we were done with new arrivals."
"Surprise!" I said with fake cheerfulness. Inside, my stomach was doing backflips. "I hope you don't mind sharing."
Madison stood up gracefully. "Of course not! Welcome! I'm Madison."
She hugged me like we were old friends. Her kindness felt like a knife in my chest. How was I supposed to destroy someone so genuinely nice?
"You're even more beautiful than on TV," I lied smoothly. "I can see why all these handsome men are fighting over you."
The men shifted uncomfortably. I could already see doubt creeping into their faces. Who was this new girl? What did she want?
Perfect. The seeds of suspicion were already planted.
"So what do you do?" Madison asked as we sat down together.
"I'm an actress," I said, which wasn't technically a lie. "Though lately I've been between projects."
Marcus, the shy accountant, leaned forward. "What kind of movies have you been in?"
My throat went dry. "Oh, you probably haven't seen them. Small independent films mostly."
"Try me," Ryan said with a cocky grin. "I watch everything."
Panic shot through me. If they looked up my movies online, they'd find the terrible reviews and career disasters. But there was no internet in the house, and phones were locked away.
"Maybe we should focus on getting to know each other instead," I said quickly. "Madison, tell me about your dream man."
Madison's eyes lit up. "Someone genuine. Someone who loves me for who I really am, not for my social media following."
"That's so sweet," I said, mentally preparing my first attack. "But how do you know if someone's being genuine? I mean, with all these cameras around, it must be hard to tell what's real."
The smile flickered on Madison's face. "I... I try to trust my instincts."
"Smart girl. Though sometimes our hearts can fool us, can't they?" I looked around at the men. "I'm sure everyone here has pure intentions, but you can never be too careful."
David, the artist, frowned. "What are you trying to say?"
"Nothing at all!" I said innocently. "I just think Madison deserves someone who's here for the right reasons. Don't you agree?"
The tension in the room was thick enough to cut. The men were looking at each other suspiciously now, wondering who might be fake.
Jake would be thrilled. Drama was already brewing, and I'd been here less than ten minutes.
"Well," Madison said, trying to lighten the mood, "why don't we all play a game? Get to know each other better?"
"Great idea!" I said. "How about truth or dare?"
The game started innocently enough, but I made sure to steer it toward dangerous territory. When it was my turn, I smiled sweetly at Madison.
"Truth or dare?"
"Truth," Madison said bravely.
"Who do you like the most so far? And be honest - the cameras are rolling!"
Madison blushed bright red. "I... I don't think I should pick favorites yet."
"Come on," I pressed. "We're all friends here. You must have some feelings developing."
The men leaned forward, desperate to hear her answer. Madison looked trapped, like a deer in headlights.
"I think... I think I need some air," she said, standing up quickly.
Perfect. I'd made America's sweetheart run away in less than twenty minutes.
"Did I say something wrong?" I asked the group, putting on my best confused expression.
"Maybe you came on a little strong," Marcus said gently.
"I was just trying to help her open up," I protested. "Isn't that what this show is about? Finding real love?"
Ryan snorted. "Right. And I'm here to become a monk."
The other men laughed, but it was uncomfortable laughter. They were all wondering the same thing - what was my real agenda?
I excused myself to find Madison, following the cameras down a hallway. She was standing on a balcony, staring out at the gardens.
"Madison? Are you okay?"
She turned around with tears in her eyes. "This is harder than I thought it would be."
"What is?"
"Knowing who to trust. Everyone seems so perfect, but what if they're just acting? What if none of it's real?"
My heart twisted with guilt. This was exactly what Jake wanted - Madison doubting everyone around her.
"Hey," I said softly, putting my hand on her shoulder. "You'll figure it out. Just trust your heart."
"But what if my heart is wrong? What if I fall for someone who's just using me?"
I wanted to tell her the truth. I wanted to warn her about Jake's manipulations and my own terrible role in this nightmare. But the cameras were rolling, and fifty thousand dollars was on the line.
"You're stronger than you think," I said instead. "Don't let anyone make you doubt yourself."
The irony of my words made me sick. Here I was, comforting the girl I was being paid to torment.
Madison smiled through her tears. "Thank you. I think we're going to be good friends."
Friends. The word hit me like a punch to the gut.
We walked back inside together, and I spent the next hour playing my part perfectly. I asked innocent questions that planted seeds of doubt. I made comments that seemed supportive but were actually poison. I watched Madison's confidence crumble bit by bit.
The cameras loved every minute of it.
As evening approached, most of the contestants gathered in the living room for dinner. I was picking at my salad, planning my next move, when I heard something that made my blood freeze.
Guitar music was drifting in from the pool area.
Not just any guitar music. A melody I knew by heart. A melody that had been written for me seven years ago, when the world was full of possibilities and love felt eternal.
My fork clattered to my plate. Everyone looked at me in concern.
"Scarlett? Are you alright?" Madison asked.
I couldn't speak. Couldn't breathe. That melody was like a ghost from my past, calling my name across the years.
"I... I need some water," I managed to say.
I stood up on shaking legs and walked toward the sound. Each note was like a step back in time, pulling me toward a memory I'd tried so hard to forget.
The pool area was dimly lit, with soft lights reflecting off the water. A figure sat in the shadows, guitar in hand, playing the song that used to be ours.
I stopped at the edge of the light, my heart hammering against my ribs.
The music stopped.
"I wondered when you'd come looking," a familiar voice said from the darkness.
My world tilted sideways. The voice I heard in my dreams. The voice that used to whisper my name like a prayer.
"It can't be," I whispered.
A figure stepped into the light, and my heart shattered all over again.
Brown eyes that used to look at me like I was everything. A crooked smile that used to make me feel safe. Hands that used to hold mine like I was precious.
Kai Sterling stood before me, five years older but still the same man who'd loved me completely. The same man I'd destroyed when I walked away.
"Hello, Scarlett," he said quietly. "Did you miss me?"