She Faked Romance, I Revealed the Truth

After grinding in the entertainment industry for three years post-graduation, I finally landed my first lead role. And against all odds, the show became an overnight mega-hit. Within a single month, I gained tens of millions of followers, putting me neck-and-neck in popularity with the reigning top actress, Camila Turner. Naturally, a major reality TV show extended an invitation to me. My manager urged me to take it, arguing that doing a reality show right after a hit series was the perfect way to lock in the hype, while also serving as a nice little break. I thought about it and agreed. Though for me, gaining fans wasn't the goal—getting a break was. After all, when you stay at home for too long, you can genuinely get tired of looking at the same person every day. I desperately needed a change of scenery to refresh my palate. It wasn't until I arrived at the set that I learned Camila was also a series regular. And yes, she was the very same woman who had posted that photo to clout-chase a fake romance. ***** Before the official filming began, the show hosted a live-streamed introduction of the cast. As fate would have it, my seat was right next to Camila. When the clock struck, the host kicked things off smoothly. "Welcome to the livestream, everyone! Today, we are joined by the incredibly talented and popular Camila Turner! We also have the rising star whose new drama is absolutely crushing the charts—Luna Stewart!" Rounding out the cast were two male actors and a veteran industry senior. What I didn't get was how I was considered a "rising newcomer" after grinding for three long years. Did my years of playing extra roles just not count? "Now that the intros are out of the way, let's talk about the most crucial element of our show: Heart to Heart. We've asked all our guests to invite someone close to their heart onto the show. This special guest could be a family member, a friend, or perhaps..." The host threw a loaded, meaningful glance at Camila. "...a lover. If their schedule allows, of course." I watched as Camila's fair complexion flushed a delicate pink. "If the opportunity arises," she murmured. The moment those words left her mouth, the live chat went completely wild. A: [If the opportunity arises?! OMG! The gossip from two days ago is real! My ship is sailing!] B: [Hahaha, Camila has impeccable taste. I can't believe she actually snagged a billionaire bachelor like Connor. She has my blessing!] C: [Guys, quick question. Mr. Morin is a legendary high-society elite, but would a tycoon like him actually agree to appear on a reality show?] D: [@C: Bro, for a gorgeous girlfriend like her, he'd crawl through broken glass to be there!] With nothing better to do, I stared at the monitor in front of me. The rapid-fire comments flying across the screen didn't escape my notice. But wait... is this Connor the same Connor I know? Since when did his path ever cross with Camila's? E: [Uh, what's with Luna's expression? Don't tell me she's jealous of Camila? Ew, pathetic.] F: [She gains a few fans and suddenly thinks she's hot stuff. If she wasn't here to be a foil, our Camila wouldn't even breathe the same air as her!] G: [Exactly! Mr. Morin only dates within his elite local circle, and Camila fits perfectly. Luna needs to go back to whatever irrelevant town she came from!] As I kept reading, pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. Ah, so they were talking about the rumored romance between Camila and Connor. But here's the thing... Connor doesn't even know who Camila is, does he?