Chapter 3: The Actress Begins Her Act
438 Words
The world thought Chloe Reed had fallen.
Dropped from a blockbuster film. Replaced by her fake-smiling rival Mila. Rumors spreading like wildfire.
"Unstable. Unprofessional. Washed up."
But Chloe wasn’t broken.
She was reloading.
She stood at her hospital window, staring down at the city that used to bow at her feet. Her phone buzzed again—Rachel, panicking.
> “Mila’s doing interviews. She’s painting you as ‘mentally unwell.’ Want to respond?”
Chloe didn’t type back.
She turned instead… to the whiteboard outside her room.
Room 406 – Dr. Ethan Walker.
Oh, Mila. Sweetheart. Let’s see how long your little spotlight lasts once my story takes over.
---
That afternoon, Ethan entered her room with his usual clinical air. Clipboard. Stethoscope. Zero personality.
Chloe greeted him in a silk robe she made Rachel bring from home. Hair loose. Eyes sparkling with fake innocence.
“Doctor,” she cooed, “you never visit me for fun.”
“This is a hospital.”
“I could make it a lot more fun.”
He checked her vitals without responding.
“You’re still not cleared for discharge,” he said flatly. “Maybe two more days.”
“Perfect. I’ll have more time to seduce you.”
“Miss Reed—”
“Fiancée,” she corrected, lips curving. “Use the right label.”
He gave her a blank stare. “I’ve seen patients with concussions. You’re something else entirely.”
“Oh, darling,” she whispered, leaning closer, “you haven’t even seen the beginning.”
---
Later that night, Chloe posted one photo on her secret fan account—just a blurred shot of a man’s back in a white coat.
Caption: Healing hearts, breaking mine. Guess who my mystery man is?
The internet exploded.
---
Meanwhile, Ethan met his father at a quiet café.
“Dad,” he said, “call off the arrangement. I’m not marrying Chloe Reed.”
His father sipped his tea calmly. “You think you’re better than her?”
“She’s reckless. She flirts like it’s war.”
“Maybe she’s exactly what you need. Someone to wake you up from your dead-serious life.”
Ethan stood. “I’m not a puppet in her games.”
His father’s eyes twinkled. “Son, you're already in her story. The only question is—will you survive the script?”
---
Back in the hospital, Chloe watched the chaos unfold online.
She smiled, full of wicked joy.
Let Mila play the nice girl.
I’ll play the woman everyone loves to hate.
Because love stories are boring.
But scandals?
Scandals make legends.
- Writer
