The rising starlet posted a photo of a diamond-encrusted car key. The caption read: "Finally received my third supercar gift. ❤️" Sharp-eyed netizens immediately recognized it. It was the serial number 001—a limited-edition custom Bugatti, rumored to have been purchased by Silas Thorne, the youngest tech billionaire in Silicon Valley. Fans went into a frenzy: [Is this an engagement gift?!] [Power couple goals! A beautiful star and a tech king. Silas is so generous.] I pulled an identical key out of my bag and tossed it onto the desk of the man currently leading a board meeting. "Did you buy two of these?" I asked. The man looked at me with a pouting face. "There’s only one custom-made in the world. And you’re still complaining that the color is too flashy." 01 I’m Summer Miller, a mid-tier actress known more for my acting chops than my social media presence. To promote our new drama, The Dearest, the entire cast was invited to the most popular live-streamed variety show of the year. The first game segment: call your "dearest person" and invite them to the studio. This network was notorious for "eating people alive"—they didn't care about privacy. They displayed our contact lists on a giant screen for the audience to choose. Bella Sterling, who was currently trending due to a leaked "secret romance," was the first to take out her phone. The name at the top of her list was: "My Love Silas." The live chat exploded: [OMFG, it’s really Silas Thorne! My ship is sailing!] [Our girl did it! Being the girlfriend of the richest man in Silicon Valley... talk about status!] [Call him! We want to hear his voice! We want to share the luck of the wealthy!] Bella looked at the chat, blushing. "Don't be so direct, guys. He’s shy." That sentence was basically a soft launch of her relationship with Silas. I looked at the screen, which was nearly covered by heart emojis, and frowned. The Silas Thorne they were talking about was sleeping next to me this morning. How did he become someone else’s fiancé? Last week, during a live stream, Bella "accidentally" showed off a flashy car key and gave a vague introduction. Netizens identified the car immediately and linked her to Silas. She had left the stream in a hurry, acting like a girl caught in a secret love affair. Then, a "insider" account called "Branch-and-Knowing" started posting "leaked" interactions between her and Silas from three years ago. Overnight, that account gained a million followers. I was so annoyed I deleted my own secret alt account. As for that car—it was my 26th birthday gift from Silas. I hated how high-profile it was, so it had been sitting in my underground garage for a year. Maybe it was all a coincidence. Bella never explicitly named Silas. And since she had to make a call now, she wouldn't play a game that could be easily exposed... right? I watched the screen, waiting. My expression was caught by the cameras and misinterpreted by the audience: [Who’s the girl next to Bella? What’s with that face?] [That’s Summer Miller. Supposedly a "serious actress," but she can't even hide her jealousy.] [She’s definitely green with envy that Bella has a billionaire boyfriend. If she’s like this on a live show, imagine how she bullies Bella on set.] The host saw the traffic spiking and grinned. He walked over to Bella. "The fans are so excited. Bella, if we make this call, Mr. Thorne won't be angry, will he?" Bella turned red, looking shy. "He won't. He’s... very gentle." The chat lost it: [??? Gentle? Who is she talking about?] [LMAO, first time I’ve heard the ruthless Silas Thorne described as 'gentle.'] [Girl, you are my queen. I work at Thorne Tech—can you ask him if he’s physically incapable of smiling at meetings?] Her words were a silent confirmation. The host got even more excited. "Mr. Thorne is a busy man. Even though Thorne Tech is right next to the studio, he probably doesn't have time to come, right?" Bella gave the host a playful nudge. "It’s the weekend, and he usually has board meetings. But if I call... he might find a way." The production crew knew how to build suspense. They immediately cut to another guest. Everyone looked envious except for me. The host walked over to me specifically. "Summer, your contact list is quite interesting too. If we call someone you’d rather we didn't... would you be nervous?" I held back an eye-roll. "Nervous? No. But isn't it a privacy violation to show a guest’s contacts without consent?" The host’s face stiffened for a second. He laughed awkwardly. "It’s for the sake of fairness and reality." "It seems Summer isn't happy with our arrangement. This makes me even more curious about who we’ll find in her list." My list was put on the big screen. Two names at the top caught everyone’s eye. [Holy sh*t. Sponsor A and Sponsor B?? I thought she was a serious actress? Is she just sleeping her way to the top?] [The industry is doomed. Even the 'serious' ones have sugar daddies.] [Don't worry, we have Bella! She is the gold standard!] [Choose Sponsor A! When Silas Thorne arrives, he should clean up this industry!] I looked at the "Sponsor A" and "Sponsor B" labels and felt a headache coming on. I blamed Silas. When he found out I had my dad’s number saved as "Sponsor Dad," he threw a fit for a whole day. "Babe, your dad raised you, but I’m responsible for your future. Don't I deserve to be your sponsor too?" "Babe, I’m not jealous of your dad. But you won't even drive the car I bought you. You’re still driving that old Mercedes." "Babe, can we at least be on equal footing? Change my contact name." "Honey? My Love? Hubby?" Eventually, he settled for "Sponsor B" just to be on the same list as my dad. 02 The host looked like he’d struck gold. He gave me a look of half-pity, half-scorn. "Summer, looking at the audience's enthusiasm... if we call these two, our show might get banned for being too spicy." I laughed. "I doubt that. It’s just that they’re busy men. They might not pick up." The chat erupted: [She’s scared! Call them now!] [Who is Sponsor A? If he doesn't show up, we’ll know it’s a scandal.] Bella leaned in, whispering "kindly" next to me. "Summer, if you're scared, don't do it. I don't want this to ruin your career." "I can tell the director to blur the names later." "If things get bad, I’ll ask Silas to help you wipe the trending topics." She seemed to forget she was wearing a mic. Her "whisper" was heard by everyone. The chat showered her with praise while she "realized" her mistake and apologized. "Please don't judge Summer too hard. She’s a great actress. I hope everyone focuses on our drama The Dearest instead." The host played along. "The audience has voted." "Bella, please make your call." Bella dialed "My Love Silas." It was picked up after two rings. A deep, baritone voice answered: "Bella?" My heart skipped. The voice sounded about 80% like Silas, but... off. "I’m sorry, I’m in a meeting and can't get away," the voice said. Bella pouted. "You're always so busy. I haven't seen you in forever." The voice chuckled. "Be good. I’ll have a surprise for you when you get back." She hung up and looked at everyone apologetically. "He’s too busy. Can I call someone else?" The host was now completely subservient to her. "Of course! Who would you like to call?" Bella scrolled and stopped at "Charles Miller." "I’ll call my dad. He should be free." The host gasped. The chat was flooded with "WTF"s. [Bella is the daughter of Charles Miller?! The real estate tycoon?! Silas Thorne’s girlfriend and Charles Miller’s daughter? What kind of god-tier family is this?] [She’s a literal princess!] I was now certain Bella was building a "Golden Girl" persona. I didn't know if Silas had a secret second girlfriend, but I knew for a fact that my dad only had one daughter—me! My parents were so sickeningly in love that I was an "accident." There was zero chance of a second accident. But when she dialed, my dad actually picked up. "Bella? Why are you calling me?" Bella used her sweetest voice. "Dad, I’m on a variety show. I need my 'dearest person.' Can you come?" The other side hesitated for less than a second. "Of course." Bella’s face glowed. The host was speechless. If Bella could bring these titans to the show, their ratings would hit the stratosphere. Then the host turned to me. I looked terrible. I’d known my dad’s voice for over twenty years. I couldn't be mistaken. What was my dad hiding from my mom? "Bella is truly extraordinary," the host flattered her, then shoved the mic in my face. "Summer, you look pale. Are you actually scared now?" "Everyone has chosen Sponsor A. We’re dialing. You can't run." The host didn't even give me the phone. He dialed for me. The same voice that had just spoken to Bella appeared again. "Princess? What’s up?" My dad’s voice was natural and affectionate. The chat went insane: [Wait, that voice... why does it sound so familiar? Is Summer’s 'sponsor' Bella’s dad?] [The industry is so messy! I love it!] [I’m screen-recording this. This is history!] Despite the chaos in my head, I couldn't interrogate my dad on live TV. I asked him to come to the show. He actually refused me. "It’s bad timing today, sweetie. I already promised someone else I’d go to their show." "She called first. You know us businessmen value integrity. I can't break my word." "Next time, okay?" The host hung up before I could reply, acting as if he were protecting the audience from my "breakdown." Two girls called the same man. He only said yes to Bella. The hierarchy was clear. I was being publicly humiliated. I glared at Bella. She didn't look like my dad at all. Why would he reject his daughter for her? I was going to call my mom and snitch the second this show ended. Bella looked at me, her face pale and "fragile," acting like a victim. The chat was full of pity for her: [Imagine finding out your dad has a mistress on your own show.] [Poor Bella. It’s okay, we love you. You have Silas.] The host looked at me with mockery. "Summer, your Sponsor A rejected you." "Should we call Sponsor B?" "Do we even need to ask who he is?" I smirked, matched his mockery. "What a coincidence. His name is Silas Thorne, too." [LOL, Summer is delusional!] [Silas just rejected Bella because he was busy. You think he’ll pick up for a mistress?] [Wait, let me guess. Is she going to claim Silas is her brother next because they have the same surname? Oh wait, they don't.] 03 The call was placed. Two rings. Then, it was declined. The studio fell into a painful silence. [The ultimate face-slapping!] [Sponsor A at least picked up. Sponsor B just hung up on her. He probably guessed he was being recorded.] [Look at her face. This is the variety show moment of the decade!] The host waited for the chatter to peak before speaking. "Summer, two rejections. We have a penalty for that." Before I could speak, Bella piped up. "We’re all girls here. Summer is already having a hard time. Let’s skip the penalty." "When my dad gets here, I'll ask him to give everyone a big bonus, okay?" The few people supporting me in the chat disappeared. Everyone was on Team Bella. Director-level people who usually praised my acting were now keeping their distance. The entertainment industry is a shark tank. One wrong move and you're at the bottom. Bella Sterling was the "Princess of the Coast." No one wanted to offend her. I had always been low-profile because I wanted people to judge my acting, not my family. The result: my acting was top-tier, but I couldn't even prove who I was. Suddenly, "Sponsor B" called back. The studio went silent again. I answered. A deep, magnetic voice filled the room. "Princess, I’m sorry. I didn't mean to hang up." "My assistant had my phone. I’ve already docked his bonus for a week. Can you forgive us?" The voice was noble, yet it carried a hint of... desperation. [Wait... that voice... why does it sound so much like Silas?] [Don't be ridiculous. Have you ever heard Silas Thorne sound so submissive?] [I bet Summer hired a voice actor. So calculated! I bet 100 bucks a Silas lookalike shows up later.] I was about to invite him when Bella laughed. "Summer, if you can't find someone, don't force it." "Even if the voice is similar, won't you get exposed when he shows up?" Usually, guests weren't allowed to interrupt a call, but the host didn't stop Bella. "Bella, you're too kind. You don't want to see Summer embarrassed." "Summer, tell you what. Call someone else, and we’ll let you go." The whole show reeked of "mean girl" energy. I checked the chat and sighed. Modern netizens were too easy to fool. Back in my college days, we would have Googled every detail and found the truth in minutes... Silas guessed I was recording. He chuckled. "Are they bullying my girl?" Bella cut in with a sweet voice. "Sir, we’re actually helping Summer." "She’s building a persona for the audience, and it’s going to crash. I’m warning her for her own good. And I’m warning you not to be fooled by her face." "Heh," Silas’s voice turned ice-cold. He hung up immediately. I could picture him in his office, eyebrows raised in annoyance. The host was still trying to figure out what to do. I looked at my vibrating phone. "He’s coming," I said simply. 04 The production crew wasn't about to miss this. They started running promo banners: [CHARLES MILLER ARRIVES AT THE STUDIO] [WILL SUMMER MILLER’S SPONSOR SHOW UP?] Silas sent me a text: [Babe, I’m coming to slap their faces.] [Can I have a reward tonight?] I didn't reply. I was too focused on the Dad-Bella situation. The host moved the show along. "We’ve prepared ingredient kits. Cook a meal for your dearest person." I opened my kit. The network really was biased. Bella’s kit: Caviar, Wagyu beef, broccoli, lobster, abalone. Mine: Eggs, cabbage, and some Dungeness crab. Bella gasped. "The network is so thoughtful. They know exactly what my dad likes." "This caviar brand is the only one he eats." "I’ll definitely make a dinner my dad loves." "Summer, does your Silas like cabbage?" "If you’ve never had the good stuff, I can share some ingredients with you." I looked at that caviar. My stomach turned. Who told her my dad liked caviar? When it first became trendy, my dad bought a whole crate. It was salty and fishy. It couldn't compare to a good home-cooked meal. Because we didn't want to waste money, my dad and I were forced to finish the whole crate. Ever since then, we both hated the sight of it. "Summer, do you even know how to use caviar in a dish?" "Your ingredients are a bit sad. Should we just make a joint table?" "No thanks," I said, my tone sharp. I didn't want to see caviar. Not even a little bit. I walked to my station and started prepping. The chat was livid: [What a brat! Bella was being nice, and Summer is so rude.] [She’s probably jealous she’s never had caviar.] Bella was performing for the cameras, acting like a delicate princess who had never touched a stove. I, on the other hand, was cleaning the crab with professional speed. Did people think a girl raised by a self-made tycoon wouldn't know her way around a kitchen? I made a full table of comfort food, including a specific soft-boiled egg with a secret soy-glaze. That was for Silas. Despite his billions, he had a "simple palate"—he loved that specific sauce. The studio doors flew open. The network president himself was leading a group of executives, escorting a man into the room. Someone gasped. "It’s Silas Thorne. Silas Thorne actually came." Bella stopped searing her beef. She looked toward the door in disbelief. Silas was in a custom suit. His sharp, handsome features couldn't hide the coldness he honed in the boardroom. But the moment his eyes landed on the stage, his aura shifted. [Wow, he’s looking at Bella! Did you see his eyes soften?] [The surprise he mentioned was coming here! So romantic!] [Summer said she invited him too. Let’s see if he even acknowledges her.] Silas walked toward the stage, leaving the network president in the dust. Everyone stopped what they were doing. The host was the first to recover. "Mr. Thorne! What a grand surprise." "Bella, come greet your boyfriend." The host pulled Bella and pushed her toward Silas. Bella "stumbled" gracefully and landed right against Silas’s chest. She looked up with stars in her eyes. "Silas... you came?" "Did you see the show? Are you here to defend me?" "Summer didn't mean it. She doesn't have your status; she didn't know better." She was playing both sides—acting generous while making me look like a bully. But Silas didn't act like a gentleman. He pushed her away. His voice was freezing. "I am here to defend someone." "But I heard someone was bullying my princess." 05 Bella’s face went white. "Silas... did you change your mind?" "You said you’d take care of me..." Silas looked at her as if trying to remember who she was. The host tried to save the situation. "Mr. Thorne probably isn't used to the cameras. Look, Bella made this for you." "A princess like her, cooking with her own hands... you have to try it." Silas seemed to remember something. He walked over to the cooking station with the host. "Seared Wagyu, caviar, lobster soup... Silas, I made this just for you," Bella said, regaining her confidence and grabbing his sleeve. Wait. Didn't she say she was making it for her dad? Now it’s for Silas? What’s my dad going to eat? Caviar? Silas looked at his sleeve with disgust and took off his blazer, tossing it onto the floor. "Burnt beef, cheap caviar, and wasted lobster?" "Miss Sterling, if I didn't know better, I’d think you were trying to poison me." Bella’s face went from white to red to purple. She looked ready to shatter. She looked at the chat for comfort, but the screen was blank. The audience was just as stunned as she was. Silas didn't look at her again. He walked toward me with a look of pure adoration that made me cringe slightly. Has he been reading too many romance novels? Stop with the CEO tropes, Silas. It’s embarrassing. Regardless of my internal judgment, Silas took the mic from the host. "I’m very picky," he said to the camera. "I only eat food made by one person." "But my wife is a princess; she rarely cooks." "Thank you for today. I’m a lucky man." He looked at me, basically begging for a gold star. So this was his "slap." I have to admit... it felt good. The chat finally woke up: [Silas Thorne’s sharp tongue is legendary, but using it on his girlfriend?] [Wait, did you guys miss it? Bella isn't his girlfriend.] [So Summer wasn't lying? Silas is here for her?] [This is confusing. Bella definitely knows him. She wouldn't be this bold in front of a stranger.] [Bella has the car key. What does Summer have?] [Summer has the 'exclusive' look. Look at Silas’s eyes... he’s head over heels.] The audience was split. Silas was clearly here for me, but that nine-figure supercar key wasn't something you could just fake. I was curious too. Where did she get the key? When Bella posted that photo, I checked my bag. My key was right there. It hadn't moved. 06 "Babe, how was I?" Silas whispered in my ear. "Do I get a reward tonight?" His closeness made Bella snap. She walked over and pushed me aside, looking at Silas with tears. "Silas, you promised Silas Jr. that you’d take care of me!" "It’s only been a few months. Have you forgotten?" "I thought when you made that promise, it meant we were together." "Seeing you like this... it hurts me." She started sobbing. Silas didn't wait for her to finish. He grabbed my hand and pulled me into his arms, his aura turning predatory. "Which hand did you use to push her?" "You have no class in front of the cameras. I can only imagine what you’re like in private." The host was sweating. This was a live-stream disaster. I squeezed Silas’s hand, telling him to watch his image. I still had to work in this town. Bella was stunned. "Silas..." Silas sneered. "Silas Jr. went back to his ex months ago. Didn't you know?" "Miss Sterling, he used me as a shield to dump you, and you actually believed it?" "Don't act innocent. I know exactly what kind of person hangs out with my playboy cousin." Silas Thorne never cared about anyone’s "face." Bella looked like she was about to faint. The host tried to pivot. "Bella, Mr. Thorne... let’s resolve the misunderstandings later." "Mr. Miller is on his way. Let's keep things civil." Bella wiped her tears, acting "strong," and went back to her station to fiddle with her burnt beef. The chat was reeling: [Turns out I was the clown! I apologize to Summer.] [Bella played us. She got dumped by Silas’s cousin and tried to claim the big boss.] [But wait... Bella is still the Miller heiress. Our coastal princess.] [Is Silas Thorne really... a house husband? Look at him cleaning the station.] Silas had rolled up his sleeves and was cleaning up the mess I’d made while prepping. I was a good cook, but a messy one. Silas usually cleaned up after me at home, so it felt natural. I sat on a stool and watched him. Maybe getting married at 26 wasn't a bad idea. Bella couldn't take it. She stopped what she was doing and yelled at Silas. "Mr. Thorne, you say I’m a fake, but what about Summer Miller?" "If she knew you, she could have said so. She played vague to make people wonder." "You don't see girls like her in your circles, but we have plenty of them in Hollywood." "She’s a 'Sugar Baby'! She’s using her face and her acting to climb the ladder! It’s all for money!" The chat was confused again: [Is the princess losing her cool? Calling someone a sugar baby in front of her man?] [Summer’s acting is good. Maybe Silas is being played?] [I’m a Bella fan. She’s probably just worried Silas is being scammed. Her dad is Charles Miller, a philanthropist! He’ll set things straight when he gets here.] I looked back at her and smiled. "Bella, thank you for praising my acting." Silas stopped cleaning. He narrowed his eyes. "Sugar baby? Do you know the market value of the Thorne Real Estate portfolio?" "It’s fine. I like being her sponsor." Bella stomped her foot, pouting. She didn't see Silas looking at me for approval again. "Babe, can the reward be a whole night?" I was tempted by his handsome, desperate face. I nodded. He started cleaning even faster. 07 The show was halfway through. All guests were present except for my dad. The host tentatively asked, "Bella, will Mr. Miller be joining us?" Bella regained her high-profile attitude. "My dad is at the station. The network president is bringing him up!" "The truth is about to come out!" She gave me a pointed look. The chat was buzzing again: [The final showdown!] [Bella’s backup is here! She’s been bullied so much today.] [Summer might have the billionaire boyfriend, but Bella has the tycoon dad. Let’s see who wins.] A middle-aged man in a sharp tailored blazer walked in. Silas immediately put down the towel. The tech king of Silicon Valley actually looked nervous. "Dad! You’re finally here! I’ve been bullied so much!" Bella ran off the stage and gave my dad a huge hug. My dad didn't seem to notice me at first. He patted Bella’s shoulder. "Bella, don't worry. I’m here. Who dared to bully my girl in public?" Bella acted bashful. "They didn't really bully me. They just... mocked my status." [Mr. Miller, defend your daughter! Don't let the billionaire scare you!] My dad walked onto the stage, looking righteous. "Status? We live in a modern democracy! Are we still ranking people by bloodlines?!" Then his eyes landed on me. He froze. He looked between me and Silas. I stood up, blinking my big eyes. "Dad." "Care to explain?" The chat went nuclear: [LMAO, Summer is really going for it! She called him Dad!] [I knew it! She’s going to claim he’s her dad now!] [The Miller family only has one daughter, and Bella already claimed him!] My dad stood there, his tanned face turning a shade of guilty red. "Princess... why are you here?" "What a... what a coincidence. Ha... Silas is here too. Haha." Bella grabbed my dad’s arm. "Dad, it’s Summer Miller. She made me lose so much face." My dad looked at Bella, confused. I chuckled. "Dad, where did this 'secret daughter' come from?" The host was lost. "Mr. Miller... both of them called you Dad. Do you have two daughters?" My dad didn't answer. He slowly put on his reading glasses, took out his phone, and spent two minutes scrolling through the live chat history. The studio was silent for two minutes. Finally, he took off his glasses. "I didn't realize what was happening when I walked in. I apologize for the confusion." He gently removed Bella’s hand from his arm. "I, Charles Miller, have only ever had one daughter—Summer Miller." "I am a loyal husband. I do not have children out of wedlock." "As for Miss Sterling... her father saved my life years ago. I promised to look after her and gave her the title of 'goddaughter' as a formality." "But that title wasn't meant to be used like this." "Using my name to bully people on live TV... I can only imagine what you do in private." "As of now, I am revoking that title. You are no longer my goddaughter." "Let the audience be my witness. Summer Miller is my only child." My dad was a man of integrity. He couldn't stand people using his name for malice. Bella had crossed his ultimate line. She lost all her strength and slumped to the floor. My dad turned to me, whispering. "Sweetie, please don't tell your mom. I’ll do anything." "Silas, help me out here?" They both looked at me with puppy-dog eyes. The host interrupted, trying to salvage something. "Mr. Miller... Bella made a whole table of food for you." "High-end ingredients! Network-funded!" My dad, who hated waste, followed the host over. Bella saw a final chance. She scrambled up and followed them, hoping to win my dad back with her "effort."
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