For three years, I was the secret wife of Cole Pierce, Hollywood's biggest star. And for three years, I was the most hated woman on the internet. He resented me. He resented our arranged marriage, a business deal that forced him onto the set of a reality dating show with Ava Sinclair—the girl he’d always loved—and pretend they were strangers. We were toxic, a slow poison we fed each other daily. It only stopped when I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. On my deathbed, I scrolled through my phone and saw it: Cole and Ava’s relationship was finally public. The whole world was celebrating. “It’s about time,” one of the top comments read. “That desperate parasite is finally out of the picture.” The next time I opened my eyes, I wasn’t in a hospital bed. I was back on the set of that godforsaken reality show, at the exact moment the director told us all to reveal our phone’s lock screen. The first time around, my screen showed a candid photo I had secretly taken of Cole. They crucified me for it online. This time, with a steady hand, I woke up my phone. “It’s nothing special,” I said. “Just the photo from my marriage certificate. To Cole Pierce.” You want your freedom, Cole? Fine. But first, you can pay for it by giving me the most spectacular, career-ending implosion the world has ever seen. 1 “Alright, everyone, let’s start with a little icebreaker to warm things up!” The director of Heartbeat Harbor, the reality dating show of the season, grinned as he raised a megaphone. “On the count of three, I want everyone to show us your phone’s lock screen. Let’s see who—or what—you’re all holding close to your hearts!” A ripple of knowing smiles went through the cast. Cole Pierce, the aloof, impossibly handsome movie star, stood with a practiced, cool distance. Beside him, Ava Sinclair, the current "it girl," glanced at him with a blush painting her cheeks. They were the internet’s favorite couple, a match made in PR heaven. And then there was me, Claire. The background character. The one they shoehorned in, the industry plant everyone loved to hate. The last time I was here, in another life, this exact moment had been my public execution. The candid photo of Cole’s profile on my lock screen had made me a laughingstock. “Get that desperate stalker off the screen!” “Claire needs to stay a million miles away from our man!” Cole had shot me a look of pure disgust, his words a cold blade in the sudden silence. “Claire, have some self-respect.” One sentence, and I was condemned. Now, the director’s voice boomed again. “Okay, here we go! Three… two… one!” Ava, with a bashful dip of her head, turned her screen to the camera. It showed an adorable little ragdoll cat. Everyone knew Cole’s beloved cat was named Mochi. The livestream chat instantly exploded. omg I’m screaming!! It’s Mochi! This is proof! Ava is so sweet! Look at the way Cole’s looking at her, his whole face just softened! And it was true. A faint smile was playing on Cole’s lips. He pulled out his own phone. The screen showed the generic, default mountain landscape that came with the device. Classic Cole. Never giving anything away, always maintaining that untouchable brand. Finally, every camera, every pair of eyes in the room, swiveled to me. They were filled with judgment, with disdain, with the delicious anticipation of watching a train wreck. I met their gazes and calmly woke my phone. The screen lit up with a government-issued document, its header stark and official. It was a photo of a man and a woman, shot against a plain red background. The man’s handsome features were pulled into a tight, reluctant line. The woman beside him offered a gentle smile, but her eyes were utterly dead. It was my marriage certificate photo. Mine and Cole’s. The air in the studio froze. The director’s smile was cemented on his face. The color drained from Ava Sinclair’s cheeks, inch by painful inch. And Cole Pierce’s famously unreadable expression finally cracked. He whipped his head toward me, his eyes wide with utter shock. The livestream chat, after three seconds of stunned silence, went nuclear. ??????????? Is my screen frozen or am I having a stroke? Is that a MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE??? HAS to be photoshopped! That bitch Claire is insane, she’ll do anything for clout! Through the rising chaos, I heard Cole’s voice, squeezed through his clenched teeth. “Claire, what the hell have you done?” His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist in a blind spot from the cameras. His grip was tight enough to grind my bones together. I looked up at him, my smile as thin and sharp as ice. “You think the certificate is fake, Cole? Is the fact that we’re married fake, too?” I ripped my wrist from his grasp, stood, and held my phone up to the nearest camera, making sure the lens got a clear, steady shot. “Sorry, I almost forgot to introduce myself properly.” “I’m Claire. Cole Pierce’s legal wife.” “We’ve been married for three years.”
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "384517", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel