Chapter 1

I had everything planned for the Starlight Foundation Gala tonight. I picked out a new suit, a small one for my daughter, Lily, and even a dress for my wife, Scarlett Hayes.

"Daddy, is Mommy coming with us?" Lily asked, her eyes wide with hope. She was clutching the sparkling dress I' d bought for her.

I smiled and dialed Scarlett' s number. "Let's ask her."

The phone rang for a long time before she picked up. Her voice was distant, impatient.

"Ethan, what is it? I'm busy."

"Hey, honey. Just wanted to remind you about the Gala tonight. Lily is really excited to go with you."

There was a short, sharp sigh on the other end. "I can't. I have a last-minute shoot for the new reality show. It's crucial for my image."

"Another one?" I tried to keep the disappointment out of my voice. "Scarlett, you promised Lily."

"Promises can be broken when a career is on the line," she said coldly. "You wouldn't understand. Just take her yourself. I have to go."

She hung up before I could say another word.

I looked down at Lily, whose face had fallen. The bright excitement in her eyes had dimmed, replaced by a familiar sadness. Her small shoulders slumped.

"Mommy's not coming, is she?" she whispered.

My heart ached for her. This wasn't the first time. It was a pattern. Scarlett, a famous actress, always prioritized her public image and career over her family. Her ambition was a fire that burned everything else around it.

"No, sweetie," I said, kneeling down to her level. "She has to work. But that's okay. It just means I get to have the prettiest girl at the party all to myself."

I forced a cheerful tone, and Lily managed a small, weak smile. It didn't quite reach her eyes.

I decided then and there that we would still go. I wouldn't let Scarlett's absence ruin another night for our daughter. We would go, we would have fun, and I would show Lily that she was the most important person in my world, no matter what.

"Come on," I said, taking her hand. "Let's go show everyone how amazing you look in that dress."

The Gala was held at a grand hotel, glittering with lights and filled with the most influential people in the city. Cameras flashed everywhere. We walked in, and I held Lily' s hand tightly. She was a little intimidated by the crowd, but she held her head high.

We found our table, and I got her a glass of juice. For a while, things were fine. We watched the presentations, and I pointed out some of the famous people she recognized from movies.

Then the main event of the evening began. The host walked on stage with a wide, practiced smile.

"And now, let's give a huge welcome to a woman who represents family, success, and pure talent! The star of the upcoming reality series, 'A Star's Home'-the incredible Scarlett Hayes and her wonderful family!"

My blood ran cold. I froze, my eyes locked on the stage.

Scarlett walked out from behind the curtain, beaming under the spotlights. She was wearing a stunning gown, a vision of elegance.

But she wasn't alone.

Holding her hand was a man I recognized with a jolt of nausea: Jake Peterson, her ex-boyfriend. And holding Jake's hand was a young boy about Lily's age. The three of them stood together, waving to the cheering crowd. They looked like the perfect, happy family.

The host gushed, "Scarlett, you and your partner Jake are an inspiration! And your son is just adorable. Tell us, how do you balance such a successful career with being such a devoted mother and partner?"

Scarlett laughed, a sound that was suddenly ugly to my ears. She leaned into the microphone. "It's all about priorities," she said, looking lovingly at Jake. "When you have a supportive partner like Jake, and a wonderful son, everything else just falls into place. They are my world."

My world. The words echoed in the massive ballroom, but they felt like a direct blow to my chest. I looked down at Lily. Her small face was pale, her eyes wide with confusion and hurt. She was looking at the woman on stage, her mother, who was holding another child's hand and calling another man her partner.

"Daddy," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why is Mommy with them? Who is that little boy?"

Rage, cold and sharp, cut through my shock. The humiliation was a physical thing, crawling over my skin in front of hundreds of people, in front of our daughter. This wasn't a last-minute shoot. This was a calculated, public betrayal.

I stood up. I didn't care about the cameras, the crowd, or the consequences. I had to know. I had to make her answer for this.

I started walking toward the stage, with Lily holding onto my jacket. The crowd parted, some people looking at me with curiosity, others with annoyance. I reached the front row, just below the stage, and looked up at my wife.

"Scarlett."

My voice was quiet, but it cut through the applause. She heard me. Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second. She saw me, and she saw Lily standing beside me.

I asked the question that was tearing me apart.

"Who are these people, Scarlett? What is this?"