Chapter 4

By the time we reached the third episode of filming, the producers threw in an impromptu segment.

The guests were required to show the last three apps they had recently used on their phones.

When it was Ethan's turn, he visibly hesitated for a second.

"Mr. Vance, show the screen, please," the host prodded playfully.

With a slight air of resignation, he pulled out his phone and unlocked the screen.

The first two were a music streaming app and an e-reader—completely standard.

Until the third one.

When that familiar gaming icon flashed across the giant monitor behind us, I froze.

There was no way it could be that much of a coincidence.

The host immediately picked up on it. "Oh? You play this game, Mr. Vance? That's actually pretty niche!"

Ethan gave a calm, noncommittal hum. "Once in a while."

A wild, completely absurd, utterly impossible theory suddenly struck my mind.

No. It couldn't be.

How could an untouchable superstar like Ethan Vance ever have the time to stay up all night gaming with me? Let alone spend hours roasting himself by my side?

That sounded like pure fiction.

And yet, the timing of my gaming boyfriend's disappearance lined up almost perfectly with when Ethan checked into the reality show's hotel.

Plus, that cryptic smirk he'd given me earlier...

Pressing a hand against my pounding chest, I decided to test the waters.

During the mid-shoot intermission, I tapped into my gaming boyfriend's chat and sent a message:

"Babe, are you busy today? While filming earlier, I tripped and almost took a nasty fall :("

The second I hit send, my eyes locked onto Ethan, who was getting a makeup touch-up not far away.

His phone was resting on the small table beside him.

Seconds ticked by. Ethan didn't move to check his phone at all.

A tiny breath of relief slipped past my lips.

See? I was clearly overthinking things.

However, just a few minutes later, his assistant hurried over, murmured something in his ear, and handed him the device.

Ethan took the phone, glanced down, and his brow furrowed slightly.

Then, he lifted his head. His gaze sliced straight through the bustling crew and landed dead on me.

My stomach dropped.

Facing his phone, his thumbs flew across the screen at lightning speed.

Almost simultaneously, the phone in my palm buzzed.

My gaming boyfriend had replied!

[How could you be so careless? Did you hit anything? Is it bad?]

Me: "!!!"

The blood rushed straight to my head in a deafening roar.

My hands shook as I stared at the message. Reading that familiar, protective concern, I looked back up at the gorgeous man across the room, who was watching me with a deadpan, laser-focused intensity.

My entire worldview shattered into a million pieces.

Forcing myself to stay composed, I texted back: "I'm fine, just got startled. A coworker caught me."

Ethan read the screen, and his face visibly darkened right before my eyes.

His thumbs flew over the glass again.

My phone chimed instantly.

[A coworker? Male or female? Where did they touch you?]

Me: "..."

Confirmed. Busted. Undeniable.

That unmistakable, possessive streak of jealousy.

My pro-carry online boyfriend.

My lifelong rival and childhood frenemy.

Were. Actually. The. Same. Damn. Person!

Ethan Vance! You absolute liar! You massive fraud!

I shook with so much rage that I wanted to sprint across the stage and claw his handsome face off!

Only the shred of sanity left in my skull held me back.

We were in the middle of a live broadcast! Cameras were pointed everywhere!

I couldn't blow my lid on air.

Inhaling deeply, I forced a razor-thin smile onto my lips.

Looking directly at Ethan, I silently mouthed four words: "I'm. Fine. Now. Coworker."

Ethan clearly read my lips. He froze.

Then, a profoundly complex expression washed over his features.

There was no awkwardness from being exposed—only a fleeting flicker of fluster, followed by the reckless calm of someone ready to drop the act entirely.

The corner of his mouth curved up, offering me a faint, dangerously predatory smile.

As if saying: Oh, so you finally figured it out?