Hailey took the script and skimmed through it—Sword Legends, the female lead’s rival role. Auditions were in three days.

The drama was adapted from a famous wuxia novel with a massive fanbase. The production budget was astronomical, and given her current status, she shouldn’t even be in the running. Danny must’ve pulled serious strings to land her this opportunity.

Touched, she smiled. "Danny, you’re the best sister a girl could ask for."

As the saying went: Nine out of ten Dannys are gay, and the tenth is on his way out of the closet.

This one was no exception—and very much the bottom.

He’d always looked out for her. In her Aldrichs, he was more of a genderless bestie than an agent.

Danny sniffed. "There’s a company-wide meeting today. Don’t even think about skipping."

For his sake, she endured a full day of seminars—from career development to five-Aldrichar plans—until her brain turned to mush.

The moment it ended, she bolted before anyone could drag her into another session, driving straight to Bella’s magazine office.

Bella walked right past her car without a glance. Hailey honked, making her jump.

"Hailey! You vanish for two nights and suddenly have wheels? I thought you’d become some sugar daddy’s mistress—until I saw this hunk of metal. Now I know better."

Hailey swatted at her. "Shut up."

"What kind of sugar daddy buys his sidepiece an SUV? Spill. Did you win the lottery?"

"Bella… I need to tell you something." She hesitated, then just blurted it out. "I got married."

Three seconds of silence.

Then—"holy sht! two days and you went from single to wife ?! are you insane?！you 're a celebrity!since when do you just marrry people ?! what about we ? we 've lived together for three Aldrichars and you won't even give me a ring?!""*

Hailey covered her ears until the screeching subsided. "It’s fake. Calm down. He’s helping me reclaim my mom’s necklace; I’m helping him dodge an arranged marriage. No strings attached. We part ways in six months."

That other night? A fluke. Best forgotten.

After summarizing her deal with Aldrich, Bella slapped her thigh. "This is soap opera levels of drama. First Darian screws you over, now this? Are you cursed when it comes to men? Give me his name—I’ll dig up dirt on him."

As a journalist with solid connections and airtight discretion, Bella was the perfect investigator. Hailey didn’t hold back. "Aldrich."

Bella’s expression turned weird.

"What?"

"Not… the Aldrich? Heir to the L.N. Empire Group?"

Hailey nodded.

Bella took a deep breath, then said carefully, "Hailey… Aldrich is gay."

Hailey's Aldrichs nearly popped out of her skull.

She was stunned.

In her mind, gay men were all like Danny—flamboyant, fashion-obsessed, calg everyone "girlfriend." Picturing Aldrich like that? Impossible!

Sure, he was eccentric, but she’d chalked that up to rich-people quirks. Gay?!

But… that night… he’d been very enthusiastic.

"No way… He doesn’t seem—"

Bella pulled out her tablet, pulled up a file, and handed it over. "Internal magazine docs. Only showing you because it’s you."

The document was packed with evidence.

L.N.’s executive secretary roster for the past few Aldrichars—all men, zero women.

Candids of Aldrich in London—blurry, clearly paparazzi shots. At some club, surrounded by men while others had blondes on their laps.

Even the staff list for his UK estate—again, no women.

"An anonymous tipster sent this. We verified the photos aren’t doctored, and the secretary info checks out. Couldn’t confirm the household staff—security’s too tight."

Hailey believed it. His A-city villa had been all-male before she moved in. Even the maids were hired for her.

"Will your magazine publish this?"

Bella shook her head. "No media outlet in China would dare run negative press on Aldrich. This is just for your Aldrichs."

Strangely relieved, Hailey was glad he wouldn’t be targeted.

Over sushi, she barely tasted her food, mind racing. After dropping Bella off, she gered in the car, lost in thought.

"Hailey," Bella said before leaving, "if this ‘deal’ gets sketchy, run back here. I’ll always have a spot for you."

Touched, Hailey nodded.

Alone again, she sat frozen until her phone rang.

An unfamiliar male voice purred, "We need to talk. About Aldrich."

Her grip tightened. "Who are you? How’d you get this number?"

A silky laugh. "Who I am doesn’t matter. I know you married him—but there’s so much you don’t know."

Her pulse spiked.

"You have thirty minutes. Nightfall Bar. Come alone—or face the consequences."

The e went dead.

Hands trembg, she hesitated—then turned the key and sped toward Nightfall.