1 Chapter 1: Glamour and Intrigue

"Cut!" The director's frustration was palpable, his words cutting through the air like a dagger.

"Catherine, do you even know how to act? There's no emotion in your expression at all. You should just leave early today," he shouted at her mercilessly, his tone unforgiving, and then stormed off.

As the director's footsteps faded, a heavy atmosphere enveloped the crew. Whispers of discontent among the crew, their resentment over her recent lackluster performances, fluttered around like leaves caught in a gust of wind.

The team's recent projects have been difficult when they have to go back and forth countless times. The main reason is that Catherine constantly has psychological problems, she cannot focus on work.

Nicole Smith, Catherine's assistant and also best friend, walks softly over, "It's alright, Catherine. We'll get through this soon, don't blame yourself!."

Suddenly, a wild idea sprung forth. "What if we "use a fake marriage news to overshadow all of this?" Nicole feels satisfied with that idea of ​​hers.

"Is it good?" Catherine looked at Nicole, her eyes searching for affirmation.

Nicole nodded, puts her hand on Catherine's shoulder. "You never know until you try."

Her scandals made headlines in various magazines, big and small alike. Headlines featured her name with phrases like "Catherine deserted her family" and "Catherine turns her back on struggling parents." The constant scandals surrounding her made it impossible for her to focus on the craft.

"I just don't know how to calm myself and escape from this mess anymore!" Catherine furrowed her brows, her hands tightly clenched together as she blamed herself.

Catherine, an actress fueled by ambitions, emerged from the shadows of adversity. Her origins were humble, a stark contrast to the fervent aspirations that burned within her.Catherine was left with a big debt when her wealthy parents lost everything in gambling. What remained was a shattered legacy, tainted by the residue of financial recklessness, a legacy that cast a shadow over Catherine's reputation in the eyes of the public.

Despite the lack of financial support and the challenges she faces, Catherine remains hopeful and optimistic. She knows that success won't come overnight, but she is willing to work the hard work and dedication needed to achieve her dreams. Catherine's journey is one of resilience, determination, and a firm belief in her own abilities.

As the scandals unfolded, Catherine found herself increasingly isolated and vulnerable. Her management company, instead of supporting her through these challenging times, began to exert pressure and manipulate her. They saw her as a liability and were more focused on protecting their own interests rather than helping Catherine navigate the difficult situation.

The company started to impose strict rules and restrictions on Catherine, limiting her public appearances and controlling her interactions with the media. They wanted to distance themselves from the scandals surrounding her and were afraid that any association could further damage their reputation.

"Oh, Catherine, it seems like your misfortunes are turning into my opportunities. I just landed a contract that was supposed to be yours. Looks like I'm stepping into your spotlight now."

Tiffany, a rising star on the acting scene, and once your companion back in university, now finds herself treading the same boards as you in our current company. Both Tiffany and Catherine, once bitter adversaries locked in a constant rivalry, now must navigate the intricacies of our shared profession.

"Good for you, Tiffany. I hope you enjoy your moment in the sun. Just remember, success based on someone else's downfall is never truly fulfilling."

"Oh, Catherine, always the voice of wisdom. But darling, the industry is ever-develop, and sometimes, it's survival of the fittest." Tiffany remarked, her tone infused with playful mockery. "Looks like I'm simply fitter than you."

"Tiffany, you can't measure success by stepping on others. It's about talent, hard work, and integrity. And trust me, I have no doubt that your fifteen minutes of fame will be just that if you don't have substance to back it up."

Then Catherine quickly left with a face full of disdain.

"I've told you countless times, we need to find a better solution to tackle our current issues," Thomas spoke earnestly.

He is currently a successful entrepreneur in the fashion industry, was the head of a small company struggling to establish its name. The constant wave of scandals involving their representatives had been detrimental to their profits in recent times.

"Don't be so serious. I have other plans for our company," Matt said casually.

"Recently, the film project 'Glory in Hatred' is gaining attention due to Catherine's scandals. We could leverage this opportunity by showcasing our new collection to promote it," Matt revealed, enthusiasm evident in his plan.

"Matt, I find this plan rather risky. What if it backfires?" Thomas expressed his skepticism towards Matt.

"Come on Thomas, don't you think this is a hard-to-find opportunity as our company is struggling and we can take advantage of this opportunity to boost sales"

Thomas's thoughts undoubtedly churning with his own ideas. It can be a risky plan, yet it might just be the breakthrough the company need. Thomas decided to go through with this plan.

"Alright then, let's give it a shot."

Lunch break was nearing, but today, the mood was somber."Sigh, it's so frustrating. I have no idea when we'll be able to release the new collection."

"Can't you see? We've been stagnant due to all these rumors lately. The road ahead is going to be tough." a sense of desolation hung heavily in the air.

At this moment, Matt's realization struck, and said in a panic, "Oh no, Thomas! I suddenly remembered that I had an appointment with the company 'Get Matching' this afternoon, but I forgot."

"Get Matching? You mean the company that arranges contractual marriages?"

"Exactly. It's actually my cousin's company, and my family has been pressuring me to get married this year. If I don't, they'll cut me off. So, I asked my cousin to find me a contract wife to appease my parents."

"Thomas, can you go to the meeting for me this afternoon? I have a date with Emma."

"It's the third time, Matt. I can't fathom why you keep getting involved in these convoluted situations."

"If you cover for me at the meeting today, I'll help you keep that video of you sobbing and stumbling under wraps when you overdrunk last night. Besides me, no one will know about it." Matt grinned mischievously.

"You're quite the schemer. Alright, I'll go to the meeting."

"Make sure you don't let anyone find out you're Thomas. My cousin will kill me if she knows I'm not meeting that girl"

"Go away"