Chapter 76
Chapter 76:
Verdict: she wasn’t…
I gave her a sheepish smile, my cheeks burning as if I’d swallowed a radiator.
I thought I had been subtle.
Apparently, not.
Octavia laughed, a silvery sound. “You thought Ash and I were a thing, didn’t you p>
I groaned. “Yeah… I might’ve read that whole situation completely wrong. Sorry, that was just me being dumb p>
She grinned. “Don’t worry, you’re not the first woman to assume that. But trust me—he’s all yours. Ash and I are related p>
“You are?” I tried to recall if I’d noticed any resemblance in their features but came up empty. After all, didn’t all beautiful people sort of look alike?
“I’m a distant cousin on his mum’s side. We weren’t close growing up, but we started reconnecting a few years ago p>
So Dominic Everett had been talking nonsense? Or had I messed up the name? Was there another actress he’d been gossiping about?
Before I could untangle that mess, Octavia continued, “It’s obvious he really likes you. I’m happy for him, honestly. Took him long enough to find someone he actually wants to marry p>
She gave me a warm, kind look—nostalgic, even. “Ashton was… difficult as a kid. A bit of a loner. For the longest time, I didn’t think he’d ever settle down p>
She didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t press.
It didn’t feel right to dig into Ashton’s childhood when we were out here lying to half of Skyline City.
And as for her comment about him liking me?
I had no bloody idea where she was getting that from.
Still, I pasted on my best bashful smile.
Find it at
Octavia studied me for a moment.
Then she leaned in across the table, eyes gleaming.
“Come here. I’ve got a secret for you p>
I leaned in without thinking, completely hooked.
She cupped one hand around her mouth and whispered into my ear, “I’m actually married. Two kids. So you don’t have to worry about me and your husband getting too cozy p>
My jaw dropped so fast it nearly cracked the floor.
I just stared at her, blinking like a malfunctioning android.
Octavia Grey—the goddess of the screen, everyone’s favorite unattainable icon—wasn’t just taken.
She had kids. Plural.
She’d never gone around shouting about being single, but no one had ever mentioned a husband, let alone tiny humans she’d birthed.
The woman had been on every screen and billboard since I was fifteen. When the hell did she have time to raise humans?
She raised one finger to her lips like we were co-conspirators. “You’ve got to keep this between us, okay p>
“Yeah… Of course.” I nodded like a dazed puppy, then blurted out, “Can I get your autograph?” Smooth. Real smooth.
But Yvaine would’ve killed me if I didn’t ask.
Octavia laughed. “How many do you want? I’ll sign ’em all p>
Dinner wrapped up, and I climbed into Ashton’s car for the ride back.
I was still somewhere between impressed and scandalized by Octavia’s “mumlife” reveal.
The entertainment industry was crawling with secrets, apparently.
On-screen, she was the ice-queen CEO type.
In person?
Warm. Funny. Chill.
Meanwhile, Eliza Black, TV’s favorite cupcake in heels, was about as cuddly as a parking warden during rush hour.
Somewhere between red lights, I remembered what Octavia had said earlier—that Ashton liked me.
I peeked sideways.
He was sitting to my right, silent, face unreadable as usual, eyes shadowed in the low lighting.
It almost looked as if he was napping, except his posture was anything but relaxed.
I dismissed Octavia’s words.
Ashton wasn’t in love.
At least, not with me.
He had a precious ex stashed somewhere in his chest like a vintage wine no one else was allowed to touch.
Still… even if he didn’t like me, not really, he’d been good to me.
That part I couldn’t deny.
He’d been careful. Attentive. Almost gentle, in his own terrifying way.
I sneaked another peek.
My gaze stalled on that jawline.
He looked intense, even when he wasn’t supposed to be.
The man tackled everything with the same laser-focused, maddeningly sincere attention.
No wonder he’d climbed to the top of the billionaire food chain at an age when most people were still figuring out how not to drown in student loans.
Take our fake marriage, for instance.
He hadn’t just planned it; he’d rehearsed it.
Scheduled sessions. Run-throughs. Bullet points.
At the time, I’d thought it was overkill, a kind of neurotic control-freak move.
But apparently, it worked.
Octavia, an actress trained to lie for a living, hadn’t suspected a thing.
Speaking of rehearsals…
There was still one scene we hadn’t nailed.
I stole another glance at him.
Despite the polite two inches of distance between us, I could feel the heat radiating off his thighs.
Something in my lower belly fluttered—hot, reckless, and impossible to ignore.
I reached over and pressed a button.
The privacy screen between us and the driver slid up.
Ashton glanced at me, his eyebrows drawing together.
I twisted my upper body so I was facing him. “Thanks for bringing me to meet Octavia.” Then I leaned in.
One quick kiss. Just a soft press of my lips to his cheek.
A second later, I turned back to face forward, as if it hadn’t just happened.
The car was dark. Quiet.
But I could feel his stare.
When I dared to look again, his eyes had gone low and dangerous, lit up with something wild and hungry.
“That’s not the kind of kiss I want,” he said.
“W-what kind of—” I didn’t finish the sentence.
Couldn’t.
Ashton lunged at me.