Shattered Secrets: The Billionaire's Hidden Wife

On a reality TV show, I accidentally smashed a priceless antique vase belonging to Sebastian Vance, the elusive heir to the Vance business empire.

Rumor has it, this vase was the only gift left to him by his tragic first love who passed away young. The billionaire cherished it, allegedly polishing it every night before bed, valuing it more than his own life.

Now that Ive destroyed it, everyone says Im finished. Sebastian Vance will bury me.

I stood there, face full of confusion.

What the hell? Wasn't that vase just a defective piece of junk I made in pottery class years ago and tossed at him?

And more importantly

Damn it, Sebastian. Since when am I dead?!

1.

Two years into my acting career, I finally hit the big time.

I was trending #1 on every social media platform.

The bad news? I was trending because I shattered Sebastian Vances favorite vase. I was being "hate-followed" by the entire country.

The internet was roasting me alive.

@GossipGirl_X: "No way. Does she not know? That vase is Sebastian's holy grail. It was a gift from his late soulmate. He takes that thing everywhere, even on private jets."

@VanceFanClub: "A maid once misplaced that vase along with a million-dollar emerald necklace. Sebastian didn't care about the necklace, but he almost fired the whole staff over the vase! Chloe Hart is DOOMED."

@RealityTea: "Chloe Hart is toast. Career over. Cancelled."

@JustHereForDrama: "She deserves it. The producers warned her that the mansion belonged to the Vance family. Shes so clumsy and disrespectful."

There was no sympathy.

Even my rival, Tiffany Stone, jumped on the bandwagon. She posted a picture of a broken ceramic shard with the caption: "Such a beautiful piece of art. What a tragedy. I hope its owner isn't too heartbroken. ??"

I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt.

If she hadn't stuck her foot out and tripped me, I wouldn't have fallen. I wouldn't have touched that vase. She caused this mess, and now shes acting like a saint.

My agent, Sarah, was practically crying. "Chloe, what do we do? Youve offended the Vance family. Youre actually going to be blacklisted."

Sebastian was currently overseas on business, so he hadn't reacted yet. But domestic brands were already dropping me. Several contracts I was about to sign pulled a U-turn and went straight to Tiffany Stone, who has the same "sweetheart" image I was trying to build.

Sarah was grinding her teeth. "We're in the same agency! I can't believe she used such a dirty trick to sabotage you. And the executives know she did it, but they're protecting her. It's disgusting."

"So... what now?" Sarah looked at me, mentally calculating if she could book me a few C-list gigs before I was banned from Hollywood forever.

I looked at her, calm as a cucumber.

I patted her shoulder. "Relax. It's just a busted vase. Who cares?"

Sarahs eyes bulged out of her head. "Chloe! Have you lost your mind? Thats a priceless artifact! Selling you into indentured servitude wouldn't cover the cost!"

Priceless?

I almost laughed.

That "artifact" was a reject from when I first started learning pottery. The base was rough, the lines were uneven, and the firing was patchy. I gave it to Sebastian years ago because I didn't want to throw it away.

After we got married, I entered the entertainment industry and was constantly traveling. I hadn't seen the thing in years. I was surprised to see it on the shelf during filming. I just wanted to get a closer look at my amateur work when Tiffany tripped me.

Now the whole world was waiting for my execution.

But they were going to be disappointed.

Sebastian wouldn't do a thing. I am his legally wedded wife. Half the Vance fortune is technically mine. And the vase? I made it.

But... deceased soulmate?

Im just busy with work, not dead!

That toxic man and his rumors.

"Sarah, I made that thing. I know what it's worth. If it was actually priceless, would I be grinding in Hollywood right now?"

"It broke. Big deal. I have a dozen more in my studio. Ill replace it."

Sarah stared at me for a full minute before whispering, "She's cracked."

She thought the stress had broken my brain. So, she immediately signed me up for whatever reality show would take me, trying to cash out before the end.

The only show desperate enough to take the "Vase Breaker" was a live-streamed dating show called Love Unscripted.

It was a huge production sponsored by a massive conglomerate. Three men, four women. One girl ends up alone. Given my reputation, that girl was definitely going to be me.

I signed the contract.

Then, on the flight to the location, I saw the sponsor list.

The Vance Group.

And rumors were swirling that the "Mystery Guest" was none other than the CEO himself.

The internet thought he was coming to sue me live on air.

They were half right.

He wasn't coming to sue me. He was coming to catch me.

I had lied to him. I told him I wasn't going on a dating show. If he caught me pretending to be single on national TV...

I was panicked.

2.

In the makeup room, I was too stressed to notice Tiffany Stone walk in. She was also on the show.

A newbie actress next to her whispered loud enough for me to hear, "Some people have no shame. She smashed Mr. Vance's vase and still dares to show her face? Is she waiting for a lawsuit?"

With no cameras around, Tiffany dropped the act. She rolled her eyes.

"She's desperate. Probably hoping to hook up with a rich guy to pay off her debt. Disgusting."

"I heard Mr. Vance might be the mystery guest," the newbie said. "Maybe she thinks she has a chance with him. Ha! As if."

Tiffany smirked. "In her dreams."

She walked past me, deliberately bumping my shoulder.

The livestream began.

The rules were brutal. After the intros, the audience voted. The most popular girl got first pick of the men. The men had no right to refuse.

The chat was exploding with rumors about Sebastian Vance being Guest #4.

I was dead last in the polls.

Tiffany was #1. She looked smugly at me.

The male options:

Brad, the Film King (Secretly dating the Film Queen, who was also on the show).

Justin, the current "It Boy" (A scumbag who tried to hit on me and then paid bots to hate on me when I rejected him).

Noah, the Campus Heartthrob (A rookie).

Tiffany bypassed all of them. She wrote down Justin's name.

I was confused. Wasn't she gunning for Sebastian?

The Film Queen picked the Film King. The Rookie Girl picked Noah.

That left me with the Mystery Guest #4.

The supposed "Prince of Wall Street."

I was trembling. I pointed my finger at the curtain for Guest #4.

I could already imagine Sebastians cold, mocking face when the curtain dropped.

The music swelled. The curtain rose.

And...

Empty space.

The studio erupted in laughter.

The host announced: "Unfortunately, our Mystery Guest had a scheduling conflict and withdrew from the show!"

I opened my eyes. No Sebastian.

The comments section was brutal.

"LMAO her sugar daddy dreams are crushed."

"Sebastian is literally in the same city for business, and he cancelled? He probably heard she was here and bailed. Embarrassing."

"She really thought she could match with a billionaire after breaking his stuff?"

Off-camera, Tiffany sneered at me. "Idiot. You actually thought hed come? You aren't even fit to breathe the same air as him."

She knew. She picked Justin because she knew Sebastian wasn't showing up. She set me up to be the clown.

3.

The couples went off on romantic dates. I was left alone at the villa.

The producers, wanting to squeeze some labor out of me, sent me to the market to buy groceries for dinner.

I didn't mind. I used to cook for my masters entire pottery studio back in the day.

While I was picking vegetables, I felt a tug on my shirt.

I looked down. A little boy with chubby cheeks and big, teary eyes was looking up at me. He looked lost.

His eyes lit up when he saw me. He launched himself at my legs.

"Au"

He was about to yell "Auntie!"

I slammed my hand over his mouth. "Shh! Call me Chloe!"

It was Leo. Sebastians nephew.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered.

It turned out the resort we were filming at was owned by the Vance Group. Sebastian was here for work, and he brought Leo. Leo had escaped his nannies.

So Sebastian was here. Minutes away.

I shivered.

Leo refused to tell me where the bodyguards were, so I had to drag him back to the filming villa.

Leos parents died young. Sebastian and I raised him. He was basically my son.

Back at the villa, Leo followed me around the kitchen like a duckling, helping me wash vegetables.

"Chloe, can I help?" "Chloe, you're the best cook!"

His sweet voice melted my heart.

When Tiffany returned from her date and saw him, her face twisted.

"Whose brat is this? Running around the kitchen? No manners."

She saw me. "Oh, Chloe brought him? Makes sense. Trash attracts trash."

My face went cold. "Tiffany, watch your mouth. You can't afford to offend this child."

This was the heir to the Vance Empire.

Tiffany laughed. "Can't afford it? Please. Is this your illegitimate son with some random sugar daddy?"

She looked Leo up and down with disgust. "No wonder you got resources so fast. You were busy birthing kids for old men. You act innocent, but"

I covered Leo's ears.

"Tiffany Stone, shut up!"

"Making dirty jokes about a child? You are vile. If you say one more word in front of him..."

I walked over, grabbed a handful of her hair extensions, and yanked.

"I will snatch you bald."

Tiffany screamed.

4.

The producers decided Leo was ratings gold and made him a "Special Guest."

I knew the little traitor had texted Sebastian for permission.

So, my romantic dating show turned into a babysitting show. The comments were mocking me relentlessly.

"Chloe is on 'Mommy duty' because no man wants her."

"Is that actually her secret kid?"

Until the next activity: A Pottery Workshop.

We were visiting the studio of Master Elias Thorne, a living legend in the ceramic world.

There was a specific artifact on display: The Phantom Teapot. A paper-thin porcelain masterpiece.

While the cameras were rolling, there was a crash.

The teapot lay in pieces on the floor. Leo was standing over it, crying, clutching his elbow.

The comments exploded.

"OMG THAT BRAT BROKE THE MASTERPIECE!"

"Chloe is useless! Can't even watch a kid!"

"Like mother like son. Destruction runs in their veins."

The producers were panicking. This teapot was worth a fortune.

I hugged Leo, checking his arm. He was sobbing in pain.

Tiffany stood nearby, crossing her arms.

"Some people never learn. Like I said, no manners. You broke Mr. Vance's vase, and now your wild child broke Master Thorne's teapot."

"Trying to dump this on the production team? You're finished, Chloe."

I was furious.

I saw it. Tiffany had stuck her foot out and tripped Leo when the cameras were panning away.

"It wasn't an accident," I yelled. "You tripped him! And that teapot isn't as priceless as you think. We need to take Leo to the hospital!"

The room gasped.

Tiffany looked delighted. "Wow. The audacity. You're disrespecting Master Thorne's work? That was a unique piece destined for a museum! How are you going to pay for it?"

The comments were chanting: CHLOE PAY UP! CHLOE GET OUT!

I looked at the hate-filled screen.

"Fine. You want me to pay? I'll pay right now."

I rolled up my sleeves.

I grabbed a lump of raw clay.

My hands moved from muscle memory. I centered the clay on the wheel. Within minutes, a perfect, paper-thin form rose from the spinning disc.

I grabbed a sculpting tool and carved the intricate "phantom" lattice pattern into the wet clay with surgical precision.

I dipped it in glaze and set it for the rapid-fire kiln.

The room was dead silent.

Tiffany scoffed. "Are you insane? You think your play-doh garbage can replace a Master's work? You are insulting the art form!"

Justin chimed in. "Yeah, stop embarrassed yourself. Its pathetic."