Chapter 3 Are You Serious?

Sunny had carefully selected a ruffled red mini dress from her closet. Her chestnut hair was styled in loose, lazy waves that cascaded down her shoulders. She''d spent a full hour on her makeup, finishing with red lipstick that perfectly matched her dress—the whole look was absolutely killer.

"M, I''m getting divorced today."

"Master, clear out the trash so you can make room for something better."

Sunny raised an eyebrow. "Thanks, M. Catch you later."

"Goodbye, master."

At 8:55 AM, Sunny arrived at the courthouse entrance. It wasn''t open yet. The second she got there, her phone buzzed with Alicia''s call.

"Sunny, are you at the courthouse?"

"Just got here."

"Perfect! Here''s to dumping that loser and starting fresh!"

A familiar black car pulled up nearby. Sunny didn''t want to chat. "Austin''s here. Gotta go."

"Wait! I''ve got a major surprise planned for today—something to make sure you come out on top!"

"Let''s hope it''s not a disaster."

Hanging up, Sunny watched Austin walk toward her and flashed him a cool smile. "Morning, Mr. Johnson. Thanks for making time."

She held out the divorce papers. "I know you don''t trust me, so here—exact same terms as before. Sign these, and once the courthouse opens, we''ll make it official. Then you''ll be rid of me for good."

Austin''s expression was stone cold. "You''re really doing this?"

Sunny stared at him without answering. After a long pause, she suddenly laughed. "Austin, I''ve never lied to you."

He just never believed her.

Austin hated the way she was looking at him—she''d never looked at him like that before.

"They''re opening."

If she wanted a divorce, fine. It would save him trouble down the line.

Sunny felt her heart shatter. When he''d asked "You''re really doing this?" she''d hoped—maybe even expected—him to say no. Instead, all she got was "They''re opening."

Forcing a smile, Sunny turned and walked straight into the courthouse.

Plenty of people were there to get married, but they were the only couple filing for divorce this early. Sunny looked way too good to be getting divorced, which earned them some suspicious looks from the staff as they sat down.

"Uncontested divorce?"

"Yes."

She slid the paperwork she''d prepared through the window. Divorce was faster than marriage—the agreement was already signed, just needed the official stamp. Five minutes later, they walked out as officially divorced people.

Austin walked ahead without looking back at her once since getting his papers. Sunny stopped and watched his retreating figure, her chest tight with pain.

A Maserati suddenly pulled up to the curb. The luxury car was so eye-catching it snapped Sunny out of her melancholy, and she couldn''t help staring.

The driver''s door opened, and out stepped a guy in sunglasses. Something about him seemed familiar, but before she could place him, he called out, "Sunny."

It was Kevin Murray—the actor who''d blown up last year in that period web series. Kevin was tall with long legs, and he covered the distance to her in just a few strides.

"Congrats on your freedom and fresh start. Alicia sent me to pick you up."

Sunny felt a headache coming on. "Alicia''s lost her mind, and so have you. Didn''t you just finish your new movie''s press tour? Are you trying to create more scandals?"

"Don''t be mad, Sunny. Alicia said you just divorced Austin. The Johnson family will probably leak the divorce news soon, so we need to control the narrative first. Can''t have you looking like some discarded trophy wife!"

Kevin looked genuinely fired up about it, which made Sunny laugh despite herself. "Well, thanks a lot, you two!"

The moment she spoke, paparazzi swarmed out of nowhere. Kevin quickly pulled her into his arms to shield her, but he was pretty sloppy about it—her face was still visible. Someone shoved her, and she crashed into Kevin''s chest.

Kevin was every teenage girl''s dream guy, and his face was so perfect that Sunny''s heart actually skipped a beat. In three years of marriage, she and Austin had never embraced like this. Being held by Kevin, surrounded by his subtle designer cologne, was a constant reminder of his presence.

Sunny''s face burned as she tried to pull away, but Kevin''s hand cupped the back of her head, keeping her close. Pressed against his chest, all she could hear was his steady heartbeat while cameras flashed and reporters shouted questions around them. Kevin guided her forward through the chaos.

In the black car, Austin stared out the window, his dark eyes fixed on the scene for a long time. His secretary Ivan hesitantly spoke up from the front seat. "Mr. Johnson, should we help Miss Holland?"

The second Ivan finished speaking, Austin turned and gave him an icy look. "You like sticking your nose where it doesn''t belong?"

Ivan shuddered. "No, Mr. Johnson."

At a loss, Ivan quickly told the driver, "Let''s go."

Ivan could tell Austin''s mood had turned even darker. His wife—no, ex-wife—had divorced him less than ten minutes ago and was already with another man right outside the courthouse. Anyone would think he got divorced because he was being cheated on.

"Stop the car!"

Austin hated being made to look like a fool, especially when rumors would spread that he was.

"Bring her here!"

Ivan was stunned for a moment, thinking he''d misheard. But when he turned to see the man in the backseat with that murderous expression, he quickly opened the car door and headed toward the couple surrounded by reporters.