Chapter 2

Ava Sterling POV

I had been secretly married to the billionaire CEO of Blackwood Group for three years.

Backstage at my charity fashion show, Vanessa Reed, the most arrogant socialite in San Francisco, was pointing at my cold, elegant secret husband and ordering her assistant around like she was picking goods at a market.

“That male model, I’m booking him tonight, so tell him to clean himself up and come upstairs with me to shoot a private short film.”

Backstage went deathly silent.

I almost laughed from anger.

Sebastian Blackwood was wearing the same black suit as the finale piece today, and to cooperate with me, he had specially put on an ordinary temporary pass.

Who would have thought that with those broad shoulders, long legs, and cold, sharp features, he would be mistaken for a male model with a clear price tag?

The staff member was so frightened that her face turned pale.

“Miss Reed, that man isn’t one of our signed models…”

“If he’s not a model, why is he standing backstage?”

Vanessa Reed sneered and openly looked Sebastian up and down.

“He’s wearing a pass and wearing the clothes, so what, is he supposed to be the young heir of the Blackwood family?”

A layer of frost suddenly covered Sebastian’s eyes, and just as he was about to speak, I stepped in front of him first.

“Miss Reed, he is not your merchandise.”

Vanessa’s gaze landed on my bare neck, and her eyes filled with contempt.

“And who are you?”

“A designer’s assistant?”

“Or some nobody trying to sneak onto the red carpet?”

“I’m his wife,” I said calmly.

“Pfft.”

Vanessa laughed so hard her shoulders shook.

“So now women are pretending to be married just to steal male models?”

“Then have him call you his wife and see if he agrees.”

I was running a show, so why should I prove my marital status to her?

Seeing that I stayed silent, Vanessa probably thought I was guilty, so she raised her hand arrogantly and reached straight for the pass on Sebastian’s chest.

The next second, her wrist was locked in a grip like an iron clamp.

“Show some respect.”

Sebastian looked down at Vanessa from above, and his voice was very low, but it carried a chilling pressure.

Vanessa frowned in pain and cursed in rage and embarrassment.

“You make a living off your face, and you dare act like a diva with me?”

“I’m interested in you, and that’s me giving you face!”

The bodyguards behind Vanessa immediately closed in around us.

The event manager came to my side, sweating heavily, and begged in my ear.

“Ms. Sterling, the Reed family is tonight’s biggest buyer, so maybe you could endure this a little and let this gentleman go to the VIP room to avoid the spotlight?”

“She is openly trying to take my husband, and you want me to hide?”

I swept a cold glance at him, and the manager instantly fell silent.

Vanessa completely lost patience and pulled a document from her assistant’s hand before throwing it hard into my arms.

“Sign it, and I’ll consider you smart about tonight’s matter!”

“A small designer like you shouldn’t ruin your own project over one male model!”

On the scattered pages, the words “Private Image Companion Authorization Form” were written in bold.

I pinched those pages between my fingers, tore them in half in front of Vanessa, and threw them into the trash.

The smile on Vanessa’s face vanished instantly.

Sebastian tilted his head and asked softly beside my ear.

“Do you want to reveal our identities?”

“No.”

A cold light flashed through my eyes.

Vanessa dared to be this arrogant because she was used to treating people like toys with her power.

If I backed down today, then tomorrow, everyone would know that my bottom line could be bought with money.

I held Sebastian’s hand in return and said each word clearly.

“The show goes on.”

“And as for my man, don’t even think about taking a single hair from his head.”