Chapter 9
SERENA
Curled up on the couch in my favorite oversized sweater and leggings, I was going back and forth trying to decide whether I’d made the right call this morning.
Maybe I should’ve just had it out with Hudson about what I’d overheard then and there.
Even if it hurt, at least then I wouldn’t have spent the past five hours second-guessing myself.
And I could’ve told my publicist to start positioning me for a breakup when she texted to ask if she needed to worry about the photo of Hudson and Maddie that’d hit the internet a couple of hours ago. Instead, I’d just told her to ignore the whole thing, like usual.
With his hand on her lower back and her expression when she looked up at him, the picture didn’t look great.
But I didn’t think Hudson was cheating on me.
Or that he even saw Maddie in a romantic light at all.
He just had blinders on when it came to her, which was putting him in positions where people could speculate.
Something we’d both agreed to avoid when we went public with our relationship.
It was impossible to avoid becoming gossip fodder when you were in the public eye like Hudson and I were, but being mindful of how things could look and being open with each other helped mitigate it.
I’d been much newer to fame than Hudson when we started seeing each other, so he’d taught me the ropes when it came to dating in the limelight, which made it ironic that he was the one who’d messed up. But not surprising since Maddie was involved.
The only upside to the timing was Avery wouldn’t be home after school because she had a speech and debate meeting. I had the house to myself for a couple more hours and was hoping that’d be enough time to pull myself together so I didn’t worry her until I figured out what I wanted to do.
The last thing my little sister needed to see was me scrolling through mean comments online, stifling a sob. I knew better than to look, but the screenshots kept coming in from people who thought they were being helpful.
No matter the explanation I knew Hudson would have, it felt like another piece of my life was being chipped away while he kept insisting Maddie was harmless.
My phone buzzed on the coffee table, pulling me from my morose thoughts. Seeing my agent’s name on the screen, I tried to sound normal as I answered. “Hey, Mara.”
“Serena! Have you had a chance to read the script?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger. “I just got it a few hours ago.”
“More like five.”
I had learned long ago that arguing with her was futile. Dropping my hand to my side, I admitted, “Only the first twenty or thirty pages.”
“C’mon, Serena. Read faster. I know you can.”
Her wheedling elicited a soft laugh from me, a reaction I didn't think I had in me right now. “What’s the rush? I thought they weren’t even actively casting yet and just wanted to attach my name to the project?”
“I had my script reader put it to the top of her pile. She just sent over her analysis,” Mara explained. “It’s everything the producer said.”
My eyes narrowed as I tilted my head to the side. “So you’re giving me a hard time for only reading the first quarter of the script you literally just sent me…and you haven’t read it yourself?”
She snorted. “It sounds bad when you put it like that, but between the script my reader says is Oscar-worthy, the producer, and the director he talked to today, who expressed interest, this project is going to get green-lit with or without your name attached. We need to jump on this fast before the opportunity passes us by.”
I thought about what I’d read so far. Even with my current real-life drama, the story had captured my interest. Playing a grieving journalist chasing a story across continents, finding truth and love in the last place she expected was the kind of role that could actually stretch me beyond the rom-com heroine I’d become known for.
But I wasn’t sure about throwing myself into a career-defining role when I couldn’t trust the man I loved to stand up for me.
“And they’re willing to do a play-or-pay deal?”
“Of course,” she scoffed. “Would I even be calling you if the 10 percent wasn’t guaranteed up front?”
I sat up straighter, the blanket dropping to my waist. “Okay, I’ll read the rest and get back to you by tomorrow.”
“Good. Hopefully, the lure of an awards-season push that can change everything for you will get your mind off how brutal the internet can be. But these things tend to blow over, especially when there’s no meat to the story.”
“I know,” I whispered. “Talk soon.”
“Take care of yourself, Serena.”
I ended the call and pulled up the script again. When I was halfway through, my phone buzzed again. By the time I picked it up, there was a flood of them. I opened the first message, and my brows drew together when I saw what my publicist had asked.
Remi
You’re 100% sure nothing is going on with Hudson and that friend he has working for him?
Another text came through from her before I could reply.
Remi
The newest photo is going to push this story through the next news cycle too.
And several more in rapid succession.
Remi
Did he hit his head doing a stunt for the newest film?
If he was my client, that’s the only excuse I’d accept for being this dumb.
He should’ve known better than to go over to her apartment only hours after that first picture came out.
But walking out in a different shirt???
My shoulders slumped, and my breath caught in my chest. I clicked on the link she sent, and the headline was even worse than I expected.
Hudson Holt Spotted at Assistant’s Apartment—Changes Shirts While Girlfriend Serena Watts Stays Silent
The side-by-side photos told a story that probably would’ve quickly blown over if he hadn’t already given them something to gossip about at lunch.
The first image was Hudson arriving at Maddie’s building in black shorts and a maroon, short-sleeved Henley I bought for him.
But when he left, he was wearing a gray polo instead.
The gossip sites were having a field day, wondering if our relationship was officially over or if he’d been caught cheating.
I stared at the images, my chest tightening until it hurt to breathe. Even if there was an innocent explanation for the shirt change—which I assumed there was—Remi was right. Hudson knew better. Yet he still went, making this new round of photos possible.
Instead of protecting our relationship from further speculation, he’d added fuel to the fire. All because he was willfully blind to his best friend’s machinations.
My phone rang again, Avery’s name flashing on the screen this time. I answered immediately, trying to keep my voice steady. “Hey, Aves. Did speech and debate get canceled?”
“No.” Her voice cracked, and I jumped to my feet, ready to race over to the school if my sister needed me.
“It’s just…everyone is asking if you and Hudson broke up.
They’re showing me the photos and laughing.
I told them to shut the hell up, but they won’t stop.
This is so unfair after everything you’ve done for me.
And I know you explained about how I shouldn’t pay attention to stuff they post about you because most of it isn’t true.
But with those pictures and her showing up to my party, even some of my friends are wondering if something’s going on. ”
I closed my eyes, feeling like I’d failed Avery. She was dealing with this because I had let it get this far. I hadn’t wanted to force Hudson to choose between a friend his whole life and me, and now my sister was paying the price for my hesitation.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “It’s not what it looks like. At least…I don’t think it is. I haven’t talked to Hudson yet, but he’s not the kind of guy who cheats.”
Avery sniffled. “Are you okay? You sound like you’re about to cry.”
“I’m managing.” I walked toward my bedroom. “I’m going to pack a bag for each of us and come get you after your meeting. I’ll book us a suite, and we’ll stay in tonight, just us. Order room service and watch something. Okay?”
“Can we go to Chateau Marmont?” she asked. “We could do a marathon of old movies and make it a whole vibe.”
I loved the idea of turning it into a fun little trip instead of a short escape from my current harsh reality. “Absolutely.”
“Thanks, Sis. Love you.”
“I love you more.”
My hands shook as I threw clothes into my overnight bag. I refused to feel like I was running away. I was choosing myself and Avery, as I should. Protecting our peace was more important than waiting for Hudson to finally see what was right in front of him.
When I finished packing enough for a few nights for both of us—just in case—I zipped the bags and headed downstairs.
Then I sent Hudson a text before I could talk myself out of it.
Me
I need space until Maddie is no longer entwined in your life. I can’t keep doing this.
I stared at the sent message, my heart aching. I still loved him. That was the worst part. But love wasn’t enough if he kept letting Maddie erode everything we had.
I didn’t wait for a reply. Turning my phone on silent, I tossed it into my bag. I was done waiting for Hudson to see what was right in front of him.
There would be no more letting Maddie’s “accidents” chip away at my peace and my sister’s sense of security. Protecting her was more important than holding on to a relationship that kept hurting me.