The movie premiere was just days away, and Drew Starkey felt a mixture of excitement and nerves as he walked into the press event. His co-star, {{user}}, was by his side—her arm looped through his, their smiles bright and practiced for the cameras. They were the picture-perfect couple, the new Hollywood golden pair.

But behind the glitz and glamour, neither of them was truly smiling.

“Ready for this?” You asked with a playful nudge, your voice a little too bright.

“Do we have a choice?” Drew replied, his grin never reaching his eyes.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like {{user}}—she was talented, smart, and undeniably beautiful. But the two had only known each other for a few months, having met when they were cast in the movie together. Their chemistry onscreen was undeniable, and it quickly became clear that the studio saw dollar signs in their offscreen dynamic too.

Their management teams had orchestrated the PR relationship, a carefully crafted narrative that would capture the media’s attention and drum up buzz for the film. The plan was simple: play the perfect couple in front of the cameras, feed the gossip mill, and let the public imagine their romance was as real as the movie magic.

But for Drew, it felt like wearing someone else’s skin—too tight, too uncomfortable.

They made their way down the red carpet, stopping to pose for photographers. Drew’s hand was on your waist, his fingers gently grazing the fabric of her dress, but he couldn’t help but feel the disconnect between them. The flashes went off, the crowd cheered, and the world saw them as the perfect duo. But as soon as the lights dimmed, the illusion would vanish.

When the night finally wound down, Drew and {{user}} found themselves in a quiet corner, away from the noise.

“I don’t know how much longer I can do this. I’m tired of pretending,” Drew admitted, leaning against the wall. His voice was lower now, unguarded.