Raising My Baby by Chasing Clout in the Entertainment Industry

: Scumbag

2

Jade Sinclair was the leading lady of FM Entertainment, the biggest company in the business, and she was wildly popular.

Like Aiden Vaughn, she had gotten her start as a child star. They had known each other since they were young and could be considered childhood sweethearts.

Many of Aiden Vaughn's fans would flock to her comments section, calling her their "sister-in-law."

"This is the woman I've picked for Best Actor Vaughn. Back off, everyone!"

On top of that, the two had just starred as the male and female leads in a major IP adaptation. Fueled by their fans, they were now the trending "Nation's Favorite Couple."

So, when Jade Sinclair walked into the room, holding her seven-year-old brother's hand...

I got it instantly.

'Are they treating this like a dating show?' I mentally spat, scorning them.

The first day of shooting was very simple, consisting only of self-introductions among the guests and a solo interview segment.

Besides me, Aiden Vaughn, and Jade Sinclair, the other guests on the show were the popular singer Ethan Ward, entertainment industry newcomer Lily Lynn, and the has-been actor Leo Lowe.

As filming went on, I gradually shed my stiffness. I made a conscious effort to ignore the silent Best Actor Aiden Vaughn and adeptly exchanged contact information with the others to make communication easier.

'Are you kidding me? To earn money to support Ryan, I'd long since trained myself to be a social butterfly.'

It wasn't until I was back in our room with Ryan that I finally dropped the act. I threw myself heavily onto the bed and couldn't stop a miserable groan from escaping.

I still couldn't accept the fact that I had to spend a whole month with Aiden Vaughn.

...

"Mom, come on, get up and wash your face," Ryan said, running over to pull at me. I didn't budge.

Ryan continued, "Mom, is that really handsome man from today my dad?"

I shot up in bed. "He's not!"

I looked at Ryan sternly. "Don't you go spouting nonsense like that. You are not to say that ever again, especially not in front of other people. If you do, Mommy won't take you to the amusement park anymore."

Ryan pouted and muttered under his breath, "I didn't even say which man I was talking about."

I was instantly speechless.

Before I could give him another warning, there was a knock on the door of our suite.

I opened the door. It was Aiden Vaughn.

Resisting the urge to slam the door in his face, I forced a polite smile. "Best Actor Vaughn, is there something I can help you with?"

Aiden Vaughn raised an eyebrow and held up his phone. "You didn't add me. We'll need to be in contact for the show."

I felt a flush of embarrassment and quickly added his contact info.

He had been so cold-faced and silent earlier that I'd subconsciously overlooked him and forgotten to get his information.

Aiden Vaughn's eyes were on his phone when he suddenly commented, "Ryan is seven years old."

I froze, my entire body tensing up.

"Chloe Keane, did you really think so little of me? You were already hooking up with someone else while we were still dating?" Aiden Vaughn stared right at me, his eyes full of scorn.

I froze again, then inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief. But before I could answer, Aiden Vaughn spoke again.

"Who's his birth father? Don't tell me he already abandoned you, did he?"

The corner of my mouth twitched. I looked him in the eye and said, word by word, "His dad was a scumbag. He got what was coming to him and died."

Aiden Vaughn froze at my words. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but was suddenly interrupted by a gentle female voice.

"Aiden? You're not resting yet?"

Jade Sinclair sauntered over, greeted me casually, and then turned to Aiden Vaughn. "Aiden, I wanted to talk to you about what we're doing with our little brothers tomorrow. Is that okay?"

At that, I quickly gave them their space, shutting the door and retreating to my bedroom.

'Obviously. I had zero interest in eavesdropping on a conversation between my ex-boyfriend and his current girlfriend.'

'That's right. Aiden Vaughn is my ex-boyfriend. He's also the "scumbag who died" I just mentioned, and Ryan's biological father.'

'He just doesn't know any of it. And I have no intention of telling him.'

'I didn't tell him seven years ago, and I certainly won't tell him now. I left seven years ago, and I have no intention of going back to him.'

'Right now, I just hope I can get through this month of filming smoothly and never have anything to do with him ever again.'