I, the Hidden Heiress, and My Starstruck Boyfriend

My boyfriend wanted to be a star, so I secretly pulled strings to help him rise to fame. And yet, he ended up fooling around with a producer ten years older than him. When I confronted him, he waved me off dismissively.

“Can you stop?” he said with irritation. “I never planned on marrying you. The years we spent together? It was just for fun.”

“I’ll give you money to make up for the time you’ve spend on me. Take that money and stay out of my life.”

The female producer standing next to him sneered at me, her voice dripping with disdain. “You’re just a country bumpkin. Don’t ever dream of becoming someone big.”

“Kieran’s destined to become a superstar, adored by millions. You and he will soon be worlds apart, so you’d better give up on the ridiculous idea of marrying him. Take that money and get as far away as possible.”

I stared at them, completely stunned with their audacity.

A superstar adored by millions? A toptier producer with endless resources? They had no idea I could end both their careers and life with just a call.

For a week, I couldn’t get ahold of Kieran. My calls went unanswered, my texts ignored. He’d mentioned going out of town to shoot a film and said he’d be out of contact for a while. At first, I believed him. But as the days passed, worry began to creep in. There had been news of an actor recently being scammed overseas and barely making it back.

Just as I was about to use my family connections to track him down, Kieran returned.

The first words he said to me upon returning felt like being doused with icecold water, freezing me in place, making my entire body stiff and numb.

“What did you say?” I asked, trying to make sure I’d heard him correctly.

He sighed impatiently. “I’m breaking up with you.”

“I’ll give you money to compensate the time you’ve spent on me. From now on, let’s never see each other again. My career is taking off and I can’t risk the paparazzi catching the picture of us together. That could ruin my reputation.”

As he spoke, he pulled out a $1,000 check and tossed it onto the table before heading into the bedroom to pack his things.

Did I just get dumped? Me, the eldest daughter of a wealthy family, dumped out of the blue with no warning whatsoever? I couldn’t process it. I stood at the bedroom door, watching Kieran shove his belongings into a suitcase.

“You’re joking, right? This is just a prank. You’re trying to prank me because it’s my birthday.”  My voice trembled as I asked.

Without even looking up, he snapped, “I’m not joking!”

“How is it that after just a few days away, you come back and suddenly want to break up with me?”

Kieran grew even more impatient and snapped, “Why are you so nosy?”

“Why are you angry?” I sanpped back.

He threw his hands in the air and said irritably, “Look, if you loved me, you'd stop pestering me. Let's just go our separate ways. It's for the best.”

Just as I was about to ask more questions, there was a loud, forceful knock on the door.

I opened it to find a woman in her thirties standing there.

Margot Hickman. She was a wellknown name in the entertainment industry—a powerhouse producer who had made stars out of countless actors and held a wealth of resources at her fingertips. What was she doing here?

Before I could say anything, Margot’s eyes swept over me with thinly veiled disdain. She scoffed, clearly unimpressed. “So, you’re Kieran’s secret girlfriend? Lila, is it?”

She didn’t wait for my response, continuing with an air of superiority. “You’re pretty, I’ll give you that, but it’s painfully clear you lack sophistication. Someone like you doesn’t belong by Kieran’s side.”

Margot took a step closer, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. “Let me give you some advice, sweetheart. If you know what’s good for you, break up with Kieran and disappear from his life. Don’t make me resort to... unpleasant measures to deal with you.”

Hearing Margot's voice in the house, Kieran hurriedly came out carrying his suitcase. He immediately took Margot's hand and coaxed her gently, “Don't spend your time talking to her. I'm done packing. Let's go.”

Seeing their intimate scene, I couldn’t hold back and snapped, “Wow, Kieran. I didn’t think your standards could sink so low. I never imagined you’d be so desperate as to date this old hag!”

My words struck a nerve. Margot’s face twisted in annoyance. Without a second’s hesitation, she slapped me hard across the face.

“Watch your filthy mouth, little girl! Insult me again and I’ll rip that filthy mouth right off your face!”

The slap left me stunned. No one had ever dared lay a hand on me—not even my parents. And now this Margot—who the hell did she think she was? How dare she hit me?

Before I could react, Kieran stepped between us. He glared at me, his tone dripping with irritation. “Listen, Lila, I never planned on marrying you. The years we spent together? It was just for fun.”

He added coldly, “Take that money and stay out of my life.”

Then, as if flipping a switch, he turned to Margot, his voice soft and full of admiration. “Let’s go. We need to get ready for the film’s wrap party tonight.”

Margot smirked, leaning in to kiss his cheek. She turned to me with a mocking sneer. “You’re just a country bumpkin. Don’t ever dream of becoming someone big.”

“I can make Kieran a star. Adored by millions,” she continued smugly. “His future is limitless. You and he will soon be worlds apart, so you’d better give up on the ridiculous idea of marrying him.”

She gestured dismissively at the table where Kieran had left a check. “Take that money and get as far away as possible. If I find out you’re still hanging around Kieran or spreading rumors that could damage his career, you can kiss your life goodbye.”

Her eyes narrowed into a cold, threatening glare. “I’ve seen plenty of girls like you—poor, with no background, living in a fantasy world where they could somehow marrying their idols. I’ve dealt with them all and I’ll deal with you if I have to. So, don’t test me. Got it?” With a selfsatisfied toss of her hair, Margot linked her arm through Kieran’s and the two of them sauntered out as if they’d won some grand prize.

I pressed a hand to my burning cheek, fury bubbling up inside me until it felt like I might explode. My teeth clenched so hard my jaw ached. Reaching for the check Kieran had left, I tore it into tiny pieces and let them flutter to the ground.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, I pulled out my phone and called Ellis, my family’s head assistant.

“Ellis, cancel the plans I mentioned about secretly supporting Kieran Drake’s career. Oh, and one more thing—Velvetline Entertainment, that’s Margot’s company, right? Invite their executives to host the wrap party for their new movie at my family estate.”

A superstar adored by millions? A toptier producer with endless resources? They were overrated, in my opinion. Let’s see if they could keep acting all high and mighty once I was done with them.

I wasn’t a saint. Turning the other cheek when someone slapped me wasn’t my style. If anyone dared to hurt me, I’d make sure they paid for it tenfold.

Tonight was the perfect opportunity for me to get my revenge. Tonight, I was going to make Margot feel what it was like to be humiliated and trampled on in front of everyone. But Kieran, on the other hand, got me into a mixed feeling. He was my first love, the one I could never quite forget, especially the memory of our first encounter.

It was a time when I was in my rebel phase. I disagreeing with everything, fighting with my family and deciding to run away. It wasn't planned—just a spontaneous decision, fueled by anger and hurt. That night, I had nowhere to go, not even a single dollar to my name, so staying in a hotel was out of the question. Hungry, tired and hopeless, I found myself standing at a crossroads: should I sleep on a park bench for the night or swallow my pride and go home to apologize?

Just as I was pondering my fate, exhausted and starving, two homeless men approached me, their eyes glinting with ill intent.

“Hey, pretty girl, what’re you doing out here all alone?” one sneered.

“Wanna come with us? Let’s head to the park and have some fun,” the other added, grabbing my arm.

They were strong, their hands grabbing me tightly, pulling me toward the dark path leading to a nearby park. I screamed, but the street was empty. No one could hear me, no matter how loud I shouted. I was seconds away from being dragged to dark alley when Kieran appeared.

Riding a battered old bicycle, he noticed the commotion and rushed to intervene. Without hesitation, he lifted his beatenup bike and slammed it into the homeless men.

The impact sent them sprawling to the ground. Rising quickly, they charged at him blindly, ready to retaliate. However, Kieran wasn’t an easy target. His tall and strong frame made it difficult for them to overpower him. He easily dodged their wild swings, landing precise blows in return. He was clearly trained in selfdefense. With quick punches and kicks, he swiftly overpowered them.

Bruised and humiliated, the two men scrambled to their feet and fled, stumbling as they vanished into the darkness.

Still shaken, I thanked him profusely. He responded casually, “You shouldn't be wandering around alone at this hour. This area is quiet and prone to crime.” His voice was firm, yet kind. “You better get going, head back to the safety of your home.”

Before I could pull myself together, he was already pushing his beatup bike away. I rushed after him, insisting that he give me his contact information.

That night, I called home. My parents, frantic with worry, nearly lost their minds. When my father heard I had almost been assaulted, he sent people to track down and deal with those two homeless men.

From then on, I used my gratitude as an excuse to stay in touch with Kieran. I bought him a new bike as a token of thanks and started inviting him to hang out—shopping, eating and just spending time together. Gradually, we grew closer.

After getting to know each other better, I learned his story. He was a film school graduate without money or connections, struggling to survive in the entertainment industry.

One night, after a few too many drinks, he broke down in tears, clutching me tightly.

“Lila, you have no idea how hard this is,” he sobbed. “I worked parttime jobs all through school to get my degree, but life after graduation is even tougher. With no money and connections, it’s almost impossible to get anywhere.”

“Why is different. My classmates—some of them didn’t even do as well as me in school. They weren’t as talented, but they signed with big companies right after graduating. A year later, they’re already making names for themselves.”

“Why is the world so unfair? They don’t even need the money, but they’re flocking the industry, taking away the little opportunities we have just to survive.”

“You know what? I’ve decided. If I can’t make a name for myself in another year, I’ll quit. I’ll work in a factory or deliver food, or whatever. I’ll do anything but acting!”

That night, he poured out all his frustrations, years of pentup bitterness and sorrow. My heart ached for him and I made a decision. I would use my family’s influence to help him from behind the curtains.

Kieran’s career soared after that. With a little push from my family, he quickly gained a foothold in the entertainment industry and built a solid fan base.

He promised me that once he entered the second tier of stars, he would make our relationship public. I would no longer be his girlfriend in secret and I couldn’t help but think about the future.

When the New Year came around, I planned to bring Kieran home with me. I was eager to show him my family, to finally reveal my true identity to him. I imagined the look of surprise on his face when he realized just who I really was. But to my shock, on my birthday, he gave me a surprise I would never forget for the rest of my life.

Kieran hit me with a blow that would leave me shattered. For the sake of his career, he discarded me without a second thought. He’d left me behind, without hesitation, without any remorse. It was like a cruel twist of fate. The man I had helped to lift up, the man I believed in, had tossed me aside like I was nothing.

I had done everything for him, only to be cast aside when it mattered most. The sting of betrayal was unbearable, but I couldn’t help but think, “Kieran, you’ll regret this.” I would make sure of it.

That afternoon, the family butler drove me back to the estate.

The house was bustling with activity; guests had already started arriving for the evening’s celebrations. Many of the guests didn’t know me, which wasn’t surprising. I had always kept a low profile and my parents had gone to great lengths to protect me from the public eye.

My parents were mingling with some of the influential figures from the capital, engaged in casual conversation, while I decided to take a walk around the grounds with our Pomeranian, waiting for the evening’s birthday festivities to begin.

It was then that I saw them—Margot and Kieran, standing off to the side with a group of people, all smiles and laughter. They were surrounded by the cast and crew from the film Kieran had starred in and they were all fawning over Margot. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the scene. The way they all doted on her was nauseating.

“Margot, you really are amazing! To get the wrap party for our film hosted here, at the Fitzgerald estate? That’s unbelievable!”

“This estate is practically a legend in Wickerdale. I’ve heard so many big shots have tried to get an invitation and failed!”

“We owe you big time, Margot. And of course, we have to thank Kieran, too. Without his stellar performance, our movie wouldn’t have been half as good!”

“Yes, yes! Kieran, you’re the real MVP! And while we’re at it, here’s to you and Margot—may you two have a long and happy life together!”

“When the two of you get married, don’t forget to invite us!”

Their overthetop flattery had Margot beaming with pride, while Kieran humbly accepted the compliments, a modest smile on his face.

Margot, basking in the attention, said with a smug grin, “It’s true, getting you all into the Fitzgerald estate took some doing. The young lady of the house is hosting her birthday party tonight and she and I… well, we have a bit of a personal connection. She was kind enough to let me bring you all along.”

“But let me remind you,” she continued, her tone turning serious, “the Fitzgeralds have very strict rules. They’re not your typical wealthy family. So watch your words, keep your phones away and for heaven’s sake, don’t do anything inappropriate. If you mess up tonight, even I won’t be able to save you.”

The crew nodded eagerly, like obedient schoolchildren. Watching from a distance, I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. Margot really knew how to flatter herself.

A personal connection with me? Since when?  Just hours ago, she slapped me in the face and now she was here, strutting around in my family’s home like she owned the place. I couldn’t hold back my disgust.

Sensing my annoyance, the Pomeranian in my arms barked sharply in Margot’s direction.

The sudden noise caught their attention and they all turned to look at me. When Margot and Kieran saw me, they froze for a moment, clearly not expecting to see me here.

Margot was the first to recover. She frowned, her expression filled with disdain. “You again? You always show up when we're having fun, like a fly on a carcass. You're such a buzzkill!”

“How did you get in here? This isn't a place for someone like you,” Margot growled, her voice cold as she turned to me.

“Lila, haven't you caused enough trouble?” Kieran added.

His gaze hardened as he continued, “I don’t know and I don’t want to know how did you get in, but you better leave right now. Otherwise, you’ll get yourself into a serious trouble.”

He stepped toward me, clearly ready to throw me out, but Margot swiftly moved to block him.

With a sharp glance at Kieran, Margot spoke in a low, menacing tone. “Remember where we are. We’re at the Moonlight Manor. If they know she sneaks in here, it's a direct insult to the Fitzgeralds.”

Kieran hesitated, his expression torn between fury and uncertainty. Margot's next words came with a bite. “Do you want to protect her? Sure you can do that?”

She scoffed and shook her head. “You’d better stay out of this and don't make things worse for yourself. One word from the Fitzgeralds and not only you, but even our company, Velvetline Entertainment, could disappear in an instant.”

Her words made Kieran shrink back. His face drained of color and he lowered his head, no longer daring to meet my gaze.

Turning back to the crew, Margot commanded, “Go get the estate's security. Tell them we've caught a trespasser trying to steal from the estate.”

A few crew members hurried off to do as she said, while Margot, still glaring at me, walked over. She came within inches of me and, without warning, slapped me hard across the face.

I was caught off guard. I hadn’t expected her to be this bold, especially in my family’s estate. I didn’t move in time to avoid the blow.

Margot's eyes glinted with malice as she sneered, “If it weren’t for Kieran, I would’ve had someone kill you already.”

Her voice was low and venomous and she continued, “What makes you think you have the right to fight me, you little nobody with no connections?”

She stepped closer, her voice dripping with scorn. “People like you? I could crush you without breaking a sweat, like squashing an ant beneath my heel.”

She paused, savoring her cruelty. “I thought I might let you off the hook, but it looks like you couldn’t stay out of trouble. You barged your own way into hell. Sneaking into the Moonlight Manor comes with consequences a peasant like you could ever afford.”

Her words were cut short as she suddenly screamed in pain.

The Pomeranian I had been holding must have seen her slap me. It yelped in fury and lunged at her, sinking its teeth into her ankle.

Kieran and the crew rushed over, their attention diverted to Margot's injury as she cried out in anger and pain. Her eyes turned furious as she glared at the dog and she yelled at Kieran and the others, “Somebody get and kill that damn dog! Now!”

Kieran and the crew, clearly unnerved, hesitated, their gazes flickering between me and the dog. I immediately stepped forward, shielding the dog with my body and snarled, “I dare you to lay a hand on my dog.”

Margot, redfaced with rage, sneered, “What are you waiting for? Go get it! Anyone who kills that fitly creature will be the lead in my next movie.”

At her words, the crew’s eyes lit up. Several of them moved forward, eager to carry out her orders and deal with the dog.

Just then, a voice boomed from across the room.

“Stop! What the hell do you imbeciles think you’re doing?”

The harsh shout made everyone freeze in place. A welldressed, middleaged man exuding an air of authority strode toward us.

It was Walton Gries, the owner of Velvetline Entertainment. Starting from nothing, he had built and grown his business into a powerhouse within just twenty years.

“Mr. Gries!”

Everyone quickly greeted him, bowing slightly in respect.

Walton’s sharp gaze swept over the group, his jaw clenched in anger as he barked, “Do you all have a death wish? Acting like a bunch of baboons on the loose?!”

He shot an incredulous look at Kieran and the crew. “Have you not realize where we are standing? Are you looking to throw your lives away?”

Kieran and the others lowered their heads, too scared to speak.

Margot, still nursing her injured ankle, pouted and spoke in a soft, almost pleading tone. “Mr. Gries, that woman’s dog bit me. I just didn’t want it to bite anyone else, so I told them to catch it. Kieran and the others were only trying to help me.”

Her voice then turned sharper. “It’s all because of that wretched woman! I don’t even know where she got that dog from. It came out of nowhere and bit me—hurt me so badly!” She turned to Walton with a pitiful expression. “Mr. Gries, you have to stand up for me!”

Seeing Margot’s dramatic display, I nearly threw up. I was so nauseating to see that.

The Pekingese I’ve had for over a decade is an old dog, nearly toothless at this point. While it might have looked like it bit Margot hard just now, the truth is, it didn’t even break the skin on her ankle.

Walton glanced at Margot’s foot, noticing the faint redness. His expression soured and he rolled his eyes at her theatrics.

Then Walton’s gaze fell on the small dog I was holding protectively. His expression froze for a moment, recognition flashing across his face.

“This dog... looks familiar!” Walton muttered. “This afternoon, I visited Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald here at the estate. Mrs. Fitzgerald was holding a dog look just like this in her arms.”

His words sent shockwaves through everyone present.

“That’s impossible!” Margot exclaimed. Her face twisted in disbelief.

“Mr. Gries, you must be mistaken,” she said, a nervous laugh escaping her. “The Fitzgeralds—those illustrious figures—would never own a mutt like that. If they ever kept a dog, it’d definitely be some rare, pedigreed breed!”

Walton shook his head firmly. “The Fitzgeralds aren’t the kind of family to care about such vanities. I know this is the same dog I saw in Mrs. Fitzgerald’s arms earlier.”

I liked this man—he had a sense of discernment. We’re not like others. Most affluent families with noble roots tend to keep purebred dogs, complete with pedigree certificates, believing it’s a way to flaunt their wealth and status. But not us. Such things are nothing but a joke to our family.

This Poodle? I picked it up from the side of the road when I was just a kid. It must’ve been abandoned shortly after it was born. I remember it was raining that day. The poor thing was trembling from the cold, staring at me with wide, frightened eyes.

When our eyes met, I felt an inexplicable connection. Without a second thought, I scooped it up and brought it home. It’s been part of our family ever since.

Walton’s words had a ripple effect. Margot’s face turned pale and the others around her weren’t faring much better. Those who’d been ready to pounce on my dog just moments ago now stood frozen, their faces drained of color, clearly terrified.

Margot’s lips trembled as she stammered, “If this… dog really belongs to the Fitzgeralds, then how could it be in her hands?” Her eyes lit up with malice as she pointed at me. “You! You better tell the truth! Did you steal this dog? Not only did you sneak into the Fitzgerald estate, but you also dared to steal Mrs. Fitzgerald’s dog?” she spat venomously. “You’re finished! There’s no saving you now!”

I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her absurd accusations. Margot clearly thought she had me pegged as some bumpkin from the countryside, incapable of having any connection to the Fitzgeralds. To her, I was nothing more than a thief.

Her baseless accusations seemed to ignite a spark in the group. After a brief pause, several of them sighed in relief, as though finding their courage in Margot's words and began to chime in.

“Margot’s right. Just look at her—she definitely looks like she’s up to no good!”

“Margot was only trying to protect the dog, but instead, that dog bit her!”

“We can’t let her walk away with Mrs. Fitzgerald’s dog. The Fitzgeralds would never forgive her!”

They were Margot’s loyal followers—or more accurately, her sycophants. Afraid that opposing her might jeopardize their own careers, they chose to side with her, joining in to slander and blame me.

However, not everyone seemed to share their blind loyalty.

Kieran, his expression conflicted, finally broke his silence. He hesitated, then asked cautiously, “Lila… you wouldn’t happen to be related with the Fitzgerald Family, would you?”

The murmurs died down as all eyes turned toward me, the atmosphere suddenly heavy with curiosity and suspicion.

“You managed to get into the Fitzgerald estate,” Kieran continued, his voice tinged with uncertainty. “And the dog seems so comfortable with you. Could it be that…”

Before he could finish, Margot cut him off with a sharp, derisive laugh.

“Impossible!” she sneered. “How could a lowly bitch like her have any connection to the Fitzgeralds, the wealthiest tycoons of Wickerdale?”

“You told me yourself she was just some smalltown bumpkin, didn’t you? You said you two lived in a tiny rented apartment, struggling just to get by. If she really was a daughter of the Fitzgerald Family, why on earth would she choose to be with you and live a hard life like that?”

Her words hit Kieran like a bucket of cold water. He let out a quiet sigh, a complex mix of disappointment and relief flashing across his face.

Walton, meanwhile, was silent, his brows furrowed as he scrutinized me, clearly debating something in his mind.

Finally, after a tense pause, he spoke. “You know, now that I think about it… you do bear a striking resemblance to Mrs. Fitzgerald.”

I met his gaze steadily, my voice clear and unwavering as I replied, “That’s because the one you’re talking about is my mother. And this estate is my home.”