Wife, Where Are My Boxers"

Wife, where are my boxers?

During a live stream to millions, the biggest A-lister in the country walked out from behind me. Half-naked, asking me for his underwear.

The comments went dead silent. I froze.

The internet exploded.

Chapter 1

Wrapped up on set and rushed home against the clock. The second I walked through the door, I dropped my bags, skipped the shower, and booted up the live stream at my vanity. This was the warm-up for my birthday meet-and-greet, and fans were already crowding the stream. I wiped off my heavy stage makeup while chatting with the viewers.

"Yeah, I just got back from the set. The new show drops soon, so please tune in."

The comments flew past in a blur. Through the flood of compliments, my eyes snagged on one specific line.

[Does it look like there's someone in the room behind her?]

I maintained a perfect smile for the camera, but my hands under the desk yanked at my silk skirt, my knuckles turning faintly white. I shot a quick glance at the bathroom behind me. Warm yellow light spilled through the frosted glass door, revealing the faint outline of a shadow moving inside.

A sudden chill shot up my spine. Luckily, the comment was quickly buried in the chat before too many people noticed.

My pulse hammered in my ears. I definitely wasn't alone in this apartment. And that shadow belonged to my secret husband.

The biggest superstar in the countryZayne.

Calling Zayne an A-lister was an understatement. Whether it was on a massive billboard in Times Square or a late-night talk show, you couldn't escape his aggressive, striking face.

I was his exact opposite. The industry's most notorious pretty face. Famous, sure, but with absolutely zero acting chops. Anyone with a pulse could roast my terrible performances on screen.

When we first got married, our agents toyed with the idea of going public to salvage my reputation. But the second the press release dropped about us doing a joint interview

Both of our social media accounts and our PR teams' feeds were instantly nuked by fans. His pages were flooded with crying fangirls. Mine? A pure toxic wasteland of hate.

[Girl, pick someone else for your PR stunt. Will you die if you don't leach off him?]

[Step aside, I'd make a better match.]

[Get lost. Don't even breathe in his direction.]

[Look, she can't act to save her life, but you can't deny that face.]

Comments like those buried me like an avalanche. The interview was scrapped. We decided to keep our marriage completely under wraps until my public image actually recovered.

Remembering that nightmare, I subtly shifted my chair to block the bathroom door from the camera's view. I slid my right hand off-screen. I grabbed my phone and fired off a text to Zayne.

"Are you home? Is that you in the bathroom?"

A second later, my screen lit up. Zayne: "It's me, wife."

Me: "Do not come out. Do not move a muscle. Got it?"

Zayne: "Which muscle are we talking about?"

I ignored his dirty joke and typed back a strict warning to stay put.

Minutes dragged on. I checked my phone again, but there were no new messages. A quiet Zayne was a dangerous Zayne. My palms started sweating, and my fingers tightened around my phone.

Until a loud click echoed through the room. The bathroom door swung wide open. Followed by Zayne's deep, amused voice.

"Wife, where are my boxers?"

My blood ran cold. I snapped my neck around.

Zayne stood there shirtless, a single white towel slung low on his hips. Water dripped from his messy, wet hair, hitting his collarbone. The drops trailed down the hard, sculpted ridges of his abs, slipping lower. Disappearing right beneath the terrycloth.

My breathing instantly lost its rhythm. My throat tightened, and my eyes glued themselves to the hard ridges of his abs.

The scrolling live chat went dead silent.

Chapter 2

The live chat became a frantic, illegible blur. The internet practically burned down that night. Our stream crashed under the sheer weight of millions of users flooding in. After the screen abruptly went black, both of our agents called within seconds.

They ordered us to stay put until they got there for a crisis meeting.

On the line, my agent, Lorraine, gave me a heavy, pointed warning. "Stay off social media. If you can't control yourself, hand your phone to Zayne."

I might have held back if she hadn't said anything. But now? I was dying to know.

I hung up and immediately logged into my burner account. I opened the app, staring at a frozen loading screen for five solid minutes before the trending list finally populated.

[VivienneAndZayne]

[VivienneZayneSecretlyMarried]

Our names dominated half the top spots. But the number one trending topic was impossible to miss.

[ZaynesBoxers]

It sat firmly at the top of the charts. It was clear exactly what the public was obsessed with.

Before I could click on the tag, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling my back flush against a warm, hard chest. Zayne snatched the phone right out of my hand. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, his damp hair brushing against my skin.

"Wife, stop holding a grudge," he murmured. "It was a total accident."

I slammed a towel against his rock-hard chest. "You did that on purpose," I hissed through gritted teeth. "I specifically warned you to stay out of sight."

"And instead, you asked me to fetch your"

The sharp buzz of the doorbell cut me off. I turned to answer it, only to hear Zayne shout from behind me.

"My boxers!! Wife!!!"

My jaw locked. I spun around, marching straight to his dresser drawer. I grabbed a handful of his boxers and hurled them, one by one, directly at his bare chest.

"Your boxers!" I snapped, throwing another pair. "Put them on!"

I turned on my heel and headed for the front door, ignoring his dramatic squawking.

"Hey! Wife, this one landed on my head!"

Zayne's agent stormed through the door and immediately swatted his arm. "Walking around half-naked on a live stream. You just had to show off, didn't you?"

My agent, Lorraine, didn't say a single word, but the tight line of her mouth made it perfectly clear she was ready to murder someone.

Zayne rubbed the bridge of his nose, wisely retreating to the far corner of the couch and keeping his mouth shut. I picked up my glass of water and took a slow sip, unable to stop the slight smirk tugging at the corners of my lips.

Wasting zero time, the two agents immediately dove into damage control.

"We tried to fake a PR relationship before, and it backfired terribly. We might as well use this disaster to just come out with the truth," Zayne's agent said, sliding a thick folder across the coffee table. "This reality show wants you two as guest stars for an upcoming episode. It brings massive ratings for the network, and it gives both of your fanbases a buffer period to process the shock."

Lorraine tapped her manicured nails against the table. "I reviewed this show's concept. It's actually a solid move. Also, I'm bumping your birthday meet-and-greet up to tomorrow. We're scheduling a dedicated press Q&A.

When you're on stage, you're going to officially announce that you two are doing the reality show together."

Zayne threw both hands in the air. "Works for me!"

His agent nodded. "I agree."

Lorraine crossed her arms. "It's settled then."

I just stared at them. ""

Zayne caught an early flight back to his movie set the next morning. By the time my car pulled up to the press conference venue, a massive crowd of reporters was already swarming the entrance. The turnout was easily triple what we originally anticipated.

Lorraine tipped her chin toward the tinted window. "Look at that. The second the news broke last night, all those elite entertainment journalists who used to ignore us suddenly started blowing up my phone."

She let out a dry laugh and shook her head.

I kept my mouth shut, simply tapping the partition to signal the driver to pull through the gates faster.

Inside the press room, a sea of heavy camera lenses aimed directly at the podium. Since Zayne was back on a closed set, he was unreachable.

The press corps shoved forward, thrusting their microphones toward the stage. Camera flashes strobed blindingly, the relentless mechanical clatter of shutters nearly drowning out the blare of the venue's security alarms.

Chapter 3

The fans in the crowd held up their glowing signs, shouting out birthday wishes for me. I stared out at that sea of flashing lights, my fingers subconsciously tightening around the edge of the microphone, my throat going tight.

The second the floor opened for the Q&A, the press mob surged forward, shoving their way to the front of the stage.

"The internet is blowing up over you and Zayne! What's your official statement?"

"Vivienne, please answer the question! What exactly is your relationship with Zayne?"

"Are you and Zayne really married? Have you been deliberately lying to your fans?"

The reporters pressed harder, the physical weight of the crowd forcing me to stumble a step backward. Security guards rushed in, throwing their weight against the barricades to hold the mob back.

I rolled my eyes internally, but kept my polite, media-trained smile plastered perfectly across my face.

"I really appreciate everyone's attention, and I completely understand how eager you all are. As for my relationship with Zayne we're actually going to be guest starring on a reality show together very soon. You'll all find out the details then."

That very night, the network's official social media account dropped the promo.

[Heartbeat Connection Official: We are thrilled to welcome @Vivienne and @Zayne as our special guest stars for the upcoming episode! Stay tuned!!]

I retweeted the post and started scrolling through the comment section.

The top threads were hijacked by our respective fan clubs running aggressive damage control. The copy-pasted formatting was military-grade. The general consensus was a united front: do not believe the rumors, focus only on our own idol's upcoming projects.

I had to scroll for ages before I found the raw reactions from the general public.

[LMAO, I'm dead. They're going on this specific show? Isn't that basically a hard confirmation?]

[To the girl above me: go look at the top comments. Their stans are fighting for their lives trying to bury this.]

Other casual users were lost, begging for someone to explain the context.

Heartbeat Connection was famous for two main reasons. First, the production value was top-tier and the format was genuinely engaging.

But the second reason? This show was basically a breeding ground for real-life couples and marriages in the industry. Whenever celebrities wanted to go public with a relationship, they always used this show to test the waters. It gave the fans time to digest the idea while letting the PR teams gauge the public's reaction and prepare for the fallout.

Some internet sleuths had already dug up the receipts: at least ten celebrity couples were secretly dating before they even signed on to film Heartbeat Connection.

So the second the network officially announced that Zayne and I were joining the cast, the suspense hit a fever pitch. The entire internet was practically holding its breath for the episode to drop.

Zayne was currently filming on location. I decided to drop by the set for a "surprise" visit. It was the perfect excuse to let the paparazzi snap some candid shots so the gossip blogs could churn out fresh headlines.

I didn't arrive at the mountain set until late at night. I intentionally dragged my feet as I walked from the car, making absolutely sure the long-lens cameras hidden in the trees got a clear shot of me.

When I finally reached the shooting area, Zayne was rehearsing a scene with his female co-star, Gemma. The deep woods were pitch black, illuminated only by a few massive industrial studio lights set up by the crew.

Gemma tilted her head, squinting against the harsh glare. She stood up and walked toward the shadows where Zayne was standing.

Zayne frowned and threw up a hand. He immediately took two large steps backward. "Stop, stop. You just crossed the line."

Gemma blinked. "What line?"

Zayne crossed his arms over his chest, his chin tilted up with a smug expression. "When the cameras aren't rolling, I keep a strict physical distance from other women. I call it the 'Good Husband Radius'."

Gemma stared at him, speechless. "You literally just drew an imaginary circle around yourself?"

Zayne nodded with dead serious conviction. "Damn right."

I clearly saw Gemma roll her eyes at him, and a laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it.

Gemma heard the sound and spotted me instantly. She broke into a light jog, heading straight for me.

Chapter 4

"Vivienne, look at him. Are you really going to let him act like this? Zero gentlemanly behavior." Before I could even open my mouth, Gemma latched onto my arm, leaning her entire body weight against me to complain. "Look at him, such a control freak. Unlike me, I'd just buy you your favorite sugar-free latte."

People in our inner circle mostly knew about our relationship, and Gemma definitely knew everything.

My lips curved up, and I reached out to ruffle her hair. "I know, I know. I brought you a gift. I'll have the assistant grab it for you later."

"Thank you!" Gemma practically beamed, leaning in as if she was going to plant a kiss on my cheek.

Zayne lunged forward, his large hand clamping down on her arm to yank her away. His jawline tightened, his voice dropping dangerously low. "Take your hands off. That's my wife."

Gemma refused to let go of my waist, shooting him a defiant glare. "So what? I was kissing her long before you even came into the picture!"

Lorraine signed both Gemma and me at the exact same time when we first entered the industry. Back when we were dead broke, we shared a cramped apartment for years. Since she was a few years younger, she was basically my little sister.

Hearing that, Zayne's originally tense shoulders instantly slumped, and he pressed his thin lips tightly together. But he still didn't give up trying to pry Gemma away from me.

Russell, the director, had been hunting for his lead actors and followed the commotion over. "I was wondering where my stars ran off to. Turns out you're all hiding right here." He turned to me with a wide grin. "Vivienne. Visiting Zayne on set?"

I nodded.

Gemma scoffed under her breath. "Please, she's probably here to see me." Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she turned back to the director. "Russell, didn't you say you're still casting the second female lead for your next project?"

Gemma shoved me forward. "What about Vivienne?"

When Russell just stared, Gemma kept going. "Look at her! She fits your exact requirements. Gorgeous, completely empty-headed, and she can just sit there staring into space for hours. She's identical to that mentally challenged princess in your script."

I pressed two fingers against my temple. If it weren't for the dead-serious sincerity shining in her eyes, I'd swear she was insulting me.

Russell looked me up and down, sizing me up. He nodded slowly in agreement. "Alright. Once the main cast is locked in, I'll have someone call you in to discuss the script."

I quickly thanked him, motioning for my assistant to start passing out the late-night snacks I brought. We were deep in the mountains, so there wasn't anything fancyjust bulk takeout we hauled up from the town below.

After everyone ate, Russell ordered the crew back to their marks to resume filming.

Before heading back to set, Zayne grabbed a heavy coat and draped it over my shoulders. "It gets freezing up here at night. Bundle up. I'll have Cody show you around. If you don't feel like walking, just have him take you straight to my room."

Cody was his assistant. I nodded, lifting a hand to gently shove his chest. "I get it, go. The director is waiting for you."

Zayne took three steps before spinning back around, a dangerous smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He leaned in, dropping his voice to a low murmur. "I knew you were coming. I prepared a little gift for you."

His eyes glinted with a dark, predatory amusement in the dim light. The hair on the back of my neck stood up instantly.

My mind kept circling back to his words. After a brief walk, I told Cody to just take me to the hotel room.

Cody handed me the keycard. I swiped it against the reader and pushed the door open. The heavy blackout curtains were drawn shut, leaving the room submerged in shadows. The air was thick with the familiar scent of Zayne's signature cologne.

I walked straight toward the large bed. The second I popped the lid off the sleek box resting on the mattress, I blinked hard, convinced my eyes were playing tricks on me.

I pinched a ridiculously thin strap between two fingers and lifted it. A pitiful scrap of fabric dangled in the air.

It wastechnically speakinga silk nightgown.

After my shower, I stood frozen, staring at the scrap of lace hanging on the towel rack.

Chapter 5

I bit my lower lip, taking several deep breaths in front of the mirror before I finally slipped that pitiful excuse for fabric over my body. Staring at my reflection, I had to admitdamn, I looked good.

It wasn't until the middle of the night that I heard the click of the door. I was dead asleep, mumbling his name through the haze.

Zayne froze, clearly not expecting me to be awake. He let out a low, soft hum of acknowledgment.

The sound of the shower running pulled at my foggy thoughts. Remembering what I was wearing under the covers, heat rushed straight to my cheeks.

"Why are you hiding under there? You're going to suffocate."

The heavy duvet was ripped away, letting in a rush of cool air. I gasped automatically, my nose filling with the scent of damp steam and his body wash.

I opened my eyes. Zayne was standing there in nothing but a white hotel bathrobe. The lapels hung slightly open, exposing the hard, defined ridges of his abs.

The small lamp on the nightstand cast a warm yellow glow. The light traced the tight, sharp line of his jaw. Those dark eyes that were usually full of lazy amusement were now staring heavily at me, burning so hot it felt like he wanted to swallow me whole.

That was when I realized the perfectly arranged neckline of my silk slip had slid dangerously low. I shot my hand out to kill the lamp.

But Zayne was faster. His large hand clamped around both of my wrists, pinning them flat against the headboard.

The mattress dipped as he climbed over me. His lips brushed against my earlobe, his breath hot against my skin as he let out a dark, questioning chuckle. "You let her kiss you?"

The dangerous tilt of his voice sent a shiver straight down my spine.

I blinked, my brain foggy. Zayne's grip tightened, his territorial instinct flaring. Even when we first started hooking up, he used to pin me down just to make me admit I belonged to him.

Seeing my attention slip, Zayne's teeth clamped down lightly on the sensitive shell of my ear in a punishing bite. I gasped, my focus snapping back to him.

"Tell me," he demanded, his voice rough. "Where did she kiss you?"

The memory of Gemma's bold claim earlier that night finally clicked. I let out a breathless laugh and reached up to pinch his solid bicep. "Where else would she kiss me? It was just on the cheek."

That night, I was forced to repeat exactly who I belonged to over and over again until my voice went completely hoarse.

The next morning, I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring deadpan at the blooming red marks clustered along my jawline and neck. Unbelievable.

On the drive to the Heartbeat Connection filming location, I wore a thick black surgical mask the entire time, pulling my collar up high to cover the evidence.

Cody handed me a steaming thermos. "Here, drink some hot water. It's good for your cold."

I stared at him. ""

I honestly had no idea how this innocent kid survived working under Zayne for so long.

By the time we arrived on set, the rest of the cast was already there. Out of the seven celebrity guests, there was only one other established couple besides us. The remaining three were flying solo. I recognized every single face in the room.

After a quick round of introductions, the producers announced our first objective for the day.

"Within the allotted time limit, whoever's heart rate spikes the highest will be forced to display their most recent text message conversation on the big screen."

A collective groan ripped through the cast. "Are you kidding me, director? You're playing this dirty on the very first mission?"

This was the other reason Heartbeat Connection was such a massive hit. The show was unscripted and ruthless, stripping away all celebrity PR packaging. Everyone who signed on knew exactly what kind of brutal exposure they were walking into.

A horrifying realization hit me like a truck. My last texted contact was Gemma. I shot up from my chair instantly.

No way. Even if the sky was literally falling, a girl's private gossip chat history absolutely could not be broadcasted to the public.

The crew walked around, strapping digital heart rate monitors to each of our wrists. Zayne crossed his arms, leaning back and watching me with a lazy, arrogant smirk. He looked completely certain I was going to lose.

Gathering every ounce of nerve I had, I stepped right into his space. I pushed up onto my tiptoes, raising both hands to cup over his ears. I tilted my head back to look directly up at him.

Zayne stared down at me, his deep eyes practically glittering with amused anticipation. Without breaking eye contact, his large hands came up, mirroring my stance as his palms clamped firmly over my own ears.

I closed the final inch between us, pressing my lips hard against his.

The heavy pressure of his hands completely blocked out the noise of the studio. The entire world fell away into absolute silence. The only thing I could hear was the wet, heated sound of our lips sliding together, and the heavy, ragged hitch of his breath.

Chapter 6

Zayne's pupils dilated slightly. He clearly didn't expect me to be this bold. To pull him into a kiss right in front of everyone.

[Beep! Beep!]

The electronic monitor went off, warning that his heart rate was spiking way too fast.

Perfect. The one with the exploding heart rate ended up being Zayne.

The producer gave Zayne a knowing, overly sweet smile. "Zayne, let's see it."

Zayne's ears were red enough to bleed. He roughly ripped off the watch strap and pulled his phone from his pocket. His most recent contact was me. But what I couldn't figure out was his contact name for meBlue.

The crew mirrored his screen for the cameras. It was just standard daily texts. Before the producer could scroll any higher, Zayne stopped him.

He kept his voice deliberately flat. "The stuff above this isn't broadcast-friendly. We should stop here. I don't think you guys can handle it."

I stared at him, completely speechless again.

After all the groups finished the first challenge, the producers announced the second objective. Finding tonight's housing, first come, first served. The cast was allowed to team up freely