Chapter 924 - On the Red Carpet (Part 1)

February 24th, a drizzle fell from the sky.

Laila sat in the car, gazing out through the rain-streaked window.

At this moment, she was wearing a black, one-shoulder, cinched-waist gown. Her fair skin and blue eyes seemed to radiate a soft glow, captivating Roy, who sat across from her.

"Roy, how many awards do you think we'll win later?" she asked.

"I don't know. I hope we win them all," Roy replied, reaching out to hold her hand. His thumb gently brushed over the blue diamond ring on her finger, and his eyes softened as he noticed how it complemented the one in his hand.

Laila followed his gaze to their intertwined fingers. "People will probably notice soon."

"Mmm," Roy hummed, bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it reverently. "Do you think it's too soon?"

"Not at all. If I weren't so reclusive, it might have been discovered earlier," Laila said, smiling. She loved how much he cherished her. The way he kissed her hand and looked at her made it easy to see how deeply he cared for her.

She had never doubted his love for her because every gesture, every glance, spoke volumes about his feelings. Their connection didn't need words or grand gestures. A simple shared smile was enough to feel a profound sense of unity.

This was what she often referred to as the feeling of an old married couple. She loved this sense of intimacy, the way his love for her was so openly displayed. It was the most tangible proof of her existence in this world. There had been countless times when she woke up from a dream, fearing she had returned to her unfulfilled past life. Only when she saw the way he looked at her did she feel grounded again?

Today was the day of the Oscars ceremony. The drizzle had been falling since yesterday and showed no signs of stopping. Walking the red carpet in such weather wasn't the most pleasant experience, but compared to the recent writers' strike, it felt like a privilege. A little rain was nothing compared to the storm they had weathered.

"Let's go," Roy said, taking a deep breath and giving her one last lingering look before pushing the car door open.

As soon as his foot stepped out of the car, there was a brief pause outside, followed by an eruption of cheers and screams.

As one of Hollywood's A-list stars, such a reception wasn't unusual. He had experienced it many times before. But this time, the fans weren't calling his name.

"Laila—"

"Laila! Laila!"

The chants grew louder, as if only through sheer volume could the fans express their excitement.

Roy understood why they were so excited. He felt the same way. With a smile, he bent down and gently helped Laila out of the car.

"Ah!! Laila—"

The fans went wild, and the media frenzy was equally intense. Camera flashes didn't stop for a second from the moment she stepped out of the car. Ever since the Oscar nominations were announced, countless reporters have tried to interview her, but none have succeeded. Even the media outlets under the Moran umbrella had failed to break through the "blockade."

With no access to her, the media had resorted to digging up old stories about her and rehashing them endlessly. For most celebrities, the public would have lost interest in such stale news.

But Laila was different. Even a candid street photo, a mundane detail of her daily life, or a story that had been reported countless times still captivated people.

After the Oscar nominations were announced, Laila knew she would be swarmed by reporters. So, she decided to stay at home, focusing on preparations for her new film.

Not only did the media fail to find her, but even Nolan and Andrew, who wanted to discuss promotional plans and the script with her, were invited to her home for meetings.

Her decision proved to be wise. During her absence from the company, reporters and paparazzi camped outside the building. They couldn't believe she could avoid them for days, let alone weeks. As the boss, surely she had to show up at the company at some point, right? What if there were issues that needed her attention?

They forgot one crucial detail: Laila's role as a boss was more like a side job. Her primary role was that of a director. Directors often spent months away on film sets. If the company couldn't function without her constant presence, that would be a problem.

To their dismay, the reporters realized that there was indeed a kind of boss who could go weeks without setting foot in the company. What was even more frustrating was that the company continued to run smoothly, while they were left waiting outside like fools.

Fortunately, the company still had its share of celebrities and notable figures coming and going, which gave the reporters something to work with and saved them from going home empty-handed.

Thus, this red carpet appearance marked Laila's first public appearance since the Oscar nominations were announced. It was no wonder the fans and media were in a frenzy.

Laila's one-shoulder, cinched-waist gown, and Roy's black suit were understated in design, but their youthful charm wasn't diminished by the conservative colors. Instead, they carried themselves with the poise of runway models.

The Oscars were a formal occasion, so neither wore much jewelry. The only noticeable accessories were the matching blue rings on their fingers.

Laila waved to the fans calling her name, thanking them for their adoration. As she raised her hand, the ring on her finger immediately caught the attention of many.

The blue diamond was simply too large, and its princess-cut facets reflected the relentless camera flashes, making it sparkle brilliantly. Almost as soon as she raised her hand, the dazzling light from the ring had already blinded several onlookers.

Some sharp-eyed photographers immediately checked the photos they had taken and noticed the unusual glint.

"What's that?"

"It doesn't look like her usual ring!"

A murmur spread among the reporters and fans with cameras also began to notice the same thing.

All eyes were now fixed on her finger.

People remembered that Laila had always worn a ring with a very small diamond. The diamond was so tiny that many wondered what significance it held for her to wear it constantly. Given her status, it wouldn't be surprising if she wore the most extravagant diamonds. But such a small stone? Unless it held special meaning, Roy wouldn't have given it to her, and Laila certainly wouldn't have treasured it so much.

When the ring was first noticed, many speculated about its origin, weaving romantic and poignant stories around it.

But now, that supposedly significant ring was gone?