Chapter 1054 - The Joker (Part One)

The test screening had been a resounding success, and Laila was fully satisfied with the quality of the film. So, after delegating other company responsibilities to her subordinates, she boarded a private jet bound for New York.

Roy, of course, was glued to her side the entire time, doting on her as if she were made of glass—cradle her too tightly, and she might break; let go, and she might float away. His constant hovering was almost too much to witness.

The happiest people about Laila's absence from the office? Her employees.

Finally, they could go a whole day without being force-fed public displays of affection. And the male employees with girlfriends heaved an especially deep sigh of relief—they'd no longer be dragged by the ear by their envious partners and scolded to "learn from Roy's husband-level pampering."

Back in New York, Laila was welcomed with open arms—especially by Janet. If it weren't for little William tying her down, she would've flown to Hollywood herself weeks ago. She'd even scolded poor William for holding her back, causing the little guy to call his sister in tears to complain about the injustice.

In America, money really could buy anything—and for Laila, that included queen-level treatment, far beyond the standards of a princess.

Thanks to her grandmother and Claire, she felt as if she had tasted every medicinal soup and herbal tonic created across five thousand years of Eastern civilization. Occasionally, she ate something she couldn't even name—but she chose not to ask. After all, neither of those women would feed her anything harmful, and honestly, it was better not to know. Why risk freaking herself out over a dish after she'd already eaten it?

And the effects were remarkable. Most pregnant women experienced all kinds of discomfort as their bellies grew and the baby developed. But Laila? Completely stable from start to finish. If not for the obvious bump, no one would even associate her with being pregnant.

She was beginning to suspect the baby was a little lady—a well-behaved young miss. So quiet, so calm, even in the womb. Just imagining a beautiful little girl asking to be picked up, hugging her neck, and begging for cuddles made Laila's heart melt.

Leisurely days passed quickly, and while Laila basked in the warmth of her family and the sunshine of her New York estate, awards season arrived.

As was common knowledge, Hollywood's awards season began every November with the Gotham Independent Film Awards and stretched through to February or March of the following year with the Oscars. More than forty awards would be handed out during this period.

Some were professional industry honors, others regional, but they all served to recognize the hard work of filmmakers and push the industry forward.

From the moment Laila debuted, her first film earned multiple nominations. But back then, she didn't care much. She had access to plenty of resources, and her vision had always been broader. Those smaller awards barely registered for her, even if the recognition was nice. For years, she sent her producer, Louise, to accept awards on her behalf.

It wasn't until she gained more experience and began directing large-scale productions that the major awards began to take notice.

Over ten years, she had grown from an indie horror filmmaker into one of the most sought-after directors in the world. The trophies she'd collected could fill an entire company display room.

This year, she was back in the race once more.

The Dark Knight might be a superhero film—a commercial blockbuster loaded with visual effects—but its storytelling gave it serious awards-season credibility.

Not only was the narrative praised by critics, but the film's biggest highlight was the performances.

Everyone already knew Laila was a master at shaping actors, and in The Dark Knight, the cast delivered some of the most powerful performances of their careers.

Christian, who played Batman, was a revelation. Because of the character's persona, Batman often had to maintain a stoic, cold demeanor. The challenge was expressing complex inner emotions while keeping that restrained facade. Lesser actors would just give a flat, expressionless performance.

But Christian nailed it—his eyes, his body language, even subtle shifts in expression conveyed everything the character was feeling. Audiences didn't just see a man in a mask; they felt Batman's emotional journey.

The rest of the cast was just as strong. Every actor, from the female lead to the smallest supporting roles, delivered flawless expressions and precise emotional nuance. They gave first-tier performances while being paid third-tier salaries.

But the most dazzling of them all?

Roy's Joker.

When the film was being screened, Laila and Roy were in South Africa shooting another project, so they hadn't seen firsthand the shockwaves the Joker role had sent through Hollywood—or the entire film industry, for that matter.

In the promotional campaign, the Joker had barely gotten the final villain treatment he deserved. His face only appeared fleetingly in marketing materials. Even in the trailer, he was just a brief flash, with only a hint of his sinister energy teased.

Before audiences walked into theaters, almost no one was paying attention to the Joker's actor. They came for Batman, and once they learned the Joker would be the villain, they didn't think much of it. For most superhero fans, it's the heroes they care about—the villains, no matter how strong, are ultimately cannon fodder to be defeated.

And though some fans knew Roy had a role in the movie, the studio's and marketing team's deliberate efforts to downplay his presence meant no one connected him with the Joker.

So after audiences finished discussing the film's plot…

The hunt began.

"Wait… where was Roy?"

In a world where looks alone could garner massive fanbases, Roy wasn't just another pretty face—he had Oscar-worthy acting chops. Among Hollywood's rising male leads, he stood head and shoulders above the rest, with a fanbase that outclassed his peers.

Even if he'd played a nameless extra, just a walk-on cameo, his fans would have shown up in theaters just to see him.

Of course, The Dark Knight was strong enough to satisfy almost every moviegoer on its own.

But after the credits rolled, and the story had been thoroughly discussed…

The question surfaced.

"I came for Roy. The movie was great, sure—but where the hell was he? Did they cut all his scenes?!"