Chapter 1: A New Life Begins

Pain. That was the first thing he felt. A sharp, throbbing pain splitting through his skull, like someone had driven a nail straight into his temple. His mouth was dry, his body weak, and his head was spinning.

As he struggled to open his eyes, flashes of his past life played in his mind—the failed auditions, the soul-crushing rejections, the endless cycle of hope and disappointment. He had spent years chasing a dream in Los Angeles, only to die as nothing more than a struggling actor drowning in obscurity.

But as his blurry vision adjusted to the dimly lit room, he realized something was wrong. The ceiling was unfamiliar, the scent in the air foreign. A rush of memories that weren't his flooded his mind—memories of a young man named Nathaniel "Nate" Carter.

He wasn't in his old body anymore.

He had been reincarnated.

Nate sucked in a sharp breath, his chest rising and falling as he tried to process the impossible. He wasn't dead—not in the way he had expected. He had memories of his past life, memories of struggling through Hollywood, of failed auditions, of drinking himself into oblivion after one rejection too many. The last thing he remembered was the bitter taste of cheap whiskey on his tongue before everything went dark.

And now… now he was someone else.

His fingers trembled as he pushed himself upright. His body felt different—leaner, younger. His skin was smooth, untouched by the stress and exhaustion that had weighed him down in his previous life. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, his feet pressing against cold wooden flooring. The room was small but neat, with posters of rock bands and classic movies on the walls.

His gaze caught the reflection in the mirror across from him. His breath hitched.

The face staring back at him was unfamiliar yet strangely familiar—messy black hair, sharp blue eyes, and youthful features. He looked no older than eighteen. His mind buzzed with scattered memories that weren't his own—memories of growing up in a different family, attending high school, and dreaming of making it big.

Nathaniel Carter.

He was no longer the washed-up actor who had failed in Hollywood. He was a teenager again, with his whole life ahead of him. But this time… he had an advantage.

His knowledge of the future.

Nate's heart pounded in his chest. He knew exactly what movies would become box-office hits, which actors would rise to stardom, and which opportunities would change the entertainment industry forever.

This was his second chance.

A smirk played on his lips. He wasn't going to waste it.

---

The sound of footsteps outside his door snapped him out of his thoughts. A moment later, a voice called out.

"Nate! Are you awake?"

The door swung open, revealing a girl with wavy brown hair and bright green eyes. She looked to be around the same age as him, dressed in an oversized hoodie and pajama shorts. Her expression was a mix of concern and irritation.

"Seriously, what's with you? You've been acting weird since last night," she said, crossing her arms. "Did you hit your head or something?"

Nate blinked, scrambling to piece together her identity from the new memories in his head.

This was Lily Carter—his sister.

His lips parted, but for a moment, he didn't know what to say. In his past life, he had been an only child. The concept of having a sibling was foreign to him, yet the emotions tied to the memories were real. She was his younger sister by a year, and they had a typical sibling dynamic—annoying each other one moment and being protective the next.

"I… I'm fine," he said, forcing a smile. "Just a bad dream."

Lily frowned but didn't press further. "Well, whatever. Mom says breakfast is ready. Get your ass downstairs before she yells at you."

Nate nodded, watching as she left. As soon as she was gone, he exhaled deeply, rubbing his temples. This was real. All of it.

He had a new life. A new family.

And a golden opportunity.

He wasn't going to waste another second.

This time, he was going to make it to the top.