456-460

*Chapter 456: After All, I'm an Actor*

"Hiss~ Hiss~"

"Toni, could you stop spraying so much cologne? You're making it seem like I smell bad!"

"Using cologne is a matter of etiquette. A high-end fragrance brings a pleasant experience; you shouldn't reject it!"

"But don't good-looking people already bring a pleasant experience on their own?"

"Yes, that's true!"

In the dressing room, Luca stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie. The diagonal striped tie matched perfectly with the navy blue, hand-tailored suit he wore, making him appear handsome, poised, and grand.

This outfit was prepared for him by Kate and Lima, as he would be walking the red carpet at the Oscars tonight.

"Luca, the car is ready. We can leave now!"

Ed reminded him.

"Let's go then!"

The car was a Bentley Arnage, dignified and elegant.

As he got into the car, Luca sighed softly, "We know we're not going to win, so why are we still heading there so seriously? Isn't it embarrassing to leave empty-handed?"

Ed looked at him, puzzled, "For all the nominees, the awards ceremony is a celebration. Why feel embarrassed about going to a party?"

"But the winners are the stars of the party; nominees are just invited spectators. What if I don't want to be a spectator? What if I want to be the star?"

Luca shrugged.

"If you want to be the star, you need to work harder instead of wasting so much time on women. How is it fair to the ones who genuinely work hard if you expect to win without the effort?"

"What do you mean I'm not working hard?"

Luca snapped, "When you guys are playing around, I'm either reading, writing scripts, exercising, or practicing my acting. I rarely even go to entertainment venues. If that's not working hard, what is?"

Ed shrugged. "Okay, I just think you could work harder. Spend less time fooling around with women, and maybe you'll be more successful."

"Impossible. Without women, I'd lose the motivation to move forward. Without motivation, how could I be more successful?"

"Shouldn't your motivation be the Oscar?"

"The two aren't mutually exclusive!"

"You're a greedy guy!"

Half an hour later, the car smoothly arrived at the Kodak Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.

The 78th Academy Awards were being held at the Kodak Theatre.

The theatre was built in November 2001 and had been the permanent venue for the Oscars since 2002.

Kodak spent $74 million for a 20-year naming rights deal for the theater.

In 2012, after Kodak went bankrupt, the renowned sound technology company Dolby Laboratories took over and renamed it the Dolby Theatre.

Although it was past 7 PM in the Eastern Time Zone, the sky in Los Angeles was still bright. The bustling Hollywood Boulevard was filled with luxury cars, and the long red carpet was lined with actors and stars.

The Oscars are a grand event in the film world that draws global attention, with many artists and tourists flocking to catch a glimpse of the red carpet, making the entrance lively.

"Luca, it's time to enter!"

Toni opened the car door.

"Thank you!"

Luca straightened his clothes and stepped out of the car.

"Luca!"

"Luca, over here!"

"Luca, I love you!"

As he got out of the car, a group of fans outside the red carpet yelled loudly. It was hard to tell whether they were his fans or just admiring his looks.

Luca waved as he walked by, lingered briefly on the red carpet, then headed straight into the Kodak Theatre.

The main hall of the theatre had four levels and 3,400 seats, with red carpets and chairs creating a festive atmosphere.

As he entered, the first-floor hall was already nearly full, and many familiar public figures were visible at a glance.

"Hello, Director Kelly!"

Just as he stepped into the hall, someone greeted him—a man in his thirties.

"Uh, hello!"

Being called a director felt a bit unfamiliar to Luca.

"I'm Sean Ellis, director of Cashback."

"Oh, Director Ellis, nice to meet you! I've seen that short film—it’s fantastic, truly deserving of its Oscar nomination for Best Short Film."

"Thank you! Your film The Tuner is a masterpiece. I was blown away by your genius concept. I'm really looking forward to your next work!"

"Thanks! I hope you win something tonight!"

After shaking hands, Luca continued moving forward, encountering many acquaintances like Li An, Woody Allen, Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Frances Ha, among others.

Some congratulated him on the success of his latest movie, while others asked about his directorial plans or if he had any new scripts in the works.

Luca made his way from the back row to the front row, arriving at the seating area for The Blind Side, where Jennifer Aniston and Charlize Theron were chatting. Nearby were Sandra Bullock and Julia Roberts—one former Best Actress and three Oscar winners, all top-tier actresses.

Luca hesitated, then decided not to approach; he didn't want to be overshadowed and seem like a small-time actor.

"Hi, Keira!"

Seeing Keira Knightley walk by, he proactively greeted her.

"Director Kelly, is there something you need?"

Keira glanced at him, responding coldly.

Luca forced a smile. Keira and Kate were alike, not great at socializing. In public, they often kept a cool facade to avoid unnecessary interactions.

Those who didn’t know them well might think they were haughty or unapproachable, but in private, they had another side.

"Keira, I'm looking forward to working with you on our new film. I hope we can collaborate well!"

Luca said formally.

Keira nodded and returned to her seat, leaving him standing in the aisle, feeling a bit chilly.

Seeing the interaction, people nearby whispered, some speculating that the two had a falling out, while others said they didn’t get along.

Luca smiled and walked back to his seat, where the four actresses were still chatting.

"Jen, that young man is here!"

Charlize Theron whispered.

"Haha~"

When they saw it was Luca, Sandra and Julia chuckled softly.

Luca clenched his fist, tempted to spank someone.

"Good evening, ladies!"

He flashed a charming smile. He'd met Julia and Sandra a few times, so they were familiar enough not to be too formal.

"Luca, your short film was really fun. When will you make a feature film? I'm looking forward to it."

Julia Roberts asked with a smile.

"Umm~ I'm not too sure. After all, I’m an actor!"

"Haha~"

The four women laughed for no apparent reason.

"Luca, I think you'd make a great director. If you direct another film, I'll do a cameo."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."

After the three female stars left, Luca sat down next to Jennifer.

"Jen, is Julia here to present you an award?"

"Why do you say that?"

Aniston smiled.

"She’s been retired since 2004 and is here specifically for the Oscars. Isn't she presenting the award to you? Among the actresses in the industry, only she seems suited to hand you the trophy."

"No, she's here because one of the films she produced got nominated. It has nothing to do with presenting an award. Besides, the Academy wouldn't just hand me the Oscar so easily."

Aniston chuckled.

"You still have a chance!"

Luca held her hand.

"So do you!"

"Haha, we'll see!"

At precisely 8 PM, the awards ceremony began.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 457: This Is Incredible

The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are officially called the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards. They are the most influential film awards in the world.

Every actor dreams of winning an Oscar, but only a few manage to take home the golden statuette, especially non-Americans.

The Oscars cover various film genres with more than 20 different awards. This year, they are presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Scientific and Technical Awards, and the Technical Achievement Award, making a total of 25 awards.

In the first half of the ceremony, less significant awards were given out, such as Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Makeup, so the atmosphere wasn’t too lively.

As the second half of the ceremony began, the Best Supporting Actress Award was announced. The nominees were Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener, Amy Adams for Junebug, Catherine Keener for Capote, Frances McDormand for North Country, and Michelle Williams for Brokeback Mountain.

Last year’s Best Supporting Actor winner, Morgan Freeman, took the stage to announce the winner:

“Rachel Weisz!”

The audience erupted in applause.

Next, last year’s Best Actor winner, Jamie Foxx, walked onto the stage to present the Best Actress Award, with the following nominees: Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line, Felicity Huffman for Transamerica, Keira Knightley for Pride and Prejudice, Charlize Theron for North Country, and Jennifer Aniston for The Break-Up.

“Jen, it’s gotta be you!”

Keira Knightley and Charlize Theron were considered the least likely to win. Keira was only 21 years old, and Theron had just won Best Actress in 2004, so she was unlikely to win again.

The winner would be one of the remaining three: Reese Witherspoon, Felicity Huffman, or Jennifer Aniston.

Aniston and Felicity Huffman had already won Golden Globes for Best Actress this year, making them the top contenders.

If Aniston won, it would make history—she would not only be a TV award winner but also an Oscar-winning actress.

“Relax, Luca, it’s being recorded for TV!”

Aniston smiled and said.

“Alright!”

“The winner of the 78th Academy Award for Best Actress is...”

Jamie Foxx looked at the card and announced, “Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line! Congratulations!”

“Wow~”

Reese Witherspoon jumped up excitedly from her seat, hugging those around her.

She had every reason to be excited.

In February, she had lost to Aniston and Huffman at the Golden Globes, but tonight she managed a comeback—an unexpected victory.

Clap, clap, clap~

The audience broke into applause.

Luca and Aniston both clapped as well.

“What a shame!”

Luca muttered through gritted teeth.

“It’s alright, there will be more chances in the future!”

Aniston reassured him.

“Yes, for sure!”

After the Best Actress award, the ceremony became somewhat dull again.

Best Supporting Actor went to George Clooney.

Best Foreign Language Film was awarded to the South African film Tsotsi.

Best Actor went to Philip Seymour Hoffman.

The Best Director Award went to Ang Lee, who made history as the first non-white director to win an Oscar.

Clap, clap, clap~

When Ang Lee raised the trophy, the room was filled with enthusiastic applause.

Luca and many others, including Black and Asian attendees and international filmmakers, stood up to mark this historic moment.

“Luca, you seem particularly excited!”

Aniston laughed.

“Yes, Ang Lee is a friend of mine, and he’s someone worth learning from!”

After Best Director, the next award was for Best Original Screenplay.

The Oscars have two screenplay awards: Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay.

An original screenplay refers to a script that was originally written as a screenplay, meant for stage or screen performance.

An adapted screenplay, on the other hand, begins as something else, usually a novel, that is later turned into a screenplay for film or stage.

This year’s nominees for Best Original Screenplay were Crash, Good Night, and Good Luck, Match Point, The Squid and the Whale, and The Break-Up.

Nicole Kidman took the stage to present the Best Original Screenplay award.

“Luca, are you nervous?”

Aniston asked.

“A little!”

Luca smiled softly, looking up at Nicole Kidman on stage.

Under the bright lights, Nicole’s white skin, shining in an off-shoulder gown, almost dazzled him. It was so white that it reflected the light, making him dizzy.

“Wow~, Luca, Luca, you’ve won!”

Suddenly, Aniston pushed him in excitement.

“What?”

Luca was stunned.

“You’ve won Best Original Screenplay! Hurry up and go get your award!”

Aniston hugged him in excitement, not caring about the cameras in the distance.

“I’ve won? Are you joking? I’m a foreigner, and so young…”

“Stop talking and go!”

Aniston and the director next to her, John Hancock, gave him a push. Dazed, he stood up and looked around.

“Is this really the Oscars?”

“Haha~”

Laughter erupted around him.

Luca chuckled lightly, stretched his long legs, and walked to the stage, feeling as if he were walking on clouds. As he approached Nicole, no, the golden statue, his mind grew even foggier. Had he really won? After two lifetimes as a screenwriter?

“Mr. Kelly, congratulations!”

The stunning Nicole Kidman handed him the golden statue and hugged him.

“Thank you, Ms. Kidman!”

Luca smiled and looked out into the audience. It didn’t seem that big when he was seated, but from the stage, he realized just how packed it was, filled with celebrities—an ocean of stars.

“Thank you! Thank you! This is unbelievable. I still haven’t fully processed that I’ve won an Oscar. This is incredible. I have many people to thank.

“Thank you to the Academy, thank you to the Writers Guild for this award, and for your persistence and courage—you are incredible.

“Thank you to John Hancock, the director, for making such an amazing film, and for your guidance on the script. This award belongs to you as well. Thank you to Ms. Aniston for your stellar performance, which brought so much charm and emotion to the role. Thank you to my girlfriend Lima for her support. Thank you to my former literature teacher…

“I also want to thank my sister Kate. Her influence on my writing has been the greatest. It was under her inspiration that I began reading and writing.

“Kate, I want to say thank you. Now that I’m an Oscar-winning screenwriter, can you stop pulling my ears and telling me to read?”

“...”

The audience was silent for a second, and then erupted into deafening laughter, nearly lifting the roof off.

Buzz, buzz, buzz~

Luca’s ears rang, and his head felt foggy. Everything around him seemed a little surreal.

“Luca, wake up! It’s time to get off the plane!”

Suddenly, someone was shouting in his ear, shaking him awake.

“What?”

He snapped open his eyes and saw the plane window, where a ray of sunlight was streaming in. So bright! Just like Nicole Kidman’s skin.

“Where am I?”

“We’re almost at London Airport!”

Tony replied.

“London Airport? What are we doing here? Wasn’t I at the Oscars? I dreamt that I won Best Original Screenplay. Damn it, Tony, couldn’t you have woken me up later?”

Luca complained grumpily.

Tony glanced at him, curling his lips. “It’s just a golden statue. You’ve been excited about it for three days. Are you still not over it?”

“Uh… so I really did win?”

Luca asked excitedly.

“...No!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 458: The Oscar Statuette is Sweet~

“Luca Kelly, born in 1982 in Brasília, is a Brazilian actor, screenwriter, athlete, model, producer, director, and composer.

In 2003, he began his acting career with a role in the popular series Sex and the City.

In 2003, he gained recognition in the musical Honey.

In 2004, he starred in two box office hits, The Notebook and Mean Girls, both grossing over a hundred million dollars, launching his fame.

In 2004, his performance in Buried earned him Best Actor at the 54th Berlin Film Festival.

In September 2004, he starred in Woody Allen's Match Point.

In March 2005, he acted in North Country.

In May 2005, his screenwriting debut, Step Up, grossed $130 million worldwide, debuting at number one at the box office.

In June 2005, he starred in The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese.

In September 2005, he starred in The Prestige."

“Luca, what are you looking at?”

In the moving car, Tony glanced back and asked.

“Reading the news, seeing if I really won.”

Luca checked his personal profile on Google via his phone.

"In December 2005, his screenplay The Blind Side premiered, earning a nomination for Best Screenplay at the 63rd Golden Globe Awards and Best Original Screenplay at the 78th Academy Awards."

“Haha! I really won!”

Luca laughed.

Tony rolled his eyes.

After the Oscars, Luca had been on a three-day high, and rumors had it that after getting beaten up, he calmed down a bit. But here he was, back at it again.

"Luca, don't forget you're an actor," Tony reminded him.

"I know. I'm heading to the set, right?"

Luca chuckled and continued browsing his profile.

His profile was divided into seven sections: Representative Works, Film Highlights, Personal History, Major Works, Awards, Social Activities, and Public Reception.

He scrolled down to the Personal History section.

There were three segments: Early Life, Acting Career, and Personal Relationships.

His early life mentioned his family, the tragic death of his parents, his supermodel-author sister, his athletic career, and a devastating car accident.

His acting career began in 2002 as a model, doing commercials, guest starring in TV series, and eventually landing leading roles in films.

His relationship history was incredibly complex. He hadn’t even realized he once dated a well-known model between 1997-1998, before meeting his current girlfriend, Lima.

From 2003 onward, his love life became even more chaotic. In less than three years, he was rumored to be with seven or eight women, all celebrities.

He had the most rumors with Britney Spears, including two major scandals—one about a car encounter, the other at a concert.

His relationship history alone took up five or six hundred words, more than any other section.

"This won't do!"

As a healthy public figure, too many scandals weren’t a good look. After some thought, he pulled out his phone and called Ed.

"Hey, Ed, I’ve landed in London. Yes, just got off the plane. No, I’m not calling to brag about the Oscar. It’s just a measly Best Screenplay award, not something I’d keep going on about, right? You underestimate me."

Tony rolled his eyes from the front seat.

"It's about something else. I was bored and checked my personal webpage. I realized my relationship history is way too detailed. No, I’m not planning to turn over a new leaf.

I mean, can you contact the website administrators and ask them to cut some of it out? Just leave the part with Lima. Fine, and Britney too, but the rest isn’t necessary. It affects my reputation. What do you think?"

"I don’t think it’s necessary," Ed replied. "As a super charismatic celebrity, how could you not have rumors? Look at Elvis Presley—he had relationships with over 3,000 women.

And what about George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, or Brad Pitt? Their love lives are just as colorful, so you don’t need to worry about it.

But if it bothers you, I’ll contact the site and have them edit it. It’s your call.”

"Emm..." Luca thought for a moment. "Forget it, leave it as is. I’m not that bothered after all."

"A wise choice. By the way, I was about to call you. Paula Wagner just got in touch. You know Paula, right? Tom Cruise’s agent and business partner, CEO of Cruise-Wagner Productions."

"What does she want?"

"Remember Taken?"

"Of course. I wrote that script in three sleepless nights, sacrificing countless brain cells, and only sold it for $200,000. What a rip-off!"

"Well, you're an Oscar-winning screenwriter now. Your scripts are worth at least a million, maybe even with profit-sharing. Your script fees are catching up to your acting salary. How about switching to full-time screenwriting?"

"No way, screenwriting is just a side gig. Doing it full-time would be way too boring, and it’d waste my good looks."

Luca touched his face.

"Ahem. Anyway, back to business. Cruise-Wagner Productions noticed your script for Taken is selling well, and now that you’ve won an Oscar, they want to revisit the project."

"So?"

"They’re launching the project, and since you agreed to be the screenwriter, they’re notifying you."

"Alright, I’m fine with writing the script, but they’d better show some respect this time. I’m not that broke kid from three years ago.

Last time, they cut my scene from Collateral without even telling me. They broke the agreement first, so I have the right to renegotiate."

"Got it. I’ll mention it!"

Ed hung up.

Luca thought for a moment, then called Scott at Bra Studios, mentioning Taken and asking him to reach out to Paula Wagner to discuss potential co-investment.

After dealing with the business call, he continued browsing his profile.

After the personal history section, there were his major works, which included films, TV shows, production credits, screenwriting projects, and music compositions.

He had twelve films listed, including Buried, Match Point, and The Prestige.

For TV, there was only one show: Sex and the City.

His production credits included five films: Buried, Saving Ronaldo, Infernal Affairs, Step Up, and Little Miss Sunshine.

His screenwriting credits totaled eight, with The Blind Side, Goal!, Kicking & Screaming, and She's the Man added to the previous four.

For music, he had released eight songs so far—six performed by Britney and two by Fanny.

Following that were his awards, spanning soccer, modeling, and film.

Notably, in 2004, People magazine named him one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.

In 2005, Glamour magazine ranked him 12th on their Top 100 Sexiest Men list.

He wasn’t too concerned about those titles; his real focus was on the film awards.

At the top was his Oscar win for Best Original Screenplay for The Blind Side. Below that was his Golden Globe nomination for the same script, followed by his Best Actor win at the 54th Berlin Film Festival for Buried.

After those three major awards, there were MTV Movie Awards, Saturn Awards, People's Choice Awards, Satellite Awards, Teen Choice Awards—fifteen nominations in total, with six wins.

"Looking at this, I’m pretty awesome!" Luca nodded to himself.

"Luca, we’re at the hotel!" Tony reminded him.

"Got it!"

The film Atonement was based on the British novel of the same name, set before and after World War II, exploring how misunderstandings changed the characters' fates.

The film was shot mostly in the UK and France, in locations such as Hampshire, Kent, Dover, Reedcote, and Dunkirk Beach.

The crew was currently shooting the first half of the film, which took place at a manor in Winchester, Hampshire.

Luca spent half a day in London, had lunch with Anne Hathaway, then drove to Winchester, in the southeast.

Winchester, once the capital of England, is a historic and elegant city. Nestled near the English Channel, it enjoys mild, humid weather and beautiful scenery, making it a typical tourist destination.

"Luca, is that Keira Knightley?"

As they left the train station, Tony pointed to a figure in the distance.

"Yep, that's her!"

(End of chapter)

Chapter 459: You're Bullying Me Again!

In the evening, at Winchester Station, on the street opposite the exit, a slender woman leaned against a blue car.

She had long, fluffy curly hair draped over her shoulders, wore a pale white lace vintage dress, and crossed her thin arms while holding a cigarette. Her gaze was lifted toward the sky, giving off a poetic vibe.

"Keira, I'm here!"

As he approached, Luca called out.

Keira snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him. "The crew is busy, so they sent me to pick you up."

"I know, thank you."

Luca smiled slightly.

"What's so funny? I'm telling the truth!"

Keira frowned, pursing her red lips, with an air of serious anger.

"I know you're telling the truth. I’m not smiling because you came to get me. I’m just happy to see you again, that's all."

Luca smiled with a playful smirk.

"How childish!"

Keira Knightley turned and got into the car.

"Ms. Knightley, let me drive?"

Tony put down the luggage and offered.

"Alright, thanks for the trouble."

Keira handed him the keys and sat in the back seat.

"No problem!"

Tony glanced at Luca, secretly thinking something was off between the two, though he couldn’t pinpoint what. He just felt that Luca was a real jerk, a certified one.

After all three got in, the car beeped as it left the station square.

During the drive, the atmosphere in the car felt cold. Tony focused on driving, while Luca and Keira sat side by side in the back. Luca glanced at Keira’s profile as she stared out the window, her slightly raised chin showing a hint of stubbornness.

"Keira, have all the actors arrived?"

Luca was the first to break the silence.

Keira still looked out the window but glanced toward Tony in the front. "Benedict will arrive tomorrow morning."

Luca nodded. Benedict Cumberbatch was playing Paul, a rapist, in Atonement.

"How have you been lately?"

Luca asked again.

Keira turned to look at him, blinking her long lashes, as if silently asking, What does that have to do with you?

"Oh, don’t get me wrong, Keira. We're scene partners. If you're not feeling well, it might affect our filming progress."

"Heh."

Keira laughed coldly. "Kelly, as the only foreign actor in the crew, who’s really the one slowing down the progress?"

"Alright, I guess I'm the clown here!"

Luca shrugged.

"Glad you understand!"

Keira pursed her lips, turning her head again. Her profile, lit by the evening light, was as beautiful as ever—delicate, cold, and melancholic—a woman with an artistic, classical beauty.

Seeing Keira like this, Luca couldn’t help but recall the first time he met her. She was only eighteen back then—young, carefree, and rebellious, almost like a tomboy.

But in less than three years, she had transformed into a graceful swan—beautiful and melancholic.

Luca suddenly realized how much acting can influence a person, especially someone who takes it seriously.

At first, actors only see the script.

But after performing the role, they look back and realize they've become the character, both in the script and in life.

Even the best at compartmentalizing are still affected by their roles after years of acting.

Seeing Keira’s transformation, Luca reflected on himself. After three years of acting, he too had been influenced by his roles.

Once, he had been bright, carefree, and dashingly handsome. Now, he had become more reserved, mature, and still incredibly handsome—but with a deeper air of mystery.

He had sacrificed so much for his acting career.

Luca sighed to himself.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?"

Keira blinked her lashes again.

Luca shrugged. "I was just thinking about some things. Do you remember the first time we met? You were bouncing over from a distance, and now… you’ve changed so much—more beautiful, more mature, and you radiate an artistic glow, like a book that’s hard to understand."

"Have I changed? Maybe."

Keira sighed softly and looked back at him. "It’s been three years, but you haven't changed at all."

"Not at all? Haha, that’s impossible. I’ve definitely matured and become more charming, right?"

Luca folded his arms, puffing out his chest proudly.

Keira let out a brief laugh, then quickly stopped, shaking her head lightly.

"You really haven’t changed. Three years ago, you were such a flirt. Three years later, you’re still the same. Your thick skin? Even thicker now. And you were a scumbag then, too, just more so now. Maybe that’s the change you’re talking about."

". . ."

Luca’s face darkened. "Is that really how you see me?"

"No. You’re worse than that."

"Uh—"

"Actually, I envy people like you."

"Envy me?"

Luca asked, confused.

"Yes, I envy how you can always stay dark, without worrying about getting corrupted. I envy how you can keep a cheerful mood, even when you’re doing bad things, with a smile on your face."

". . ."

Luca clenched his fists, feeling a pang in his chest. This was the harshest thing he’d heard in years. What did she mean by always staying dark, and smiling while doing bad things? Was she calling him a psycho?

"Ms. Knightley, is that really what you think of me?"

Luca asked with a blackened face.

"No, it’s not."

Keira shook her head.

Luca let out a sigh of relief.

"You’re not a person."

". . ."

Tony, driving in the front, couldn’t hold it in anymore. He covered his mouth, releasing a muffled laugh.

Luca’s face flushed with embarrassment, paling and darkening alternately. In all his life, he’d never been roasted this badly. Unable to vent his frustration, he turned to Tony and barked,

"Shut up! Stop laughing!"

With a stern face, he turned back to Keira. She was still looking out the window, but her slightly trembling shoulders showed that her mood was quite good.

However, her good mood came at the expense of his misery. That was too cruel.

Luca wasn’t one to accept defeat easily. Unsure of how to retaliate with words, he decided to act. He reached out and grabbed Keira’s hand, tightly holding it.

"What are you doing?"

Keira tried to pull her hand away, but it didn’t budge. Her face flushed red with a mix of embarrassment and anger.

"Hmph! You said it yourself—I’m not human. So why should I pretend to be?"

Luca intertwined their fingers, gently caressing her hand.

"You!"

Keira’s face turned even redder as her embarrassment grew. She let out a huff, then stomped hard on his foot with her two-inch heels.

"Ugh!"

Luca winced, the pain sharp and intense.

"Keira, the weather’s nice today. How about we call it a truce and get along peacefully?"

"Sorry, I don’t get along with non-humans."

Keira pursed her lips, a smile spreading across her face as her amusement deepened.

"Alright, fine, let’s leave it at that."

Luca gave up trying to make peace. He didn’t let go of her hand, though, and while the pain in his foot lessened, their hands and feet remained connected.

The two sat in silence, closer than before, caught in a moment of tense harmony.

Without further words, the car quickly arrived at the hotel where the crew was staying.

"Care to step out together?" Luca asked, still holding her hand with a grin.

"Hmph!"

Keira Knightley coldly pulled her hand away and strutted off.

Luca smiled softly and followed her out of the car.

Ouch. His foot hurt.

"Keira, give me a hand?"

". . ."

(Chapter End)

*Chapter 460: Do You Have Stockholm Syndrome?*

“Mr. Kelly, this is your room.”

“Thank you!”

Following the staff, Luca entered his hotel room, a tasteful suite.

The hotel was on Cheshire Street, with a view of the River Itchen in the distance. A beautiful walking path stretched along the river, where groups of white swans flew under the setting sun, creating a mesmerizing scene.

After taking a shower, Luca dressed in casual athletic wear and sat by the window. He called Kate to let her know he had arrived, reminded Lima to take care of her health, and advised her not to overwork herself during Fashion Week, along with checking on Anniston.

Since having the twins, Anniston had drastically reduced her acting roles. Whereas she used to make three or four movies a year, now she only did one or two. Even when she filmed, the set had to be near New York or Los Angeles.

The moment shooting wrapped each day, she couldn’t wait to rush home to cuddle her soft little ones. As she often said, she couldn’t live without the kids anymore. With them in her life, things like Emmys or Oscars didn’t matter at all.

While Luca was chatting with Anniston, the twins were nearby, babbling and making noise. Katherine kept shouting “crawl, crawl!”

Listening to their voices, Luca found himself smiling ear to ear. Time had flown; the twins were almost a year old.

After hanging up, the sudden quiet left his heart feeling a little empty. He had an overwhelming urge to drop everything and rush back to New York to become a full-time dad.

Why was he feeling this way? Was his heart growing softer?

Looking up at the sky, Luca sat quietly for a moment, then pulled out his laptop and began typing an email.

He detailed what had been happening in his life, starting from four days ago: on March 5th, during the Oscars, he unexpectedly won the award for Best Original Screenplay. The media went wild.

Some said it was well deserved. The Blind Side had been in theaters for three months, grossing $170 million, with an IMDb score of 8.3. He earned that award.

Others claimed it was unearned, a fluke—an attempt by the Academy to compensate Anniston for her work in The Blind Side, as rumors suggested she was only a few votes short of winning the Oscar.

There were also rumors that some Academy members forgot he was Brazilian and voted for him by mistake. Others said it was the result of Warner Bros.’s and his agency’s lobbying efforts.

Regardless, the golden statue was now his, the second important item in his collection.

Aside from the award news, there was the whole “Kate pulling his ear” incident, which stirred up some buzz.

Back in 2003, after saving little Jessica, he and Kate had been interviewed on TV, where Kate was humorously dubbed "the one who pulled Superman's ear." He had brought up the old joke again recently.

Some teased that Kate was strict, others criticized him for not being manly enough. Some said it showed how close the Kelly siblings were, while Kate’s fans protested, insisting that their beloved Kate was kind and dignified, and would never pull ears. They claimed he was making it all up.

Even Ed and Ms. Nina scolded him in person, telling him to be more mindful and not say whatever came to mind, as it affected both his and Kate’s public image.

As for Kate herself, she didn’t say much—just gave him a good, thorough scolding.

Poor guy.

With his laptop on his lap, Luca’s fingers flew across the keyboard. Before he knew it, he had written quite a lot—covering everything from winning the award, to the celebration party, to his trip to Winchester, like a long-winded diary.

After reviewing it, he hit send.

Would she even receive it?

Luca leaned back, hands behind his head, gazing at the sky.

Knock knock knock.

“Luca, Director Wright and the others are back from the set!” Tony called from outside the door.

“I know,” Luca replied.

He adjusted his clothes, stood up, and left the room.

---

It was a little past 5 PM London time. Over 1,000 kilometers away in a small town by Lake Constance, Germany, the evening was growing dim.

Britney lounged lazily on the couch, snacking while watching Lost season two on TV, when her phone buzzed twice from the table.

“Felicia, your phone’s ringing!” Britney called towards the kitchen.

“Whose call is it?” Felicia yelled back.

“No idea,” Britney replied.

Footsteps approached, and Felicia wiped her hands as she walked over. She gave Britney a quick glance and frowned. “Still eating? You should take a look in the mirror. You’re getting fat.”

Crunch. Britney popped another nut into her mouth, chewing as she said, “I’m eating dried fruit. Dried fruit is packed with nutrients like protein, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and fats. Eating more is good for you.”

“Well, you’re already over-nourished!”

“That’s impossible. With two mouths to feed, there’s no way I’m over-nourished,” Britney argued, chomping down another nut.

Felicia shook her head. There was no saving her. She picked up her phone and checked it. “No missed calls or messages on my phone. Did you mishear?”

“My phone!” Britney corrected.

“Your phone? Why are you yelling for me if it’s your phone?”

“I’m too lazy to get up. Can you grab it for me?” Britney smiled sweetly.

“. . .” Felicia held her head in frustration. “Britney, are you seriously this lazy? Your phone is just right there. You won’t even reach for it? Do you think I’m your maid?”

“Of course not, Felicia. We’re friends!”

Britney blinked, flashing a sincere, sweet smile.

“You. I don’t know who taught you this, but your skin is getting thicker by the day!”

Felicia glared at her, snatched up the phone, and handed it over. “Here, take it. Let’s call it even!”

“Felicia, you’re the best!”

Britney hugged her and sneakily wiped her hands clean.

“Let go, let go. I’ve got to get back to the kitchen,” Felicia complained.

Britney smiled softly as she let go, then started scrolling through her email. She read through it, sometimes smiling, sometimes laughing, sometimes saying, “Serves you right.”

“What are you reading?” Felicia asked, coming out with two plates—fruit salad, vegetable wraps, and juice.

“Take a guess!” Britney teased.

“No need to guess. It’s another email from that jerk. That greedy, lustful, irresponsible, indecisive jerk who won’t commit but refuses to let go. I don’t understand what you see in him.”

“Is Luca really that bad?” Britney smiled slyly.

“He’s a million times worse than what I said! I’ve never met anyone so bad—dating multiple women, messing things up, and then hiding instead of facing the consequences, all while pretending to be some kind of romantic hero. It’s infuriating! And you—” Felicia sighed, taking Britney’s snacks and replacing them with the healthy plates. “—you’re so foolish. There are so many men in the world, lining up for you, but you ignore the good ones and pick the worst. Are you trying to find unhappiness on purpose?”

“Luca isn’t as bad as you say. Just look at how many women like him—that means he’s a very, very, very good guy,” Britney nodded with conviction.

“You—you’re impossible! He’s hurt you, and yet you still defend him? Do you have Stockholm Syndrome?” Felicia asked in frustration.

Britney tilted her head thoughtfully. “Maybe I do!”

“Want me to call a therapist?”

“No need, I think this condition is pretty nice.”

“You…” Felicia shook her head, too exhausted to argue anymore.

Britney smiled, scrolling through her emails as she nibbled on fruit. When Felicia shoved a vegetable wrap in her mouth, she managed a muffled protest, “Felicia, too much food! I’ll gain weight!”

“It’s fine. If you gain enough, the paparazzi won’t even recognize you. You’ll be safe!”

“I’m not that fat!” Britney whispered meekly.

Felicia snorted. “Did he mention any songwriting in his email?”

“No, just that he won an Oscar. Hollywood studios were almost blacklisting him before, but now that he’s an Oscar-winning writer, everyone’s lining up to work with him again. He’s suddenly become the hot new thing.”

Britney chuckled.

Felicia shook her head. “I still can’t believe someone like him won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Did the Academy members all turn Brazilian?”

“Felicia, don’t say that. Luca’s really talented! He’s written so many great scripts over the years. He absolutely deserved that award.”

Britney smiled.

“Hmph, you only have eyes for him. Say whatever you want.”

Felicia finished setting the table and ran a hand through Britney’s hair. “It’s been a while. Shouldn’t you text him back and invite him over?”

“. . . No need. What would change if he came? Leaving a little space for longing, like this, isn’t so bad.”

Britney lowered her head.

“You’re such a fool!” Felicia sighed and walked away.

Britney smiled and patted her belly. “So chubby. How can I show my face like this? Ughhh.”

end.