On the screen, the host first introduced Al Nadeem's identity with a mysterious tone, followed by an introduction of Faiza and the revelation of their engagement. That wasn't the end; they also dug up Faiza's massive investment in "The 13th Warrior."
Those who followed Hollywood and the film industry were aware that "The 13th Warrior" had been relentlessly criticized and challenged by Faiza from the very beginning as if she was stepping on Laila's head to climb higher. The hostility was evident to anyone with discerning eyes.
Initially, many thought it was merely a publicity stunt, a move to compete with the simultaneous production of "Kill Bill." However, it now appeared that there was much more to it than met the eye!
The host spoke with great excitement, spouting words as though he had personally witnessed everything.
He said things like, "Faiza's massive investment in the film appears to be a direct response to Laila's movie," "The conflict between the two women might stem from a romantic rivalry," "The prince's appearance on Laila's set seems to be a show of support for her," and "In this silent war, Laila, the 'foreigner,' has ultimately won the prince's heart, which must have infuriated his former fiancée," and so on.
Laila watched with a dark expression as he rambled on. The host was clever, using words like "might," "seems to be," and "perhaps" to avoid making concrete claims, making it difficult for her to sue him for defamation.
At some point, Claire approached her from behind and was also watching the TV in shock. "What's going on? Is this true?"
"Absolutely not!" Laila clenched her teeth. If that host were standing in front of her, she would have bitten his dirty neck and sucked him dry!
Claire looked at her with a puzzled expression. "But what they're saying on TV..."
Laila sighed in frustration. "You've been with me all the time. If you believe this, what hope is there?" It felt like they were trying to drive her insane. Just the thought that people believed she was involved with Al Nadeem gave her goosebumps.
Dammit! She recalled Faiza's talk about polygamy again! Not to mention that Faiza couldn't tolerate it, she couldn't either!
Laila reached for her phone, intending to make a call, when she heard the phone ring. As soon as she answered, she heard Janet's voice.
"Laila, dear, are you really with the prince?"
"No! Not in the past, not now, and not in the future!" Laila's face turned iron-gray as she cut Janet off. She wasn't giving her a chance to continue the conversation. At times like this, she missed the advice her parents gave her in her previous life about not dating while in school.
Both sets of parents cared about her, but in her previous life, her parents had warned her repeatedly not to get involved with boys, emphasizing the importance of focusing on her studies and not being deceived by men. In this life, her mother couldn't wait for her to have a bunch of boyfriends to maintain her emotional well-being.
"Don't be so certain," Janet's disappointed voice came through the phone. "I think the young prince is quite charming, and he seems to treat you well. Aren't you considering it at all?"
Typically, when a handsome and wealthy man was involved, Janet would be concerned about infidelity and heartbreak. However, in this case, Al Nadeem had a fear of women, and there was no need to worry about such things. He was the perfect boyfriend for her daughter.
Although little Roy was cute, with his mischievous charm, he was probably more likely to be unfaithful. Comparatively, the prince might be a more suitable choice. Zeni was also a good option; he would dote on her when she grew older. Oh, so many good men around her. Who should she choose?
"I'm not considering it! I've said it before—I don't want a boyfriend. My focus is on making movies!" Laila answered resolutely.
She knew that what would follow would be a slew of persuasive arguments, so she preemptively gave the excuse of being too busy with work and promptly turned off her phone.
Although Claire couldn't hear Janet's words, she could tell what had been said from Laila's reaction. She chuckled and poured a glass of milk. "Janet just wants you to be happy."
Laila sighed. "I know, but I really don't understand why she, of all people, wants me to find a man so urgently. After her failed marriage, shouldn't she be more cautious about such things?"
"No, she never considered that marriage a failure," Claire placed her hand on Laila's shoulder, looking at her with tenderness. "She always believed it was the most perfect marriage bestowed upon her by God because it brought her you."
Laila was left speechless.
Claire smiled and gently patted her head. "Janet is a strong woman. The hurt caused by Reynolds wasn't as deep as you think. When she loves someone, her love is passionate, but when she loses that love, she lets go of everything she once held dear. Once she discovered Reynolds's infidelity, her love had already vanished. She doesn't care about anything related to a man she no longer loves."
"Maybe," Laila said, having never experienced love for herself. Her interactions with a senior student she often saw on her way to school were probably the closest she had come to a crush. But with her personality, she definitely wouldn't have initiated contact, and it wasn't a particularly intense emotion. When she found out he had a girlfriend, she had simply forgotten about it.
This almost-not-even-a-first-love experience represented the entirety of her romantic journey, so she couldn't possibly understand the intricacies of emotions and love. Despite her numerous roles in commercials and on TV, she was just a block of wood in real life.
Claire sighed. "Actually, Janet's urgent hope for you to accept a man's pursuit is probably due to her fear that you might have psychological issues because of her failed marriage. You haven't had a boyfriend for a long time, and she inevitably worries about that."
"Alright, I'll have a good talk with her when I have the time." Laila realized that there were many aspects of her mother in this life that she still didn't understand. It was unexpected to discover this side of her, one that was sensitive and emotional.