It was really Rachel.
The woman he despised so much was in front of him at this very moment.
Eric and Rachel's voices on the awarding echoed in Marcus's mind.
They were celebrating and being celebrated, yet he was on the street begging for spare coins from the people who looked at him in disgust and pity.
"What brings you here?" his tone was cold.
Rachel didn't answer him and just walked herself inside. Her heels clicked against the floor with every step.
She looked at every side of the apartment with disgust, and it was obvious that she didn't want to be inside any longer.
The subtle curl of her lip gave away her thoughts.
Finally, her gaze landed on Marcus, and it was filled with irritation and disgust.
Her intense blue eyes bore into him.
"You were inside, and you didn't open the door? Seriously?" Rachel yelled.
"So what? This is my house—"
Rachel's eyes widened.
"What?! Are you talking back now?"
"I ask you. What's your purpose in coming here?" Marcus's repeated, his tone cold.
Rachel looks at him weirdly.
She finds the sudden change in Marcus's behavior weird, but she doesn't want to stay here any longer, so she simply ignores it.
She has to do what she has to.
"What else?"
Rachel ignored his sudden change and rolled her eyes and said," I came here to give this to you," Rachel said coldly and handed Marcus a folder.
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
His anger got into him that he forgot why Rachel had come today!
It has been ten years, but he still recognizes this very folder.
He can't be wrong. It was the script that caused the humiliation!
But then, Marcus's eyes widened even more when he realized something.
If Rachel is giving him this script, then tomorrow is the audition! And it also means that this is the perfect time for his revenge!
His curiosity was piqued, and he accepted the folder, but as he did, his fingers accidentally brushed against Rachel's hand.
A look of disgust flickered across Rachel's features.
"Ugh! What the fuck?"
Rachel yelled and slapped his hand away causing the folder to slip from his grasp and it fell to the floor.
Marcus sighed inwardly as he watched Rachel retrieve a small bottle of alcohol from her bag and spray it on her hand. Marcus sighed and took the folder that was now on the floor.
Marcus opened the folder and it was really the script.
"You need to borrow some money so that we can both go to Polleywood. You have to audition for that."
A smug smirk tugged at the corner of Rachel's lips.
"Heh, surprising as it may be, you still have a chance to be useful."
Marcus opened the folder and saw the familiar title on the first page. He could not move.
It was the same script! The same script that he used for an audition that had turned his life upside down!
It was the wrong script that Rachel had given him to humiliate him.
Everything became clear. He really came back to death and to the past and not only that but he had a system that was the one that helped him.
Is this my chance to change my life?
"Now, all you have to do is take out a loan so that both of us can go to Polleywood. I know someone who can help you. I will get the money myself but I will put your name on the loan. The money will be in my bank account, so don't stress about the details," Rachel explained, her tone brisk.
Marcus looks at Rachel in disbelief.
This wasn't the first time that Marcus heard these words from Rachel. She also said this in the past, or is it the present now? And she truly helped him get a loan from someone she knows.
He was happy and even cried because he was grateful for Rachel and thought that Rachel really did love him.
But it was all Rachel and his cousin's scheme. Because of the loan, he was drowned in debt.
The interest was very high, and as someone who only works part-time jobs, he could only pay a small amount, yet his debt was getting higher and higher because of the ridiculous interest.
He was almost killed by the yakuza but after begging many times, they forced him to sell his organs and made him carry illegal drugs inside his body and finally, after nine years his debt was finally paid.
He was an idiot for not realizing that Rachel didn't even love him and was only using him.
But now that he came back from the past, it was his chance to get revenge!
Rachel noticed the shock in Marcus's eyes and said with a grin, "Grateful, aren't you? I begged someone to give it to me so that you can gain an advantage and get the role."
As Rachel said that she couldn't help but get excited.
"I can finally leave this loser. Enduring him was like dragging myself through the mud. How did I even bear being with him for so long? Thank the stars for his sheer stupidity – he believed everything I said and did whatever I asked. I played my role so convincingly, making him believe I actually cared when all I cared about was that he was rich, but now that he doesn't have anything, I can finally leave him. It's almost comical how easily he fell for my act. Every kiss, every touch – it was all an investment, and it's finally paying off.
'This plan that Eric handed me is my escape from this pathetic life! My dream of becoming an award-winning actress, gracing the stage with an Oscar in my hand, is just around the corner,' Rachel said in the back of her mind, and a wicked smile played on her lips.
"A mere 'thank you' won't cut it. I'm tagging along and marking my words, I can land the role with just a single line. That's how exceptional I am."
Rachel's voice was sharp, and her expression resolute.
Marcus looked at Rachel.
He wants to curse himself for being a big idiot. He can't believe he was deceived by this hideous woman.
She was truly an actor.
Marcus's gaze didn't waver as he looked at her.
He knew her plan, but this time, it would be different. This time, he held the upper hand. This time, he will be the one who will celebrate and be celebrated.
He will prove her wrong and show her that he wasn't the fool she had taken him for.
"What? Are you at a loss of words to say anything—"
Without a word, Marcus ripped the script in half, the sound of tearing paper echoing in the room.
Rachel's shock was evident, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"What the hell?!"
Her smirk faltered, replaced by a mixture of confusion and irritation.
"What the fuck are you doing you loser—I-I mean, Babe! Why did you do that?"
Rachel looks at the ripped script in confusion and then looks back at Marcus.
She was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.
Marcus smirked.
"You can't deceive me again, Rachel."
Confusion and irritation creased Rachel's brow.
"What the fuck, Marcus? Deceived you? What's that supposed to mean? Why did you tear up the script I went through trouble to get? Did you go crazy? I made the effort to give this to you and you're yelling at me?! What the fuck is your goddam problem?!"
Marcus couldn't believe himself for believing in Rachel because he loved her.
Calling himself an idiot is an understatement.
Marcus's lips curled into a cynical smile.
"We both know that that is not the real script, Rachel. Stop the act and get lost!" he yelled and continued ripping the script.
Lines of frustration etched deeper onto Rachel's forehead as she looked at the pieces of the script that were now scattered on the floor.
Her nostrils flared as she struggled to regain her composure.
"Fine! But don't blame yourself if you won't get the role. And we're breaking up!"
Marcus looks at Rachel coldly.
"Okay, get out," he said calmly as if what Rachel said to him didn't affect him.
Rachel was taken aback.
She looks at Marcus in disbelief.
Her face reddened with a mixture of anger and embarrassment, her fists clenching at her sides.
"Did you not hear me? We are breaking up, Marcus. Are you fine with us breaking up?!"
The corner of Marcus's mouth tugged upward in a wry smile.
"I heard you loud and clear, Rachel. It's you who seems to be struggling to hear me. I said get out, or was I not loud enough?"
Rachel's anger surged, she couldn't believe what she was hearing and what was happening.
Her plan failed miserably and her ticket to Polleywood is now gone.
She glared at Marcus and her hand struck Marcus's cheek in a flash.
Marcus looked at Rachel with cold eyes and wasn't affected by the slap. The pain he had experienced in those ten years couldn't compare to the feeling on his cheeks.
"You're going to regret this," Rachel spat, her eyes burning with anger.
Rachel shot him a final furious glare before storming out of the room and slamming the door shut.
Marcus's gaze lingered on the closed door, a mixture of cold resolve and satisfaction in his eyes.
He rubbed his stinging cheek, and a small smirk played on his lips.
It was a small victory, but it felt sweet.
"How do I get the real script now?" he mused aloud.
As soon as he said those words, a familiar ding echoed in his mind, and the translucent interface of the system materialized in front of him.
[Requirements Met!]
[First Mission for the Host: Road to Stardom!]
[Mission: Audition for "Brothers of Valor"]
[Objective: Impress the casting panel and secure a role in the movie.]
[Rewards: (???)]
[Warning:]
[Failure to complete the mission will result in \[Penalty: Death\].
[Attention:]
Please note that declining the mission is not advisable and will also result in \[Penalty: Death\].
\[Accept\] \[Decline\]
Marcus's eyes widened and he blinked rapidly.
He slapped and pinched his cheeks many times and confirmed that he wasn't dreaming.
Marcus couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The system is real!
But Marcus's eyes went to the \[Penalty: Death\].
The word sounds scary and even the design of the box with blood splattered on the word sounds ominous.
The stakes were high, with the threat of death looming over failure, but he knew one thing for certain – this was his chance to rewrite his tragic past.
With a determined breath, Marcus extended a trembling finger and tapped on the box icon \[Accept\].
[Congratulations, MarcusThornwood! The welcome gift will be sent!]
Marcus furrowed.
"Gift?"
As soon as he said that, a paper that looked exactly like a script materialized on his bed magically.
He ran towards his bed and his eyes widened when he saw that it wasn't the same as the script that Rachel gave him and that meant that this was the real script.
"I-I can't believe this." Marcus couldn't stop shaking.