The filming location was settled, but Laila still needed time before she could officially begin production. Just like she had said before—until little Eli turned one, she wouldn't consider flying abroad, especially not for a shoot that would take several months. It wasn't just that Eli couldn't be without her; as his mother, she couldn't bear to be away from him for that long either.
Now that the location was no longer a problem, the biggest challenge left was casting the other male lead.
The script featured two male leads, much like Infernal Affairs. There was no primary or secondary protagonist—each character was equally important, and both storylines were critical to advancing the plot.
As previously mentioned, Roy's acting had already reached an outstanding level. While Hollywood wasn't lacking in talented actors who could hold their own alongside him, once you factored in age, appearance, and other elements, the pool of suitable candidates shrank dramatically.
Roy had suggested Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert Downey Jr.—both exceptional, world-class performers. But Laila wanted to dig deeper into the emotional layers of the script, and casting two white male leads wouldn't serve that purpose.
In this case, casting actors of different ethnicities would help highlight conflicts and contrasts, giving the film a richer thematic depth. And no, it wasn't just for show—this sort of creative decision was something that awards judges across major institutions genuinely appreciated. They loved that kind of thematic framing.
Laila wasn't making the film just to win awards—but hey, if you could win one, who would complain?
So she began her search for actors of other ethnicities in Hollywood. And while it frustrated her, she had to admit—even Black actors generally had more mainstream appeal than Asian ones.
Unfortunately, the actors with the necessary acting chops didn't match the age or look she needed. Those who had the right look were lacking in skill. After many rounds of consideration, she still hadn't found the right person.
"Are you seriously telling me you haven't found anyone?" Roy finally asked after watching her struggle with the decision for a long time.
"I haven't!" Laila replied with a laugh. "What can I do—you're just too good. You've ruined the scale."
Roy wasn't buying it. "I don't think it's that you can't find someone. I think you're not looking."
"How is that possible?" Laila raised a brow. "You know how much this script means to me. Of course, I want to find the best possible fit!"
"No, I think you're lying to yourself." Roy cut her off before she could argue. He reached out and lightly touched her lips. "Don't talk yet. Just listen to me."
He paused to make sure she was paying attention—seeing her puffed-up cheeks calm down, he continued:
"Remember your previous films? Except for some unique roles, you rarely had objections to the actors Louise recommended. Why? Because you knew that even if an actor wasn't perfect, you could coach them up to the level you needed."
"Take Blood Diamond, for example. Everyone who's seen it praises the growth in his performance. Do you think he'd have reached that level without your guidance on set? And it wasn't just him—everyone who's worked with you, myself included, has improved noticeably thanks to your direction."
"This time, Louise gave you several profiles that met your requirements, but you shot them all down without hesitation. From my perspective, those were some very talented people. So why didn't you even try molding them like you usually do?"
Laila frowned but said nothing.
Roy didn't need her answer. He just wanted her to understand what was going on in her heart—how her thoughts were clouding her judgment.
"Laila, you already have someone in mind, don't you?"
"That's why you've been rejecting everyone else—nitpicking without even giving them a real chance, without evaluating their potential."
"So why not trust your instincts?"
"Why not face your own heart?"
"Why hesitate? Why not believe in your vision and decision-making?"
Laila was completely at a loss for words. Every one of his questions hit her like a hammer, shaking her to her core.
Why? She didn't even know the answer herself.
Was it because she didn't trust her judgment? Or was it something else—something deeper?
Roy gently pulled her into his arms, feeling a pang of sympathy for her confusion. "You're Laila Moran. Don't ever forget that. You're a legend in Hollywood—a name people will look up to even a hundred years from now. If you want to do something, then go do it. Even if you fail, so what? Don't you remember what you said before? You're still young—you have time to fix any mistake."
"More importantly, I believe you will succeed. Remember when you made Pirates of the Caribbean? Everyone said pirate movies were dead, that even you couldn't save the genre. And what happened? You crushed the summer box office and left all your competitors in the dust."
"And Blood Diamond—what did they say then? That it would be your biggest flop, that it would ruin your reputation, and wipe out everything you built over ten years. And the result? You were the one who had the last laugh. You used the film and the box office to slap them in the face, proving there's nothing you can't do—only things you choose not to do."
"Laila, follow your heart. If you don't even try, how will you ever know whether it would've worked?"
Laila couldn't argue. Every word from Roy struck deep. Her whole body trembled slightly under the weight of his conviction.
She did have someone in mind. For another film, she wouldn't hesitate to cast him—even give him a major role—because she knew her films rarely failed. She'd never drag him down with a flop.
But this script was different. She couldn't guarantee success. And if the film did fail, it would mean subjecting him to unfair criticism and backlash—something she couldn't bear.
After all, he wasn't just any actor.
He was her idol—someone she had admired in both of her lives.
"If this fails…" she finally whispered, "I might end up hurting him."
Roy laughed in exasperation, reaching out to pinch her cheek. "You seem to be forgetting something—the other male lead is me, okay? Why haven't you ever worried about me being dragged down? I mean, globally speaking, I'm still kind of a big deal, right? How does your mystery pick compare to me?"
Laila was momentarily stunned, looking at him with awkward realization. Right. Why had she only worried about damaging that person's reputation and not Roy's? Deep down, maybe she assumed that if things went badly, she could still save Roy's image with future successes.
She'd never thought about needing to "save" the other man.
Because in her heart… he was someone she'd never even dared to touch.