Chapter 5

"Don't think you can make Mikaela care about you by pretending to back down.

"Mikaela is taking a shower. Stop messaging us and interrupting our private time together.

"You poor little substitute. I bet you can't even imagine how happy we are together, can you? Keep an eye on the trending topics if you want to see for yourself."

The messages came one after another, and they were all from Benjamin.

Mikaela had never allowed Benedict to touch her phone, much less told him her password. Apparently, Benjamin would always be the exception.

Benedict didn't bother replying.

Starting the next day, Mikaela and Benjamin appeared on the trending lists again and again. They publicly flaunted their affection in every possible way.

They visited a trending cafe, took selfies together on a Ferris wheel, and watched the sunset from a mountaintop...

All those were things Benedict had once dreamed of doing with Mikaela. They were all things she'd always refused to do with him, but she now did them so naturally with Benjamin.

Fortunately, he was already preparing to leave this world, so their displays of happiness no longer hurt him. He simply wanted to do one last thing before he left.

In this world, Benedict worked as an actor. At first, his parents had pushed him into the entertainment industry. Later, he'd stayed because he didn't want to disappoint Mikaela.

Acting wasn't what he truly loved. What he really wanted to do was write and direct films.

After years of gaining experience in the industry, Benedict had finally written a script of his own. Short-form dramas were all the rage, so he'd based one on his own experiences. He called it "The Stars Are No Longer Lonely".

Short dramas had relatively quick production schedules. They often wrapped up in just a week or two. Before leaving, Benedict wanted to create something that held real meaning for him.

He worked efficiently and soon had his production team assembled. All he needed to do was go home, pack his belongings, and head to the set to begin filming.

As soon as he walked through the front door, he heard lively chatter coming from inside. Mikaela, Benjamin, Daniel, and Heidi were all there.

When they saw him, the smiles on their faces briefly froze. Then, in a rare display of kindness, his usually indifferent parents invited him to join them for dinner.

Mikaela even handed him a small box. "I saw this while I was traveling and thought it would suit you."

Benedict recognized the tie clip inside right away. He'd seen it on the trending lists.

Back then, Benjamin had casually mentioned liking it, so Mikaela had bought every tie clip in the entire accessories store for him. This particular one was the only piece Benjamin had disliked enough to throw away.

"What? Don't you like it?" Benjamin asked with a faint, knowing smile, barely concealing his sense of superiority.

Mikaela's expression darkened slightly. "Are you being picky now? You used to love everything I gave you."

That was true. She'd once given Benedict expensive watches and even a random leaf she'd picked up by the roadside. He had treasured every single gift.

But that was only because he loved the person who was giving them to him.

Now, he wouldn't have liked the gift even if it hadn't been something someone else had thrown away. She could have plucked a star from the sky and placed it in front of him, and he still wouldn't have wanted it.

"It's nice." Benedict couldn't be bothered to say more.

He casually put the tie clip away. His thoughts were occupied with the upcoming production.

Seeing how calm he was, Benjamin looked surprised. The trending topics had been everywhere for days. There was no way Benedict hadn't seen them. Yet, he wasn't angry or upset. He acted as though he didn't care at all.

Mikaela noticed it, too. An inexplicable tightness gripped at her heart, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

She was just about to ask him about it when Benjamin tugged at her sleeve and gave her a meaningful wink. Only then did Mikaela remember the real reason she'd brought everyone together that day.

She turned to Benedict and said, "Benjamin really likes the short drama you've been preparing. Let him have this one first."

Benedict stared at her in disbelief.

In the past, whenever Mikaela had demanded that he give up professional opportunities, he'd been powerless to refuse. But this time, the script was his own creation, and he'd assembled the production team himself.

Again, Benjamin wanted to take it from him.

When Benedict didn't immediately agree, his parents began putting food on his plate as though they were generously indulging him.

Daniel said, "It's such a trivial matter. Just agree to it. Stop competing with your older brother over everything."

Heidi agreed, "Benjamin has been through so much hardship. Now that he wants something, isn't it only natural for us as his family to help him achieve it?"

Only then did Benedict understand that when people were absolutely speechless, all they could do was laugh at the absurdity.

He let out a mocking laugh. "Benjamin's hardships had nothing to do with me. To a writer, a script is like a child. I'm not giving mine up."

Benjamin lowered his eyes and sighed. "I knew Benedict didn't like me. Maybe I shouldn't have come back at all."

He covered his mouth and pretended to leave, but Mikaela caught his hand. Her eyes were grim as she glared coldly at Benedict.

Mikaela said, "Benjamin had industry professionals review your script, and they all agreed it has great potential. That's why he has to have it. You're an artist under my company, so you have to follow my arrangements. Otherwise, I have every right to shelve you."

"Fine, then. Go ahead."

Seeing that Benedict wouldn't give in, Daniel and Heidi grew anxious.

"There's no need to hold back against this ungrateful brat, Mikaela. We're his parents. We know exactly what he's afraid of. Leave this to us," Daniel said, sneering.

"Exactly. Just watch. Before long, he'll be crying and begging Benjamin to accept that drama, and it'll be too late for him to change his mind," Heidi added.