Rebirth of a Hollywood Socialite.

After ending the video call with Janet, Laila called her grandparents to tell them about the day's events.

Contrary to Janet's perspective, her grandfather was pleased with her determination to prioritize her career. As for marriage, he didn't care much about it. He'd be happier if she never married and remained a Moran forever. Although Roy didn't mind their children taking the Moran surname, what if he went back on his word later? 

After much thought, he decided it was best for his granddaughter to stay in the family. If needed, she could freeze her eggs and hire a surrogate when she wanted children.

Needless to say, Laila was shocked by her grandfather's "progressive" thinking. Even in her future life, she had never considered such an idea. At most, she had thought about adopting a child if she grew older without finding the right person to marry.

After finally calming her grandfather down, Laila let out a deep sigh of relief, as if she had just fought a battle. Both her mother and grandfather were tough to deal with, and only her gentle grandmother made her feel at ease.

Hanging up the phone, Laila found Roy on the balcony, gazing into the distance.

"Are you mad?" She hugged him from behind.

"No," Roy muttered, not looking at her.

If this wasn't anger, then what was? Laila didn't quite understand why he was so eager to get married. She felt that their current relationship was already like that of an old married couple. What difference did a piece of paper make?

She wasn't unaware of the concept of "status" that many Easterners cared about. As a half-Easterner herself, she didn't mind it, so why was Roy, a Westerner, so hung up on it? 

She knew that in the West, many couples had several children without ever getting married!

But seeing him so downcast, she felt a pang of guilt, wondering if she had been too harsh on him.

"Roy…" She wanted to tell him that this time, she was quite confident. After years of planning, it was finally time to reap the rewards.

But Roy turned around and pressed a finger to her lips. "I understand. You have your dreams, so go chase them. As for me, I'll always be here, waiting for you."

"Actually…" His sweet words were touching, but that wasn't what she wanted to say.

However, she didn't get the chance to continue. To avoid hearing more disheartening words, Roy used a tactic many men employed to silence women—he kissed her.

Well, it wasn't that she wasn't giving him a chance to speak; he was the one who stopped her. Before fully surrendering to the kiss, Laila silently defended herself in her mind.

Santa Catalina Island, located on the West Coast, was a well-known vacation spot. Its beauty lay in its tranquility and the breathtaking expanse of the sea.

The island wasn't heavily populated, with only a few thousand residents spread across two small towns. Many places were within walking distance, giving it a rustic charm. Cars were rare here—it was said that getting permission to own one could take over a decade—so most people got around in golf carts.

The island's architecture was charming. Walking through it, one could easily imagine staying forever and never leaving. It felt disconnected from the outside world, with none of the hustle and bustle of modern life.

After enjoying a delicious lunch on the pedestrian street, Laila decided she would visit the island again when she had the chance. Her busy life rarely allowed her to enjoy such moments, and she hadn't even realized she liked shopping until now.

Strolling along the slow-paced streets, with the sea breeze brushing her cheeks and carrying the scent of the ocean, everything felt perfect.

Perhaps because the weather was still chilly and not ideal for beach activities, the island had few tourists. As a result, Laila and Roy's arrival didn't cause much of a stir. While shopping, the staff were professional and didn't ask for autographs or photos when customers entered.

However, if they were spotted outside, some people were eager to get up close with these two Hollywood stars—a big-name director and a leading actor.

Roy had originally planned a two-day vacation, but Laila enjoyed it so much that they stayed an extra day.

It wasn't that she didn't want to stay longer, but some work matters required her return. So, with a happy heart and a camera full of photos, Laila and Roy set off back to Hollywood.

They returned by hot air balloon again. Compared to the first time, Laila's excitement had mellowed. Last time, with the proposal and the diamond ring, she had barely noticed the scenery. This time was different—she focused more on the sky, the coastline, the distant city, and the horizon where the sea met the sky.

This kind of life was truly wonderful!

It reminded her of a line from a poem: *I only wish to face the sea, with spring blossoms.*

What Laila didn't expect was that as soon as they returned to their home in Hollywood, they found Janet and her grandfather waiting for them.

"When did you get here? Why didn't you tell me?" Laila hugged them in surprise.

"After you told us such important news, did you think your mother could just sit still?" Janet rolled her eyes. "You said you'd be back today, so we came over. Now, come see the wedding dress I designed for you. If you don't like it, I'll need to design a new one quickly!"

And so, Laila, who hadn't even sipped water since returning home, was dragged away by her mother.

Meanwhile, Grandpa Oswald gave Roy a stern look.

"Sit," he said, pointing to the sofa across from him.

Roy smiled and sat where he was told. Having experienced many big scenes, he was no longer intimidated by the old man's presence.

Seeing Roy's calm demeanor, the grandfather nodded slightly in approval. He couldn't stand younger people acting timid around him, as if he were some kind of monster. If someone wanted to marry his precious granddaughter, they had to have this kind of composure.

There was something he had never mentioned before. Back when Janet and Reynolds got together, he had once spoken to Reynolds. During that conversation, the young Reynolds had shown a respectful yet confident attitude, which was why he hadn't immediately taken his daughter away. Otherwise, with his resources and wealth, how could he have allowed his daughter to be swept off by a man?