ch.1

"Shit, I overslept. I'm late!" 

Renly took a quick glance at the clock and groaned. He really should fix his bad sleeping habits. No specific time was set for today's audition; he could come at any time between 9 am to 6 pm. 

The problem was the line. It would be long, and he just had to oversleep on the day of the audition. At that moment, his phone suddenly rang, emitting a soulful resonance of the cello. 

It was calming to hear, but instead of calming the anxious Renly, it only made him even more anxious. He took the phone and saw who the caller was. 

"Geh?"

He didn't answer; he just threw it in his bag. Grabbing the key, he left the room quickly and slammed the door shut. He was in a hurry. 

Renly ran downstairs and called a taxi, trying to calm himself by thinking that being late has its own advantages. 

"Being late isn't actually a bad thing. I don't have to deal with rush hour. Right, right?" 

New York is a bustling city, after all, and rush hour here can be really frustrating. 

"Broadway, 6th street." 

Renly said, and the cab driver nodded. The phone in his bag was still ringing, its melody calling for Renly's attention. The cab driver even glanced at the rearview mirror, wondering why he wasn't taking the call. 

"Sorry." 

"It's fine. Your ringtone is nice." 

"Oh, thank you."

He adjusted his short, golden-brown curls in the cab's window, his slender fingers working to tame them. After buttoning up his shirt and confirming everything was in place, he sighed with relief and took the call. 

"Hello?" 

A dignified and stern voice answered from the other end of the phone. 

"Renly, you! Why aren't you answering my calls? You disrespectful brat!" 

Renly could picture the person on the other end of the call perfectly: a white lace shirt paired with brown straight suit trousers, a spotless sky blue suit jacket draped over the back of the chair, with today's Times on the lap. The air was filled with the aroma of black tea and desserts. 

"Mother, you know it's 10:30 am here, right?" 

Renly's tone became that of a professional. If he didn't call the person "mother," it would look like he was talking with a business partner. 

The one on the phone was Renly's mother, Elizabeth Hall, who was in London, on the other side of the Atlantic. Elizabeth owned an art gallery on Piccadilly Street. 

"It's 10 am? Are you telling me that you just woke up?" 

"Ah."

Even though she was angry, her voice still sounded professional. It seems that Renly got his tone from his mother. 

"What were you doing all night for you to wake up this late?" 

Renly silently clicked his tongue. Here comes the nagging. But he didn't interrupt or talk back; he just kept his mouth shut. Unlike back then, he had matured now. 

He knew how to handle this. Elizabeth realized that her son wasn't talking. She took a deep breath, controlled her emotions, and spoke again. 

"Sorry. Anyway, I called you because of this. I know your dream is to become an actor, and after much deliberation, your father and I thought we should give you a chance." 

A chance? Renly was skeptical

"So buy a ticket and come back here to London. In March, 'Hamlet' will be played again in the West End theater. A chance for you to join a play." 

Renly's eyes lit up.

Hamlet is one of Shakespeare's tragedies, a renowned work in the theater world. Becoming a cast member in this play would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

But wait. Ever since he was a kid, neither of his parents supported his dream of becoming an actor. Not once did they show approval. So why did they suddenly change their minds? 

They're even giving him an opportunity to be cast in such a prestigious play. He has been in New York for three whole months. 

Isn't it too late for their redemption arc? Is there anything special today?

"You're not joking, are you?" 

Renly's tone and expression became serious. 

"I thought you hated the acting profession with every fiber of your being. What will happen if I succeed in proving my worth to you? Will you let me become an actor?"

"You're really hellbent on becoming an actor, aren't you?" 

Elizabeth's tone of voice was softer than usual, but there was a hint of coldness laced between her words. 

"You should know full well how dirty the entertainment industry is, Renly. Privacy will be a thing of the past. Actors beg directors for the spotlight. 

"Some even use their bodies just for a spot. Your very being will be used for people's entertainment. Is that the life you want? Renly Hall, that is not the future I envisioned for you."

Renly didn't answer. He just listened. All she said was true anyway; he couldn't refute it.

"Let me talk to him." 

A majestic voice spoke over her mother's voice. The voice was unlike Elizabeth's. It was far scarier.

"This chance is just a one-time thing." 

This was Renly's father in this life, George Hall, a low-class English aristocrat who owned a baron that he inherited. Currently, he works for Barclays Bank, managing the trust funds of famous wealthy families.

"I've already arranged everything. You'll be joining the cast of 'Hamlet' and playing Laerte." 

George's voice was cold, sounding like he was issuing orders to a servant. 

"The play will last for three months in the West End theater. After that, you'll go back to Cambridge and complete your studies. There's decent work waiting for you here."

So that's what the "chance" meant. They arranged for him to be cast in a play. Three months, they'd let him taste the world of acting in that time frame and then force him to pursue the right path according to their view. 

A one-time act? That is not what Renly wants.

"Forget the play." 

Renly's response was short, but he made sure they understood his stand.

"Crazy fucker. You're a fool!" 

He could feel the anger in his father's voice over the phone, growing deeper as he spoke. 

"You're still not satisfied after we compromised this much and gave you three months and a good character to play in such a famous play?!"

Renly calmly replied, not wanting to startle the cab driver. 

"I want to be a real actor. I will do everything to achieve that even if it means betraying your trust."

There was silence, then a mocking laugh. 

"Ha! I don't know where you got that stupidity from. You should know that there are countless people out there who want to become an actor. 

"How many can really reach the top? Everyone thinks they're special, everyone thinks they're geniuses. But they're not, and neither are you. You're just a fool with a daydream, with zero odds of success!"

Renly spoke firmly. 

"I don't care. This is my dream."

"A dream that will never come true. Wake up to reality, Renly!"

George didn't care if his words would have negative effects on their already broken relationship as father and son. 

"You're not a genius. A real genius knows when to measure themselves and when to give up. You've seen many geniuses around you. Useless persistence wastes time and energy. You're not stupid; you should know when to give up."

Facing his father's harsh words, Renly didn't react. He sat there at the back like a statue. 

"Did you hear what I said? If you're not up to the task, it might be time to quit. If you can't quit, then maybe it's time we moved on without you. Come back to London for 'Hamlet,' your last chance."

George then gave his ultimatum and hung up the phone without giving Renly a chance to respond. Renly let out a sigh and dazedly stared at the bustling scenery outside.

Today, he finally got his first audition opportunity in New York in three months, but it also came with an ultimatum from home.

He knew his father well, and he meant every word he said on the phone. That it was his last chance. 

Although he had managed on his own for the past three months without financial help from his family, he realized that today's ultimatum was serious. 

It could mean they were giving up on him, possibly leading to them abandoning him.

Perhaps, as George suggested, recognizing when to quit is a sign of wisdom. However, abandoning dreams and freedom feels like abandoning life itself. 

In his past life, he chose conformity and obedience. Will he make the same mistake again in this life? 

'No way!' 

Having given a second chance by fate, he will not let it slip away.