Chapter 256: The Movie Begins

Martin glanced at Jennifer Aniston, now mingling with another group of people and chatting away. A sense of curiosity stirred within him.

Looking for me? What for?

Certainly not for any scandalous reasons—that much Martin was sure of.

As Hollywood's beloved "Sweetheart," Jennifer Aniston had a reputation for staying relatively clean in an industry rife with gossip. Since her marriage, not a single scandal had surfaced, unlike her husband, who was constantly in the tabloids with his escapades.

In fact, Martin had been indirectly involved in one such scandal when he exposed her husband's rendezvous with Sherry Lansing.

Jennifer wasn't just a product of luck. Her father, John Aniston, was an actor known as the "King of Soap Operas" in Hollywood during his time. John's life story was the quintessential immigrant success tale.

Born in Greece, John immigrated to America with his family at the age of 10. They changed their surname from the cumbersome "Papasifakis" to "Aniston" to better integrate into American society.

John had served in the military and only ventured into acting after retiring. By then, he was already considered a late bloomer in the industry.

Struggles followed—married with a daughter, John faced unemployment and even resorted to door-to-door sales. His fortunes turned when he landed a role as a Greek mobster in the soap opera Days of Our Lives, which became his big break.

John played his role in Days of Our Lives from the 1970s to the show's latest season in 2022, amassing over 3,700 episodes. Along the way, he appeared in other notable works like Star Trek and The West Wing.

In 2021, he was honored with a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award, a testament to decades of hard work.

This deep-rooted legacy was the foundation Jennifer Aniston stood on, enabling her to gain decent roles without compromising her values.

With her angelic face and devilish figure, it wasn't hard to see why media outlets likened Jessica's breakout in Charlie's Angels to following in Aniston's footsteps.

Martin couldn't help but steal a few more glances her way.

Noticing this, Jennifer turned her gaze to him, smiled, and raised her glass.

Martin responded in kind, smiling and raising his glass.

The playful exchange continued—occasional glances, catching each other's eyes, followed by quiet laughter. It was not flirtation, just a lighthearted game.

For Martin, there was no hidden passion in her gaze, just amusement.

Jennifer, for her part, found it odd. It had been years since she indulged in such childish "eye games." Perhaps it was Martin's deep blue eyes or his rare sense of "youthful innocence" in Hollywood that intrigued her.

She found it surprisingly fun.

By 8:30 PM, everyone moved from the banquet hall to the theater. The movie was about to begin.

The opening animations of New Line Cinema and Myers Films played, with Warner Bros. only appearing later in the closing credits as the distributor.

Seated in the front row, Martin could feel Peter Jackson's nervous energy—his body trembling slightly, likely from a mix of excitement and anxiety.

Martin, however, was entirely at ease. Even without his foreknowledge, a film like The Lord of the Rings, based on a beloved literary masterpiece, was almost destined for success.

As the lights dimmed, a familiar scent wafted toward Martin, followed by warm breath against the back of his neck.

"Martin," a voice whispered. "Are you free for coffee tomorrow?"

It was Jennifer Aniston.

Her words, softly spoken, tickled his neck, prompting an almost irresistible urge to scratch the itch.

Martin glanced around, puzzled. Isn't the second row reserved for the cast and crew?

Clearly, Jennifer had switched seats with someone in the production team.

So, Liv was right—she's here for me.

But why?

Martin didn't dwell on it. He could always find out over coffee. And though he suspected the meeting was for something professional, the prospect of spending time with someone as captivating as Jennifer Aniston wasn't unappealing.

Lowering his voice, he replied, "I'm free at noon tomorrow."

"Great," she said, her lips still close to his ear. "See you at Gratitude Café, 11 AM."

With that, she retreated, leaving Martin unexpectedly longing for the warmth of her proximity.

Shaking off the distraction, Martin turned his focus to the screen as the movie began.

The opening narration set the tone, delivered by Galadriel, voiced by Cate Blanchett:

"The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it..."

"In the land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom, the Dark Lord Sauron forged in secret a Master Ring to control all others. And into this Ring, he poured his cruelty, his malice, and his will to dominate all life. One Ring to rule them all..."

"History became legend. Legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years, the Ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, it ensnared a new bearer…"

The narration gave viewers a clear understanding of Middle-earth's history and the One Ring's origins, its language rich with a fantastical allure.

To keep audiences engaged, Peter Jackson skillfully interspersed the narration with epic battle sequences—humans and elves clashing against orcs and trolls on a grand scale.

The breathtaking battle scenes elicited murmurs of awe from the audience, signaling the movie's spellbinding opening.