Chapter 74: On the Red Carpet

Chapter 74

On the red carpet outside Dorothy Chandler Hall in Los Angeles, California, Nicole Kidman held Martin's arm as she stepped out of the car.

Under the brilliance of countless flashes and neon lights, Nicole, looking radiant in her dress, stunned everyone. For a moment, Martin was lost in thought, admiring her beauty. If she were in the world of gods and demons, she would surely be the darling of succubi and elves. This face, this figure—perfect!

Nicole was dressed in a tight, off-shoulder, deep-V gown. The bright red dress, adorned with diamonds, highlighted her tall, slender frame and accentuated her porcelain skin. As she stepped out of the car and stood tall, she seemed to embody the very essence of beauty, her presence like that of a goddess descended to earth. The flashing lights of the photographers were relentless.

In that moment, even Martin, the so-called "succubus," found himself overshadowed by her.

"God, she's gorgeous!" "She's so beautiful, Cruise is the lucky one." "If she could marry me, I'd give her everything."

The reporters chattered, cameras clicking away. Martin, not one to be outdone, exuded his own charm. The magic within him stirred, and a subtle but undeniable aura spread. As luck would have it, Nicole happened to glance down at that moment, and Martin's eyes caught hers. His gaze was magnetic, pulling her in, intoxicated by the effect of his charm.

"Martin is so charming!" Nicole thought, before quickly snapping out of it. "What am I thinking?" She quickly diverted her attention, her hand gripping his arm more firmly as they walked together down the red carpet.

"They're such a perfect match!" "Martin is so handsome, and Nicole is so beautiful!" "If they were a couple, I'd definitely watch their movie."

Fans and reporters alike were fascinated, swept away by their combined allure. Martin's charm was undeniable, but Nicole's elegance held its own. The two of them moved along the red carpet, the sound of cameras clicking in a symphony of excitement.

"Martin, Martin!" The shouts grew louder, drowning out even the calls for Nicole. Martin had stolen the limelight.

Nicole chuckled, clearly amused. "You're very popular, Martin."

"Yes, we are," Martin responded with a smile, clearly enjoying the attention.

Nicole just shook her head. She didn't mind being overshadowed by a child in this moment. After all, she understood the peculiarities of Hollywood, where the spotlight was ever-changing.

Once they reached the interview area, reporters bombarded them with questions, but neither of them responded, simply smiling for the cameras. It was understood that no celebrity would engage with the press unless they were familiar faces or had a specific agenda.

One reporter muttered in frustration, "Forget Nicole—why is Martin so sophisticated for a child?"

His colleagues exchanged looks, one older reporter finally speaking up: "Are you new? Don't you know? Martin's no ordinary kid. He's not easy to fool, even if you provoke him."

Another reporter chimed in, "He's clever, like a fox. Last time, I was mocked by him and didn't even realize it until later."

More reporters chimed in, all agreeing, but it wasn't long before one of them spoke with an unexpected confession:

"Strangely, though, I don't hate him. I actually like him."

"Yeah, I don't hate him either."

"He mocked me, but I still ended up defending him in my article."

"I think I like this kid too."

A silence fell over the group as the reporters reflected on their feelings.

Just then, the noise of another star's arrival broke the moment, and the chatter resumed, but no one seemed to notice the strange silence that had momentarily taken over.

---

After entering the awards hall, Martin and Nicole exchanged pleasantries before separating— their seats weren't next to each other. Martin quickly found his group— the crew of The Sixth Sense, with M. Night Shyamalan waving at him.

As Martin settled into his seat, he glanced around and noticed their biggest competition: the crew of Shakespeare in Love, which had received 13 nominations. Harvey Weinstein, who had worked tirelessly to promote the film, gave Martin a thumbs-up. Martin returned the gesture, but his attention shifted to another corner of the room.

There, he spotted the second biggest contender, the Saving Private Ryan team, who had 11 nominations. Spielberg seemed to sense Martin's gaze and raised his glass in a silent toast. Martin returned the gesture with a smile.

Martin's eyes wandered again. In the distance, he saw the crew of A Beautiful Mind, which had 7 nominations, making them another formidable rival.

Martin sighed inwardly. The competition for the Oscar was fierce, and the biggest winner of all was not any actor or director, but none other than Harvey Weinstein himself.

---

By 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time, the ceremony was in full swing. The host, Whoopi Goldberg, stepped onto the stage to the sound of enthusiastic applause. This was her third time hosting the Oscars, and her charm made the crowd laugh with her opening jokes.

Once the ceremony began in earnest, the atmosphere grew more focused. The audience sat up straight, ready for the awards to begin.

"Okay, okay. I know you're tired of hearing this, and honestly, I am too. I stopped doing talk shows long ago—now I'm just here to present awards," Whoopi quipped, sending the audience into another round of genuine laughter.

"Next up, we'll be awarding the Best Supporting Actress," she continued, her voice brimming with excitement. "Let's welcome our handsome presenter, Tom Cruise!"

Tom Cruise, dressed in a sleek black suit, walked onto the stage amid the enthusiastic cheers.

"The nominees for Best Supporting Actress are..." Cruise began, his smooth voice filling the hall.

Judi Dench, Shakespeare in Love

Kathy Bates, The Wind Gathers

Toni Collette, The Sixth Sense

Rachel Griffiths, She's Lonelier Than Fireworks

Lynne Redgrave, Gods and Beasts

Toni Collette, sitting next to Martin, seemed visibly nervous.

"Who will win the Best Supporting Actress?" Cruise asked dramatically.

After a pause, Tom flashed his signature smile and announced, "And the winner is... Judi Dench, Shakespeare in Love!"

Toni Collette's smile faltered for a brief moment, but she quickly regained her composure as the camera panned toward her.

"Smile, Toni, the camera's on you," Martin whispered, causing her to brighten up again. In Hollywood, everyone wore their masks, and Toni, too, played the part of a gracious loser.