Model to Holywood

Around 3 p.m., Luca drove to Angelina Jolie's ocean-view villa, invited to attend a party.

The villa was less than two miles from Safreed Beach, perched on a steep cliff overlooking the ocean, with a black-and-white main structure. Sea birds often perched on the black roof, giving the house a castle-like appearance from afar.

As Luca arrived at the entrance, the imposing black gate automatically opened, and he drove straight in. A neatly trimmed lawn and perfectly landscaped greenery lined the driveway that led to the villa.

Sprinklers were busy watering the grass, and gardeners were pushing lawnmowers, trimming the edges. When Luca reached the outdoor parking area, he was puzzled. There were more than a dozen parking spots, but only one orange-red sports car was there—the rest were empty.

The villa itself was eerily quiet, lacking the lively atmosphere one would expect. Had he arrived too early?

"Mr. Kelly, this way, please!"

As he got out of the car, a maid approached him. Dressed in a brown uniform, she reminded him of the nanny he'd seen at the supermarket last time.

"Hello, ma'am. Has the party started?" Luca politely asked as he handed her a gift.

"Party?" The maid looked confused for a moment but shook her head and led the way inside.

Luca raised an eyebrow. No party? Then why had she invited him here?

That morning, the woman had nearly caused him to crash. What game was she playing this time?

"Mr. Kelly, please come in. Ms. Jolie is waiting for you in the backyard."

The maid pushed open the grand entrance doors, revealing a long hallway with high ceilings, a large chandelier, and luxurious plaster and marble decorations. It was quite opulent.

Should he go in? Luca hesitated.

Jolie had a reputation in Hollywood as a bad girl with endless scandals. The news said she had experimented with drugs, had wild relationships, and engaged in self-harm. Her three husbands had all been married when they met her, and at her wedding, she had even drawn blood to symbolize her commitment.

In 2001, she allegedly hired a hitman to kill her, and her father thought she had mental health issues.

She had just divorced in May and was now single.

If she was planning to play games, Luca wasn't sure he wanted any part of it. His life was already full of rumors, and he didn't want to add to the drama and gain a bad reputation.

"Mr. Kelly?" The maid's voice interrupted his thoughts, her expression curious.

"It's fine," Luca smiled. He was already here. How could he back out now? What kind of man would he be if he didn't even dare to walk through a door?

Following the maid, Luca walked down the hallway. The interior of the villa was decorated in a modern classical style, lavish and clearly expensive. However, the black-and-white color scheme felt somewhat stern and made the house seem lonely for a single occupant.

In comparison, Luca thought his current villa was just right—a cozy 0.6-acre space, small but refined, something he could manage alone and make feel like home.

Houses like Jolie's or Tom Hanks' were more suited for investments than living.

"Mr. Kelly, this way, please."

The maid opened a door, revealing a guest dressing room with a stack of white robes on the table, resembling pajamas.

"No, thank you. I'll just say hello and be on my way," Luca declined politely.

The maid glanced at him and nodded slightly. "This way, Mr. Kelly."

Luca sighed internally, thinking this was turning into more of a hassle than he had expected, and followed her out of the room.

As the maid opened the large glass doors at the end of the corridor, sunlight flooded in, and his view suddenly broadened. In the distance, the blue sky and ocean stretched out, visible from the villa's backyard.

It was a spacious area with a lawn, flowerbeds, a gazebo, a golf putting green, and a long rectangular swimming pool. The water in the pool sparkled under the sunlight.

In the pool, a figure in a black bikini was swimming gracefully underwater, like a mermaid. She had long legs and a curvy figure, her movements captivating.

With a click, the maid left, closing the door behind her. Now, Luca was alone in the backyard with the mermaid in the pool.

Luca smirked. This was starting to feel like a scene out of a dramatic novel.

With a splash, the mermaid swam to the edge of the pool, raised her head, and slicked back her long hair. Water trickled down her face, over her red lips, and onto her collarbone and chest before falling back into the pool.

"Luca, you made it!" Jolie called from the water, smiling.

"Ms. Jolie, has the party started?" Luca replied with a light chuckle.

"Yes, the moment you walked in, the party began. You're the guest, and I'm the host—our little private party. How about that?" Jolie climbed out of the pool, her body covered in tattoos that added to her rebellious allure.

"Sounds cool!" Luca shrugged.

Jolie smiled, bending sensuously as she grabbed a towel to dry herself. She looked him over, noting his almost formal casual outfit—tall, handsome, and dignified.

"I told you to wear whatever you wanted. Why do you look like you're attending an awards ceremony?"

"I thought it would be a big party," Luca said, loosening his jacket as the heat started to get to him.

"A big party?" Jolie laughed, reclining on a lounge chair and gesturing to the empty one beside her. "To throw a party, you need friends. Do you think I have many friends?"

Luca smiled wryly. Jolie was notorious in Hollywood for having no friends. Women were wary of her stealing their husbands, and men mostly wanted to sleep with her.

Luca sat on the heated leather chair, feeling the heat seeping into his body as sweat began to form on his back.

Jolie chuckled softly and picked up a glass of wine. "Cheers!"

"Thank you," Luca said, taking a small sip.

"Luca, you're nothing like the rumors," Jolie remarked, studying him from the chair.

"Rumors?" Luca raised an eyebrow. "What do the rumors say about me?"

"They say you're a drunk, a drug addict, and a womanizer. Didn't you once hire two escorts and not pay them? I heard your sister had to cover the bill. Is that true?" Jolie laughed, leaning back.

Luca felt a moment of embarrassment but quickly regained his composure. Those were mistakes from his past life—he was a different person now.

"You were wild, reckless, but very cool. Now, do you know what you are?" Jolie asked, her long lashes fluttering as she smiled mysteriously.

"Please, tell me, Ms. Jolie," Luca gestured for her to continue.

Jolie shook her head. "You were like me once. Now you're a man trapped in a cage. Conservative, restrained, repressed—a good man in society's eyes. You've lost your edge and the thing that made you special."

Luca frowned slightly but smiled back. "Ms. Jolie, you're right. I'm changing, becoming the good man people expect me to be. I've gone from nonconformist to mainstream. But haven't you done the same?"

"You've adopted children, dedicated yourself to charity, and focused on war-torn areas. Aren't you trying to become the person society wants you to be too?"

Jolie's blue-gray eyes flickered, considering his words. "You're right. We're the same. We're both trying to be good people. You saved a baby's life. I adopted an orphan. Our stories are quite similar, aren't they?"

"Yes, but you're more admirable—you became a mother," Luca raised his glass to her.

Jolie hummed softly, walking toward the pool and swaying her hips seductively. "Luca, are you sure you don't want to swim?"

"I'm fine, thank you," Luca replied, feeling the sweat soaking through his shirt.

He wasn't about to let himself get into a risky situation without knowing what was going on.

"Luca, do you know what you remind me of right now?" Jolie asked with a teasing smile, staring into his eyes. "You're like a beast trapped in a cage. Your eyes are filled with desire—naked desire. You want me, badly, but your restraint is like an iron cage, holding you back."

She suddenly grabbed his hand and placed it on her chest. "This is the key. Your key is right here!"

Luca froze, his hand stiffening.

"Yes, just like that," Jolie bit her lip, a satisfied smile on her face as her hand slid down.

"Luca, we're the same. Neither of us really wants to be good. We're just forced to change because we need to. Deep down, we both crave to be like we used to be—free and wild.

"Luca, I understand you. So why don't we cut to the chase?"

Her actions became bolder.

Roca frowned slightly. "Jolie, you're right. We changed because we needed to, but I wasn't forced into it."

"I know why I need to be better, and for whom. That's why we're different."

As he spoke, he pushed Julie's shoulder and slowly stood up.

"You're rejecting me?!"

Julie furrowed her brow and coldly said,

"You're rejecting me at a time like this?"

"Sorry, I just don't want to disappoint them!"

Roca zipped up his jacket and turned towards the back door.

"Haha, Roca, I bet you'll come down to swim with me. I'll be waiting for you in the water."

Julie smirked, and with a splash, she jumped into the pool.

Roca shook his head, walked over to the door, and gave it a pull. Click—the door didn't open.

"Jolie, what are you doing?"

"Haha, what do you think?"

Julie pulled a key from her chest and smiled smugly.

"There's no other exit from the backyard. Now you have two choices:

One, jump off the cliff.

Or two, catch me in the pool. What will you choose?"

"…"

(End of chapter)