At last, it was time for the acting awards.
When the presenter for Best Supporting Actor walked up with the envelope in hand, he smiled before even opening it. "This might just be the least suspenseful award of the night."
The audience erupted in laughter.
He wasn't wrong. While different award bodies often had varying preferences depending on the genre or tone of the film, this year, almost every acting award had gone to Roy and his portrayal of the Joker. In the eyes of the film industry, no actor or film that year came close to matching the impact of his performance.
So with the room already buzzing, the presenter skipped any manufactured suspense, tore open the envelope, glanced at the name, and laughed again. "The 81st Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor goes to—Roy Seasonstar, The Dark Knight!"
"Woooah—!"
Thunderous applause broke out. The entire audience rose to their feet in celebration.
Such a scene was rare in Oscar history. After all, Best Supporting Actor wasn't usually one of the night's most high-profile categories. It never drew the same attention as Best Actor, Best Actress, or Best Director—let alone triggered a full standing ovation.
But under the mask of the Joker, Roy had delivered a performance that commanded nothing but awe. He had turned a supporting role into something that outshone many leads. If not for the Batman franchise label, the film could easily have been classified as a dual-lead story. Giving him only a supporting role almost felt like an injustice.
Nearly every media outlet agreed—his Joker would go down as a timeless classic.
In front of their TVs, audiences erupted in cheers and screams. Unlike the attendees in the Dolby Theatre, viewers at home had no filter—they could let out their emotions freely and express their exhilaration in unrestrained ways.
Many of them were lifelong Batman fans—but after seeing the film, they had fallen in love with the Joker, captivated by his chaotic charisma.
This was arguably the most uncontested win of the night. No one was surprised, and as soon as it was official, fans poured onto forums and social media to celebrate their joy.
Back at home, Janet and Abel were jumping and shouting in front of the TV.
"Roy is amazing! That's my son-in-law!" Janet exclaimed proudly.
Abel wanted to say something just as bold, but he was still young and shy. All he could do was stare at the screen, eyes sparkling as he watched his big brother.
Laila managed a smile. "He deserves that award... But before we celebrate too hard—I think I might be going into labor."
The room's festive atmosphere instantly collapsed. Everyone—adults and children alike—froze like statues, staring at her with stunned, motionless expressions.
Claire burst into the room just in time to see the group of helpless fools and immediately snapped, "Why are you all just standing there? Call the car!"
In the U.S., many people opt for home births.
Laila, however, had always been uneasy about that idea. No matter how well-equipped their home was—even though her mother had done it that way—she simply couldn't bring herself to do the same. In her mind, childbirth belonged in a hospital, with trained professionals and sterile equipment. The thought of giving birth at home frankly terrified her.
Janet, on the other hand, preferred the comfort and familiarity of home. But seeing that Laila was firmly against it, she had no choice but to respect her daughter's wishes.
Well in advance of Laila's due date, the Moran family had arranged a premium suite at one of the top-tier hospitals they had long supported. Everything was already prepared. As long as they could get her there, the rest would go smoothly.
They had a spacious family vehicle, and Claire drove, taking the whole group—adults, kids, and even bodyguards—rushing toward the hospital.
On the way, Abel didn't forget to call Roy and deliver the news: Laila was about to give birth.
It wasn't hard to imagine how Roy reacted. The moment he heard the words, panic surged through him. Without even thinking, he jumped to his feet, ready to run.
He had only just returned to his seat after receiving his award. The cameras were still lingering on him, and the room's attention hadn't shifted away—when suddenly, after one phone call, he was in a complete frenzy.
"What's going on?" Nolan, seeing all eyes turning in their direction, grabbed Roy's sleeve and tried to pull him back into his seat.
"Laila's in labor. I have to go—now!" Roy apologized briefly to the crew, and without sparing the cameras another glance, rushed out of the auditorium.
Everyone who saw it was stunned. How could someone who had just won an Oscar for one of the year's most iconic performances suddenly bolt like that? Had something gone wrong? Was he snubbed or slighted?
Not just the attendees—even viewers at home were in a panic. Wild speculation erupted online. Rumors and theories flew fast, with everyone trying to figure out why Roy had left so abruptly.
The host couldn't see what was happening in people's living rooms, but he could sense the confusion inside the theatre. He knew that if the matter wasn't addressed, it might hurt the broadcast's ratings. So during the break before the Best Supporting Actress presentation, he went over to Nolan and asked what had happened.
To his surprise, he ended up with a massive scoop. This wasn't just clarification—it was gold. With this news, the Oscars wouldn't have to worry about ratings at all.
So when the host returned to the stage, he smiled at the camera and said, "I'm sure you all saw Roy's hasty exit earlier. Well, here's some wonderful news: we just received word that our legendary director Laila Moran is in labor. It won't be long before Roy becomes a father! Let's send them all our best wishes!"
"Wow!"
Gasps and cheers exploded through the venue. Everyone had speculated wildly, but no one had guessed the real reason was Laila. And once they knew, everything made sense.
Of course—who else could make Roy panic like that? In all of Hollywood, who didn't know about their love story? And it wasn't some PR-manufactured fairytale. Their relationship had been consistent, sweet, and drama-free for years. Whenever someone doubted that real love could exist, people would point to Roy and Laila as proof.
So now that Laila was about to give birth, who could blame Roy for being a nervous wreck?
Roy was, in fact, so anxious that he could barely control his limbs. He wasn't even sure how he managed to drive himself to the airport. Honestly, it was a miracle he made it there safely—given how distracted and frantic he was, it wouldn't have been shocking if he'd plowed into a tree along the way.
Once at the airport, he bought the fastest ticket to New York he could find and rushed straight to the hospital Abel had told him about.
Regret gnawed at him. He never should've listened to Laila and attended the Oscars just to accept her award. If he missed the moment his daughter entered the world just for a trophy, it would haunt him forever.