First of all, the reach of this entire scandal had been massive. As the story spread online, it made its way across the globe—and it wasn't just Laila's name that became known worldwide. The name of the film became just as famous. Now, people weren't only aware that the director had been framed—they also knew that this was the movie aiming to break box office history.
Second, there was that small website that originally published the exposé. Even though it had released a "mistaken" attempt at framing Laila, the exposure brought it unexpected fame. Now that Laila had bought the site, she could easily ride this wave to expand it. Even if she didn't want to run it herself, flipping it and selling it later would still bring in a hefty profit. So, far from being a loss, the purchase turned out to be a major win.
And finally—the most important part, something even she hadn't expected—Roy had proposed to her again, and this time... she had said yes.
Yes, she was getting married.
In the past, Laila had always kept her distance from the idea of marriage. Even with a child and a man like Roy who loved her so deeply, she preferred to maintain their current relationship, never quite daring to take that final step.
But this time, under the shadow of this entire incident, she once again saw how much he loved her.
If the accusation of "buying ticket sales" had stuck, her reputation, her company, and everything she'd accomplished in the film world would've turned to ashes.
If she got lucky, maybe she could've gone silent for a few years, waited for the heat to die down, and made a comeback—after all, the Moran Group had her back. Maybe one day the scandal would be forgotten.
But if luck wasn't on her side, she would've lost everything she had fought for in Hollywood.
Sure, she could still leave the industry and take over her grandfather's position as a powerful CEO—but no matter how successful she became, the stain on her name would never fully wash away.
And yet, in that moment of crisis, Roy had proposed to her.
He didn't care whether she stayed in Hollywood. He didn't care about her reputation. To him, she was just the woman he loved, and that was all that mattered.
How could she possibly reject him again?
Last night, after they decided to get married, they immediately shared the news with their families. Unsurprisingly, Janet was the most excited of all. She dug out dozens—hundreds—of wedding dress designs she'd been working on for years, all created with the dream of one day seeing her daughter walk down the aisle. Now, she just had to pick the perfect one.
Laila's grandparents were supportive and calm. They'd known Roy well for a long time. After everything they'd been through, even the old man had to admit that Roy was the most suitable—and the most loving—partner for Laila.
Sure, if they went strictly by social status, it wouldn't be hard to find another man who matched Laila's background. But to find someone who loved her enough to give his life for her?
Other than Roy, that kind of man probably didn't exist.
Others might treat Laila "well," but that kind of "well" had its limits. On a scale from one to ten, most suitors might offer her a solid six or seven. Roy, however, gave her a ten—no hesitation, no conditions.
So when it came to their wedding, the entire family welcomed it with open arms—and open hearts.
They tentatively set the wedding date for October. It's often said that October is the most beautiful month—good weather, vibrant energy, and gorgeous scenery. Laila liked that timing very much.
Still, she didn't plan on announcing the news just yet. She didn't want the public's attention fixated on her personal life when the spotlight should be on the movie.
On the other side of things, once The Avengers' opening weekend box office numbers were released, everyone who had been watching the situation was left stunned.
In just three days, the film grossed over 200 million USD, breaking Avatar's records for the fastest climb to both the 100 million and 200 million milestones.
Whether or not it could continue breaking records remained to be seen—but for now, the momentum was explosive.
Unlike Avatar, which had a slow start and then gained traction, The Avengers came out swinging. "Packed to the rafters" wasn't just a metaphor—showings were selling out everywhere. Online, countless people were posting about how badly they wanted to see it—but just couldn't get a ticket.
The presale numbers had already been insane. And it wasn't just first-time viewers—many fans had already seen the film and were coming back for a second or third round because they loved it that much.
Just look at the word-of-mouth:
"Hands down the best movie of the summer!"
"It's so cool seeing all my favorite superheroes team up to protect the world! I especially love the way they interact—it feels like they really care about each other."
"That helicarrier was insanely cool. I have to go back and watch it again just for that!"
"Am I the only one who liked the alien creatures flying between skyscrapers? The fight scenes were awesome—they really felt like intelligent beings, not just mindless robots like in some movies."
Major media outlets were also incredibly optimistic about The Avengers. Many believed it would spark a new wave of moviegoers rushing to theaters.
Last year, Avatar completely reinvigorated the film industry, leading to record-breaking annual ticket sales. And now, with The Avengers surging into the spotlight, analysts predicted another blockbuster year for cinema.
Some even boldly declared:
"The golden age of the film industry has returned!"
Laila wasn't so quick to make that claim herself. But she did know that even in her past life, before she was reborn, Hollywood films still dominated global box office charts.
Why did so many people working in the film industry want to make it in Hollywood?
Because success here meant you had earned your place on the world stage.
Sure, India had Bollywood, producing a staggering number of films every year. And there were certainly many excellent ones among them.
But why didn't as many filmmakers aim for Bollywood?
The answer was simple: global influence.
This time around, the box office performance had been better than Laila ever imagined. To see The Avengers smashing the records that Avatar had set just the year before—this was a very good sign.
If the momentum held, maybe... just maybe, this film really could challenge the all-time box office record.
And Laila knew full well—this wasn't just the result of good timing or a quality movie.
It was thanks to the whirlwind of PR, controversy, and noise they'd stirred up.
The massive comic book fanbase, the sudden global spotlight from the "fake ticket scandal," and the overwhelming buzz it generated all worked in the movie's favor.
What is the essence of publicity?
It's making people aware that the movie exists—and making them feel like it's worth seeing.
Make enough people interested, and the ticket sales will follow.
Comic fans were already the film's most passionate supporters, and their loyalty meant solid, stable box office numbers. But the sudden "scandal" and the global twist that followed had pushed the movie into the eyes of everyone who saw the headlines.
And that attention?
It might've done more than any million-dollar ad campaign ever could.