Marcia was slightly disappointed.
Rachel McAdams didn't quite fit the appearance she had in mind, but there was something unique in her performance that stood out—perhaps she could be a pleasant surprise.
On the other hand, Eva Green was closer to Marcia's vision of Keller in appearance, but her performance lacked the sharpness and depth Marcia was looking for.
During auditions, actors are allowed to prepare scenes that they feel best showcase their strengths. The goal is to impress, but Marcia wasn't pleased with what Eva presented.
Eva's performance felt raw and one-dimensional—no complexity, no layers. In the script, as Evan changes the past, reality shifts with him, and Keller is supposed to display vastly different personalities. Marcia didn't see the potential in Eva to portray those contrasts.
Regretfully.
But this time, Marcia didn't rush to a conclusion. She turned to Anson.
Anson noticed Marcia's gaze and responded with a touch of helplessness.
Marcia, however, stood her ground, her expression clearly saying: "Isn't this why you're here? So, what are you waiting for?"
Anson... couldn't argue with that.
There was no reason to refuse. Regardless of his personal connection with Eva, Anson also wanted to find the right actor for The Butterfly Effect.
"...So, how has the past year been?" Anson didn't jump straight into performance mode but started casually chatting with Eva instead.
Eva shrugged lightly. "Stagnant. I'm still learning English, but it seems I might not have a talent for languages."
Although Eva was French, her career was primarily in the U.S. and U.K., with few French films in her portfolio. To Anson, Eva had always been seen as an English speaker.
However, her performance revealed some clumsiness; her thinking still processed in French rather than English, causing her delivery to feel a bit stiff. But in this casual conversation, she seemed more at ease.
"Language isn't about talent; it's about practice," Anson said with a smile.
Eva paused, then lifted her chin slightly. "No wonder they say the best way to learn a language is to fall in love."
She cast a meaningful glance at Anson.
Anson caught it and smiled playfully. "So, you've never tried? Even in L.A., I imagine you wouldn't be short of admirers."
"Admirers, manipulators, businessmen trading favors—it's all just variations of the same thing. But how many would genuinely put their heart into it? I guess only a fool would look for love in Hollywood." Eva's eyes scanned Anson, finally landing on his.
Anson's expression remained amused. "I thought the French always believed in love. Maybe not everyone, but most at least."
Eva shook her head slightly. "The French believe in romance, not love."
Is there a difference?
Anson pondered for a moment, tilting his head. "I used to have a crush on you. Should I be relieved or regretful that I never confessed?"
Calm, direct, and without warning, Anson just said it.
Not only was Eva caught off guard, but so were Marcia and Nicholas. It was hard to tell whether this was part of the performance or something real, but that didn't stop them from eagerly watching this scene unfold—moments like this didn't come often.
Eva blinked. After all, she was just a girl with acting dreams, and now standing in front of a top-tier heartthrob, confessing his past feelings to her. Her heartbeat became chaotic, pounding uncontrollably.
She couldn't think, just following her instincts.
Eva looked at Anson. "Used to? I didn't mishear, right? That's in the past tense, so does that mean you no longer like me now?"
Confident and poised—the same scene would have been handled very differently by Rachel and Eva.
That's where you can see the difference in personalities.
Anson was briefly stumped by Eva's question, his smile turning a little bashful as he scratched his head, "Past tense refers to a previous state, but it doesn't define the present."
Eva's eyes widened, her body leaning slightly forward. "So, what is the present state?"
Anson noticed Eva's gaze, burning hot as it landed on his face. He gathered his courage to meet her eyes, and their gazes collided in the air.
A brief collision, sparking flames.
Marcia held her breath. It was rare to see Anson at a loss, or maybe it was Evan.
Standing before Keller, Evan always felt out of place.
But now, Anson and Evan's shadows overlapped, making it hard to tell them apart. Marcia tried to focus on Eva, but her eyes couldn't help but drift back to Anson.
Anson offered a slightly awkward smile. "What about you? Are you dating anyone right now?"
Eva blinked. "Me?"
She felt unsure and instinctively glanced at Marcia and Nicholas—how was she supposed to answer?
Without a script, Eva didn't know anything about Keller, but answering about herself felt equally wrong.
For a brief moment, Eva panicked, but Anson's relaxed and natural demeanor helped her calm down a little.
"...No."
After a moment's hesitation, Eva answered.
Anson's expression remained the same, his eyes unwavering as he stared at her. His gaze felt like it could pierce through her face and straight into her heart, hot and intense.
"No? Are you habitually single?"
Eva looked up at Anson, her eyes locking with his. "Habitually single?"
Her throat felt dry.
Anson nodded slightly. "Yes."
Eva looked away, trying to think, but her thoughts were scattered. She wasn't sure if this was just casual conversation or if it was part of the audition. The confusion made it hard for her to focus.
But when she looked at Anson again, her thoughts slipped away, and she instinctively answered, "I guess you could say that. Habitually single."
"And you?" Eva asked, trying to regain control.
Anson nodded lightly. "Yes, that's true."
"But not because I don't want to try..."
His sentence trailed off.
Eva looked up at him: Why?
But in his eyes, she saw a moment of hesitation. His gaze briefly faltered, making it hard to decipher his emotions; however, Eva sensed a hint of vulnerability and fatigue.
Maybe it wasn't because he didn't want to try—maybe he lacked the courage, or maybe he'd lost the ability to try.
A subtle sadness flowed through his deep blue eyes.
In that moment, all thoughts disappeared. Everyone else in the room faded away. Eva couldn't help but want to explore the layers in Anson's eyes.
Without realizing it, she was already falling.
Then.
Anson lifted his eyes, his gaze focusing once more on Eva's face. Their eyes met again, and in their pupils, they saw each other's expressions reflected:
The flames quietly burned.
Step by step.
Anson moved closer to Eva, stopping just in front of her, his tall figure completely enveloping her. Lowering his voice, he asked softly.
"Can I kiss you?"
Thud.
Her heart, for a moment, stopped beating.