Chapter 231 – When the Moment Finally Came
Outside the Viper Room, as Aaron stepped onto the sidewalk with Cameron Diaz in his arms, a crowd had already gathered in the street.
In the center, a young man lay unconscious on the pavement. Three people—one man and two women—knelt anxiously beside him.
"River Phoenix!"
Aaron froze for a split second. The man lying there, pale and motionless, was none other than River Phoenix.
He hurried over, crouching down to take a closer look. River's face was as white as paper.
"What happened? Did you call an ambulance?" Aaron asked urgently.
He then motioned to his bodyguards. "Clear the crowd. They're blocking the road."
"Mr. Anderson…" said Joaquin Phoenix, visibly shaken but trying to stay composed. "Inside the club, he suddenly started convulsing. He was vomiting… couldn't stand straight."
"I tried to take him home. But once we got outside, he collapsed."
"I've already called for an ambulance."
River lay there, foam at his lips, his body limp. One of Aaron's security men quickly checked his pulse and breathing.
"He needs to get to a hospital immediately."
Aaron didn't need an explanation. River's lifestyle—alcohol, drugs, late nights—was no secret in Hollywood. From the looks of it, this was likely an overdose reaction.
Several long minutes passed before the ambulance finally arrived.
---
Later that night, at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, Cameron emerged from beneath the covers and rested her head against Aaron's chest.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly. "Was I not good enough?"
Aaron smiled faintly, brushing his hand through her tousled blonde hair. "You were more than fine. I was just thinking about what happened outside the Viper Room."
River had undeniable talent—winning Best Actor at Venice at such a young age proved that. Aaron had even worked with him before on My Own Private Idaho.
Cameron blinked. "That was clearly an overdose. His body just couldn't handle it."
She wasn't naïve. She'd seen enough of Hollywood's wild side to recognize the signs.
"I thought so too," Aaron replied. "Young people in this industry… they live hard."
He knew the patterns well—River, Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp—that whole circle. During Speed, contracts had included strict behavioral clauses.
"I have a bad feeling," Cameron murmured, tracing a finger absently across his abs. "He didn't look good at all."
"Maybe," Aaron said quietly.
Then he shifted the mood. "When you start filming The Mask, focus on the work. Hollywood can make someone famous overnight."
"I understand," Cameron nodded sincerely. "Aaron… will you still come see me?"
He looked down at her, a slow smile forming. "I enjoyed tonight very much."
"Once you're on set, if I have time, I'll visit. The shoot's in Los Angeles anyway."
Outside, the city lights flickered against the dark sky—Hollywood glittering as always, indifferent to triumph or tragedy.
Cameron Diaz nodded seductively. "Really? Then I'll be waiting."
"Of course," Aaron replied with a faint smile, giving her a playful squeeze. "You were impressive."
"Alright, get some rest."
He patted her lightly before settling back.
As for what had happened to River Phoenix, Aaron found himself thinking about it—but not deeply. He wasn't the type to dwell. When Michael Jackson had faced child molestation allegations from the Jordan Chandler family earlier, Aaron hadn't paid much attention either. Compared to industry power plays and business strategy, the personal tragedies of stars rarely altered his course.
The next morning, back at Dawnlight Pictures, Aaron saw the headline:
At 1:51 a.m., River Phoenix had been pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Doctors were unable to save him.
"What a pity," Aaron murmured, leaning back in his chair. The chaotic scene outside the Viper Room the night before had been the last time he would ever see him.
As news spread, fans gathered outside the The Viper Room, holding candles and leaving flowers. Club co-owner Johnny Depp learned of his friend's passing only after seeing the growing crowd. Shocked and heartbroken, he announced the club would close for a week in mourning.
Hollywood reacted with collective grief. Tributes poured in. Close friends such as Keanu Reeves and Depp, along with River's family, were devastated.
In a statement to the press, the Phoenix family publicly thanked Aaron:
"Mr. Anderson ordered his security to clear the crowd so the ambulance could arrive more quickly. We are deeply grateful."
---
Meanwhile, Farewell My Concubine performed solidly in North America, earning over $5 million, with its global box office reaching $30 million—an impressive result for a Chinese-language film.
Released around the same time was another Chinese-American production, The Joy Luck Club, directed by Wayne Wang. The film, adapted from Amy Tan's bestselling novel, grossed over $30 million in North America alone and earned a spot on the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films list. Produced by Oliver Stone and distributed by Disney's Hollywood Pictures, it demonstrated the growing appetite for Asian-centered stories in mainstream American cinema.
On the television front, Jennifer Aniston had arrived in Los Angeles from New York to officially join Dawnlight Television's new sitcom project, Friends. She still vividly remembered her brief encounter with Aaron not long ago—but she hadn't expected him to offer her an opportunity so quickly.
Dawnlight Television had only just been established that year, with two series currently in production. Friends was one of them.
In contrast to Aniston's cautious uncertainty, Cameron Diaz was glowing with confidence. Securing the female lead in The Mask felt like a breakthrough moment.
Following her agent's advice to transition from modeling into acting, she had endured audition after audition. Now, at last, the opportunity had come.
Compared to what she had gained, Cameron felt her investment had been a small price to pay.