"Why can't I play the main role?"
Although she was drawn to Alex's script, there was one thing Emily simply couldn't accept.
He wanted her to play the second lead, Orihime Inoue.
Why?
She had given him the most precious part of herself… so why couldn't she be the first?
Mark stayed silent.
He didn't want to get involved in this couple's drama; he knew very well it could end badly.
"...Rukia's character is short and understated. Orihime Inoue, on the other hand, is… more prominent."
After a brief pause, Alex stated the truth calmly.
Emily was speechless, stunned.
Mark gave a mental thumbs-up.
"Alright… that's a solid reason."
But Emily could only think about punching Alex.
Damn him!
At his age, and he's still trying to dodge responsibility for his own mistakes?!
In Bleach, Alex had decided not only to act but also to write, direct, and produce the series.
After ten years in the industry, he had learned a lot on set.
Sets, props, camera angles… everything went through him.
But first and foremost, he had to secure the cast.
Mark was Alex's closest male actor, so he got the lead role.
After all, years ago, Alex had taken the role of Leo Shaw from him.
Then there were a few other key roles:
Jack Creed, the veteran actor, was personally approached by Alex to play Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
Jasper Quinn was cast as Byakuya Kuchiki.
It was undeniable: the man was strikingly handsome.
Alex remarked, with a smile, that his looks rivaled half of his own fame.
Another name was Gregory Allen, who had worked with Alex in World's Finest.
Few might remember him, but he had played the character Toronto. Now everyone would understand.
And there was the veteran Leorio Sguario, called to play Nnoitra.
It could be said that for this production, Alex had exhausted all the contacts he had built over ten years in the industry.
When Mark, the protagonist, finally arrived on set… everyone was shocked.
"Wow, this cast is full of stars!"
Looking around was like walking through a gallery of familiar faces.
"These salaries must be in the millions, right? Where did the funding come from?"
Mark seized a quiet moment and whispered to Alex.
Alex smiled calmly.
"I sold my house… and a few books I'd written over the years."
That's right. He had saved and invested everything he could, turning every cent into production funds.
It was an all-or-nothing gamble, but Alex was determined to make this series happen.
Mark and the other actors close to Alex were speechless.
"Wow… he really went all in."
"Alex, you're incredible. Several of these lead actresses are your exes, aren't they?"
Joe Sullivan, who played Ishida Uryū, tapped Alex on the shoulder with a mischievous grin.
Emily, playing Orihime Inoue.
Summer Johnson, as Rangiku Matsumoto.
Yasmim Banner, as Yoruichi Shihoin.
It was easy to see that several of the lead actresses had been involved with Alex before.
Wouldn't that create tension on set?
"They all ended things amicably. What's the problem?"
Alex replied calmly.
Alright, on the surface he seemed relaxed, but inside… even he wasn't entirely sure everything would go smoothly.
The problem was money.
Casting exes at least allowed him to offer a friendly price.
May Buddha protect him, and may no one try to stab him on set.
Mark and the others noticed the subtle tension between Emily, Summer, and Yasmim and wisely kept their distance.
Better not get involved.
"Alex… honey, there are some parts of the script I don't understand. Can you explain them to me?"
At that moment, a sweet, clear voice cut through the chatter on set, drawing the attention of several actors.
Samantha Burnes.
Still in high school, she was a young actress Alex had helped launch into stardom.
She would play the protagonist: Rukia Kuchiki.
Perfect for the role, small, delicate, understated, exactly what the character demanded.
And there was an interesting history between them: years ago, in The Blue Lantern Legend, Alex had played Eric Tucker, while she had portrayed little Nezha. A connection that, in a way, had linked them since then.
"Great, perfect."
Alex seized the opportunity to step away quietly, a faint smile on his lips.
This way, he could keep some distance from Emily and the others, avoiding any unnecessary tension.
Mark, watching the scene, couldn't help but feel a twinge of ironic amusement.
Alex chatting animatedly with a high school girl… and he always had that habit of getting involved with women around eighteen.
His eyes lingered on Samantha for a brief moment.
Ugh… this can't be happening.
A girl still so young, barely in her teens.
Even with all his audacity, Alex wouldn't dare cross a line this dangerous, right?
Better be careful… thirteen years in prison would be a small price to pay for any recklessness.