Defying Fate: The Unstoppable Eileen novel Chapter 394

Eileen skipped the Belmont Global Film Fest awards ceremony.

Instead, she found herself in the mountains just outside of Crestoniathe Capital, trying to figure out how to haul a massive, two-hundred-kilogram iron box from the riverbed without any equipment.

The examiners had been quite harsh, not only sinking the supplies but also chaining them with heavy iron links, making the retrieval a Herculean task that required both brute strength and the ability to unlock the chains.

While Crestoniathe basked in daylight, it was nighttime in the USA.

As the words "Best Picture: Eyes on the Rendezvous" echoed through the glitzy award ceremony, the entire crew cheered, and even fans watching the live stream from Crestoniathe were ecstatic.

The Belmont Global Film Fest might not have the gravitas of the Buffie Awards or the Summit Screen Fest, and certainly not the Oscars, the ultimate pinnacle for filmmakers.

But still, it was one of the nine prestigious A-list film festivals globally—each award was a rare gem.

Galen went up to accept the award and invited Egbert to join him on stage. Egbert politely declined.

"Don't be modest, this honor is as much yours as it is mine!" Galen insisted.

Egbert replied with a smirk, "It's not modesty. It's just that I really don't want to share the stage with you. Isn't it obvious?"

Galen was momentarily speechless.

So, Galen went up alone.

He knew Egbert had been in a funk since Eileen left. Just last night, he saw Egbert sending another voice message to Eileen, which once again went unanswered.

Galen felt that Eileen was like a kite with a broken string, drifting further away, and feared that if things continued this way, a breakup was inevitable.

Understanding the emotional turmoil and heartache a young man might face post-breakup, Galen empathized with Egbert's current snarky demeanor and tendency to see everyone through a cynical lens.

The Belmont Global Film Fest had bestowed the coveted Best Picture award on a film in Mandarin, and a suspense thriller at that—a rare feat, considering how challenging it was for suspense films to clinch awards.

But the night was about to get even more exciting.

When the Best Actress award was announced, Twitter exploded!

#Eileen You're the Best!#

#Eileen 20-Year-Old International Star#

#Eileen Absent from Belmont#

#Eileen Has Gone Big Time#

#Eileen Get Your Behind Here!#

For half an hour, Eileen trended worldwide.

Yet, she remained blissfully unaware.

At that moment, she was crouched by the riverbank, hands gripping the muddy earth, one foot testing the water as she prepared to dive in.

A few team leaders stood anxiously at the riverbank, urging, "Commander, let us handle this. We can't let you take the risk!"

Eileen rolled her eyes and retorted, "When I asked for volunteers, you all stepped back and pushed me forward!"

The leaders sheepishly replied, "You're the leader, we wanted to see you take the lead."

Eileen huffed, "My foot's already wet! Let's just do this! If not me, then who?"

The soldiers were instantly moved to tears.

Someone shouted, "Commander, promise you'll come back safe!"

Eileen sighed, "..."

With a deep breath, she plunged into the river.

The water was deep, and it took her a minute to reach the bottom.

Once there, Eileen circled the iron box a few times before resurfacing.

By then, she was soaked through.

Her waterlogged green combat uniform clung to her like a drenched kitten.

Sitting by the riverbank, she glanced around before turning to a soldier, "Give me your belt."

The soldier froze, clutching his waist awkwardly, "Commander?"

Eileen frowned, "Hurry up."

With her command, the leaders rushed forward, helping to unbuckle the soldier's belt, nearly pulling his pants down in the process.

The soldier lamented, "You're after my body..."

Eileen paused and said, "We wouldn't stoop that low."

Soldier: "..."

Taking the soldier's belt, Eileen removed the metal buckle and used a lighter to heat it while hammering it with a rock.

Moments later, she dove back into the water with the buckle.

When she emerged again, she was pulling up a long iron chain, "Let's lift it."

Hancock led over thirty people into the water, and with much effort, they hoisted the iron box out.

The box was locked tight.

Unlike the chain lock, this one seemed more intricate.

Hancock mused, "Looks like we'll need a key..."

"Click."

Hancock paused mid-sentence, as Eileen knelt by the box, using a hairpin from a female soldier to pop it open.

In the surveillance room, Major Morris was taken aback, "She opened it? Wasn't that a level-three encrypted lock?"

The room fell silent, an awkwardness hanging in the air.

Just then, a runner burst in, "Report!"

Major Morris put down his evaluation sheet, "Go ahead."

"Your phone call, sir!"

Major Morris stepped out to take the call, returning with an odd expression.

Commander Dirk inquired, "What's the matter?"

After a pause, Major Morris announced, "Eileen won Best Actress at the Belmont Global Film Fest."