1051-1055

*Chapter 1051: Siege on the Headquarters*

Monday morning, the start of another busy week.

Office workers trudged into the office buildings, each one dragging their heavy feet, their expressions resembling condemned prisoners reluctantly bidding farewell to the weekend. Every cell in their bodies resisted the idea of work, as if their souls had been left behind on the couch in their apartments.

However, there was a small exception—a group of young people, their faces fresh with collagen, unmistakably students. Their vibrant energy and untouched-by-society smiles revealed their youthful optimism. They gathered at the entrance of the Sony Columbia office building, filled with life and still believing in tomorrow, in dreams, and in the possibilities of life.

At first, the group was small, looking like college students about to embark on a trip to New York, temporarily using the location as a meeting point. But gradually, more people arrived. The sight attracted attention from passersby, becoming a scene on the bustling streets of New York.

Manhattan, a tiny area, crammed with millions of people, was suffocatingly dense. People rarely stopped, each preoccupied with their own busy lives, not willing to slow down for others—unless something special was happening.

So, what was going on here?

"Yes, we discussed it. We need to make noise in Los Angeles too, but the focus must be here, at the headquarters," Gloria nodded.

Elaine's eyes widened, "But why? Isn’t that place just a filming base? Even if we gather there, it won’t have much of an impact. The real decision-makers are here, right?"

Sony Columbia has two main offices, one in Los Angeles and the other in New York.

The Los Angeles headquarters isn’t technically in Los Angeles but in Culver City, an area known for its massive film studios. Sony Columbia owns several studios there, and that office primarily handles film production.

The New York headquarters, right there on Madison Avenue, was the heart of the city. It was the real center of operations, where the board of directors and high-level executives resided.

When Blair proposed that they should make their voices heard in support of Anson, there was debate about whether to stage their activities in Los Angeles or New York.

As Elaine thought, since the decision-makers and power brokers were all in New York, they naturally should come here. Besides, the Los Angeles headquarters was in the suburbs, and the media might not even notice. In contrast, New York’s headquarters was in the city center, where every move could draw attention, creating bigger waves.

Gloria shook her head. "The focus is on New York, but we can't ignore Los Angeles."

"That’s the hub of film production. Countless producers, directors, actors, and industry professionals come and go. We need the entire industry to realize how influential Anson is."

"If we only protest in New York, it’s just a demonstration targeting Sony Columbia. Other people might sit on the sidelines, feeling no impact."

"But if we add Los Angeles..."

Gloria glanced at Blair, who picked up the thread of conversation.

"We’ll make the entire film industry understand what a mistake Sony Columbia has made. It’s not just about this time; we need to plan for the long term to prevent this from happening again."

"No matter what happens, we will stand behind Anson, but we cannot let this repeat."

Elaine looked between Gloria and Blair, at a loss for words, only able to utter, "Wow."

She turned to the side, scanning her surroundings, excitement and nerves intertwined. "We need a big crowd today."

However, as people passed by, they paused briefly to glance at the scene with indifferent faces, as if trying to figure out what was happening. In less than a second, they gave up, their minds too drained on a workday to engage. Without a second thought, they resumed their expressionless march to work.

The entire city felt like a graveyard shrouded in the shadows of steel skyscrapers.

Elaine pulled her gaze back and turned to her friends, raising her arms high, mimicking a transformation pose from Sailor Moon, beaming brightly, "I’ve got confidence!"

...

Knock knock. Knock knock.

The urgent sound of knocking came through. Michael Lynton was on a call with a board member, already in a foul mood, and this only made it worse.

But Michael kept his calm, "Don’t worry. Everything is still under control. Right now, it’s all about momentum—whoever backs down first loses."

"I know what I’m doing. You just have to trust me. Just a little longer, and the situation will turn around. We’ll regain the upper hand."

After calming the other person, Michael hung up and took a deep breath to control himself.

Right now, Sony Columbia was at the center of a media storm, the last thing the board wanted to see. Whether the CEO was Amy or Michael, at the end of the day, they cared about profits. They needed to see strong financial results.

Naturally, the board was using Michael as a scapegoat, blaming him harshly.

To them, whether they replaced Anson or Michael didn’t make much difference.

Michael: ...

Those idiots.

Panicking at the slightest hint of trouble, giving orders from their high seats without understanding a thing. At the first sign of media backlash, they scrambled to shift blame. Some even retreated into their shells, criticizing Michael for being too aggressive and questioning whether they should’ve replaced Anson in the first place, fretting about the company’s reputation.

In Michael’s view, while momentum was still building outside, the board was already on fire inside. Now, with smoke rising everywhere, he had to help cover things up.

Who could imagine that the glamorous role of CEO was basically no different from being a low-level grunt cleaning up messes?

Ha.

Michael summoned all his strength to rein in his anger, swallowing the urge to curse. He focused on breathing, regaining his composure.

What he had said earlier wasn’t a lie. Michael truly believed everything was still under control. The media was making noise, but it was all just for show. Public opinion could shift at any moment.

In a crisis, the most important thing was to stay calm.

Just wait a little longer, and when the tide turned, the board members would come crawling back. What were they going to do, rely on Amy?

The success of Spider-Man was pure luck and had nothing to do with Amy. Sony Columbia’s future wasn’t in her hands, and the board should realize that.

Michael composed himself and called out.

"Come in."

*Chapter 1052: Completely Off the Rails*

“Come in.”

Finally, after getting permission, the door to the office swung open abruptly. The assistant cautiously poked their head in, anxiety written all over their face as they looked at Michael.

Before they could say a word, Michael cut them off.

“Calm down. How many times have I told you? No matter what happens, you need to stay calm. Even if the sky falls, there's always someone taller to hold it up.”

“We’re at the pinnacle of the Hollywood pyramid now. It’s not just about ability; we need to show composure. Do you know how many people are watching us?”

After a round of scolding, Michael’s simmering anger eased a bit. He lifted his chin slightly, signaling the assistant to speak.

The assistant took a deep breath, swallowed nervously, and barely managed to calm themselves, though they were still clearly anxious.

“Sir, outside. Look outside, out the window.”

Michael frowned, regaining a sliver of rationality amidst his anger, and joked, “I hope it’s not another 9/11.”

The assistant wasn’t amused.

In fact, they looked like they were on the verge of tears.

Unbothered, Michael stood up and walked toward the window. Over the past few months, he had developed a habit of gazing out the window, relishing the view of New York from above. He loved watching the masses scurry like ants below, while he held his destiny firmly in his own hands.

But today, that view had been ruined, polluted—

A bustling crowd, dense and overwhelming, had completely taken over the streets and square below.

Even from the forty-seventh floor, he could clearly see the black mass of people, meaning the actual number was likely even greater than it appeared.

Five hundred? Eight hundred? A thousand?

The scene looked like the end of the world, like a zombie apocalypse. Those who should have been above it all were suddenly at risk of being the first sacrifices.

The visual impact, from below to above, was overwhelming.

Michael barely contained himself. “What’s going on?”

Before the assistant could respond, the crowd below answered for them.

Though the people were not dressed uniformly, they came in all colors, shapes, and sizes, creating a chaotic sea of black and vibrant hues. But at this moment, everyone had their arms raised, waving red objects.

Hats. Scarves. T-shirts. Shirts. Flags. Fabric.

All sorts of items, but they were all red. The same red as the one Anson wore at the premiere of Elephant at the Cannes Film Festival—an intense, vibrant red blooming amid the sea of black.

In an instant, Michael’s mind flashed back to Anson’s breathtaking appearance on the Cannes red carpet. The impact was undeniable.

From above, he should have been looking down on a mass of insignificant ants. But now, these ants had clenched their fists and were punching Michael right in the face.

A surge of heat rushed through his nose.

The assistant’s voice broke through the tension. “They’re here for Anson.”

Worried that Michael didn’t understand, the assistant dutifully continued, “They’re protesting our plans to replace Anson…”

Michael felt a wave of frustration, his chest tightening. The assistant’s slightly trembling voice was like fuel to the fire, mocking the humiliation of Sony Columbia, mocking his arrogance. His ears seemed to buzz with the sound of chaos.

When had movie studios started being blackmailed by audiences?

And when had studios begun choosing actors based on the whims of fans?

Since when had film actors, like boy band idols, garnered fanbases this fanatical, so organized and disciplined?

Even in this crisis, Michael struggled to maintain his composure, forcing himself to adopt his usual elegance. “We’re not replacing him. We’re just preparing a backup, that’s all.”

The assistant swallowed nervously, clearly unconvinced by the blatant lie.

A snap.

Something in Michael’s mind broke. When did even his assistant start doubting his words?

This time, Michael couldn’t hold back.

“Damn it!”

Things were spiraling out of control.

Who could have imagined that all of this stemmed from a paparazzo trying to snap a picture of the new Spider-Man suit?

One accident after another, one twist after another, and now things had escalated to this. Once again, Anson’s immense influence was on full display.

Hollywood insiders had always half-jokingly, half-derisively regarded Anson’s rise as that of a mere pretty face. Yet now, here he was, becoming a cultural icon, a leader in fashion, and quietly challenging the power of Hollywood studios, subtly shifting the dynamics for actors.

This spectacle was only getting more interesting.

Sharp-eyed agents and producers had already sensed a shift in the wind. Perhaps, after this, the balance of power between actors and studios might change yet again. Major talent agencies, striving to get their stars into the coveted $20 million club, might find the path smoother.

Looking back to the start of this year, Anson’s negotiations with Sony Columbia over whether he could break into the $20 million club were a major talking point. Hollywood studios had been watching each other closely, all trying to prevent the $20 million club from becoming the standard.

In the end, Anson had compromised, securing a deal that satisfied both sides through indirect means.

But overall, the studios had won. The $20 million club remained an exclusive elite gathering at the pinnacle of Hollywood.

Now, however, things were taking a dramatic turn. Anson was once again challenging the industry’s rules. Although this battle wasn’t about his salary, it was clear that studios could no longer make arbitrary decisions about actors.

In the past, studios could replace actors at will. Warner Bros. had replaced three different actors in three Batman films without batting an eye, and no one complained. Even mega-stars like Tom Cruise and Will Smith dared not challenge the studios.

Until now.

Sony Columbia hadn’t even officially replaced Anson; they were merely auditioning potential backups. In Hollywood terms, it was no different from having substitute players on a soccer team—nothing to get worked up over. But things weren’t going as expected, and everything was going off the rails.

Clearly, the connection between Anson and Spider-Man ran deeper than expected. More importantly, the whole situation couldn’t be measured by conventional logic anymore. The power struggle between Anson and Sony Columbia had become something else entirely.

A small crack had quietly appeared.

And money, as always, was the best catalyst.

Silently, agents, producers, and actors who had been watching from the sidelines sensed the blood in the water, like sharks. Quietly, they began to make their moves.

A storm was brewing.

But Michael didn’t have time to worry about Hollywood’s inner workings right now. He had to get the situation under control before it completely unraveled.

If he didn’t, he wouldn’t even need Amy to intervene—he’d be done for when he faced the board.

So, how should Michael respond?

*Chapter 1053: Shameless*

"Official clarification."

An official statement from Sony Columbia took them only thirty minutes. Before the crowd could fully surround Sony Columbia's Madison Avenue headquarters, Michael Lynton demonstrated his decisive ability by promptly issuing a strong, positive response.

Because Michael knew, time is money.

Sony Columbia had to hit the brakes before things spiraled out of control. If they delayed, unseen shadows and lurking ghosts in the dark would emerge one by one, and by the time public opinion formed a storm, even if Sony Columbia could clarify the facts, their reputation would be beyond repair.

Everything had to be fast and resolute.

In this official statement, Michael displayed his talents and capabilities fully—it's also why he became CEO.

First, they condemned TMZ, calling it all nonsense.

Second, they emphasized that the list in question was for an unnamed confidential project’s audition and had nothing to do with Spider-Man 2.

Third, they expressed that Sony Columbia had been patiently observing Anson Wood's condition and sincerely hoped for his speedy recovery.

Concise and straight to the point.

The key points of Sony Columbia’s statement can be summarized in those three points, but within the same statement, one can read different attitudes from Michael.

Facing the paparazzi, he was harsh, directly blaming Harry Percy for being unscrupulous in shifting attention, claiming there was no difference between him and any other tabloid. His wording, tone, and sentence structure all reflected the anger behind the text, as if he wanted to roll up his sleeves and start swinging punches.

Facing the audience, there was no direct response, but between the lines, they subtly blamed the public for lacking discernment and judgment, insinuating that they shouldn’t have blindly believed TMZ. Even though this statement only appeared because crowds surrounded Sony Columbia’s headquarters, there was no mention of the audience in it.

Regarding Anson, the words were vague, polite but stiff, repeatedly using the same platitudes. It seemed supportive of Anson, but if you read carefully, you’d notice something off:

The statement could have simply said, “Sony Columbia has never and does not plan to replace Anson,” which would have decisively quashed all disputes—paparazzi could leave, and the audience could too. The issue would be fully resolved. But they didn’t say that.

The entire statement, from beginning to end, never directly addressed Anson’s involvement with the production or his continued role as Spider-Man—not even a word.

Smart people could see Michael’s cunning. He left room for maneuvering. After the dust settles, if they can replace Anson, they would follow through. And if they face backlash, they can confidently say:

“I only said the list wasn’t for a replacement, but I never said we weren’t making contingency plans for the movie.”

Some might call this shameless.

But does Michael care?

The answer is no.

In fact, if it weren’t for the overwhelming public outcry, if it weren’t for the massive crowd surrounding the Sony Columbia building, they wouldn’t have bothered responding to the rumors. After all, Spider-Man is Sony Columbia’s project—since when does anyone else get to tell them what to do?

This statement is already the result of Sony Columbia compromising.

However, regardless of everything, Michael was still impressive. This statement covered all the bases, not only addressing the controversy but also clearing any suspicion.

So, the situation evolved into a “Paparazzi vs. Movie Studio” narrative. TMZ and Sony Columbia now stood at odds. So, who was telling the truth?

Clearly, most people were inclined to believe Sony Columbia. Although conspiracy theories were still rampant, and plenty of people believed TMZ wasn’t spouting nonsense, overall, Sony Columbia’s statement was logical, well-structured, and very convincing.

The tides were quietly turning.

...

"Sir."

The assistant noticed the office door was ajar but still called out from the doorway.

Michael Lynton stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down without turning around. He raised his hand, signaling for the assistant to enter.

The assistant brought in a salad and coffee, asking Michael if he wanted anything else. But it was obvious Michael wasn’t interested. Even though it was well past lunchtime, he still had no appetite, his gaze fixed downward.

The reason was simple: the crowd below was still gathered and showed no sign of dispersing.

"Sir, I just spoke with the NYPD. They said the assembly down there was authorized with a permit. City Hall approved it, so the NYPD can't do anything."

Michael wasn’t surprised by this answer, but he couldn’t hide his irritation. “Lunch?”

The assistant replied, "They’ve sent out ten people to buy sandwiches and burgers. They’re all eating on-site and have even ordered afternoon tea.”

Michael smirked, “Seems like they know how to enjoy themselves better than I do.”

The assistant hesitated briefly but then added, “There are rumors that lunch and afternoon tea were funded by actors and directors.”

Michael, “All of them?”

Assistant, “Unclear, but rumors say all the main actors chipped in, including Alfred, who joined this time, and Willem Dafoe, who’s just making a cameo.”

Michael let out a cold laugh, “So they’re all uniting against us now? I should’ve replaced the whole lot of them.”

The assistant remained silent.

Michael had a bad feeling.

He had a nagging sense that something else was about to happen, though he couldn’t pinpoint what. The uneasy feeling was horrible.

But Michael forced himself to regain his composure.

“If they want to stay, let them stay.”

Pulling his gaze away from the window, Michael returned to his desk—he still had work to do.

At the same time, in the plaza in front of the building, the buzzing conversations hadn’t stopped. It was lively and bustling.

The atmosphere was somewhat chaotic—

Because this wasn’t the era of smartphones and social media. There was a time lag between the real world and the online world, and to some extent, they were still disconnected.

While they were surrounding Sony Columbia on Madison Avenue, they hadn’t yet learned that Sony Columbia had already issued a statement.

When the online news finally reached them, lunch had just ended.

A single stone sent ripples.

The young people started discussing what to do next.

Elaine looked around, a bit confused. No one was speaking up, though the surrounding area was buzzing with activity. Their group, however, remained unusually quiet.

In the end, it was Elaine who couldn’t hold back and broke the silence.

“What now?”

They exchanged uncertain glances. Karen attempted to answer, “Our goal’s been achieved. That means we’ve succeeded. So, we can leave now, right?”

Leave, or stay?

Continue, or pause?

That became the focus of the discussion.

Blair and Gloria, who had organized this protest, never expected Sony Columbia to respond so quickly. They had originally planned to blockade the studio for three days—

At least three days.

They thought they’d block them for three days, see how they responded, and then decide if they should continue the protest.

Because they knew that movie studios wouldn’t be easily swayed by the opinions of the audience. They had prepared for a long fight, ready to be patient.

And now? This is it?

Chapter 1054: Reading Between the Lines

Whether it was Blair or Gloria, all the young protesters knew that a company as massive as Sony Columbia wouldn't easily back down. They understood that this situation wouldn’t be resolved anytime soon.

Yet, the young people still showed up, unafraid, to support Anson. More importantly, they were there to take a stand.

But then, what happened?

In just 30 minutes, Sony Columbia not only responded but gave an official statement to everyone:

“Hey, it’s just a misunderstanding. Blame TMZ and those damned paparazzi.”

So, what now? Should they all just disperse?

Blair was lost in her thoughts. "Don’t you all find this strange?"

"We thought Sony Columbia wouldn’t even acknowledge us, and even if they did, it would take at least three days."

"But now?"

"Thirty minutes. Isn’t that way too fast?"

"It’s almost like…"

Blair looked up at her friends, her expression filled with doubt.

"It’s almost like they’re hiding something. Like they’re desperate to shut us up and make us go away quickly, solving the issue in haste."

Karen’s perfectly shaped eyebrows furrowed. "But why? Why would they do that? Could TMZ actually be telling the truth?"

Blair shook her head. "I don’t know."

After all, they were still too young, standing outside the inner circle, lacking enough information to understand the deeper, more complicated reasons behind the scenes.

It was just a gut feeling—a refusal to believe that Sony Columbia would respond so easily.

Then, Gloria’s voice suddenly cut through from the side.

“They didn’t guarantee Anson’s role.”

Karen blinked. "What do you mean?"

Gloria, carefully studying the printed-out statement from Sony Columbia word by word, held it up to show everyone.

"Look, they denied the list, said they cared about Anson, but they never directly addressed the rumor that Anson was being replaced. They didn’t say for sure that they’re waiting 100% for Anson to return to the set."

"Of course, from the tone of the statement, we can infer that, but that’s exactly the point. They could’ve cleared things up, straightforwardly denying the rumor of replacing Anson."

"But they didn’t."

There was a glint of determination in Gloria’s eyes.

"There’s something fishy going on."

Karen was stunned, and Elaine covered her mouth with both hands in shock.

Gloria looked around at her friends, firmly conveying her point.

"We can’t leave."

"Even though I don’t know why, I feel like they want us to leave quickly."

Blair was startled. "I just said the same thing!"

Gloria, lost in thought earlier, had missed Blair’s comment. Now, she was fully energized. "You think so too? Then we definitely can’t leave."

"Listen, girls, we need to stay calm. We need patience."

"Even though we don’t know exactly what’s going on, at the very least, we can stick around and wait it out. Let’s see if anything changes, if there’s a twist in the situation."

Karen still didn’t quite understand what Blair and Gloria were worried about, but that didn’t really matter. "We were planning to stay here all day anyway. It’s just following the plan. I’m in."

Blair knew her friends well, shaking her head. "No, Blair. We need to convince the others to stay too. We need to gather everyone’s strength."

"Remember? Just one or two of us standing in front of Sony Columbia won’t do anything. But if we all unite, it’s a different story. Sony Columbia will have to take notice."

"That’s why they responded in 30 minutes—it shows we did something right. Now, we need to keep going."

Karen nodded, understanding. "Alright, let’s split up and start convincing the others before Sony Columbia’s plan takes effect."

They dispersed, spreading the word, calming each other down one by one.

The crowd in front of Sony Columbia’s headquarters never thinned out.

"…A thousand people!"

"No, more than a thousand. At least a thousand."

"The scene is unimaginable. A massive, overwhelming crowd—it’s impressive."

"Sony Columbia panicked immediately. They realized how serious the situation was and responded as soon as they could. But in doing so, they might’ve just exposed themselves, making it clear that something fishy is going on."

"From my perspective, Sony Columbia covered all the bases, but still slipped up. There were some cracks, and now they can’t keep up."

It was rare to see Eve so animated, gesturing wildly.

For Eve, this was an adrenaline-filled moment, facing off against a giant like Sony Columbia and making them lose their composure.

But Edgar had a different concern.

"No matter what, Sony Columbia’s response was comprehensive. The public will probably buy into it. In this case, we need to be careful not to come across as overreaching."

His words were vague, but his stance was clear. They needed to seize the opportunity to land a fatal blow on Sony Columbia.

It was obvious that they were on the brink of success. But just one misstep could ruin everything, letting Sony Columbia escape unscathed.

Eve nodded in agreement. "Right now, Anson shouldn’t show his face. He needs to stay here and keep playing the role of the perfect victim."

Anson lay obediently in his hospital bed. "So, should I get wrapped up like a mummy and take a picture to ‘accidentally’ leak to TMZ?"

Eve’s face was completely serious. "That’s actually a good idea. We could continue playing the victim of the paparazzi and successfully stir up public sympathy."

But this was only a joke.

If Anson’s injury photos leaked now, the intent would be too obvious, easily exposed. And if Anson’s condition was truly that severe, Sony Columbia would have even more reason to audition other actors as backup.

"What if I showed up at the protest site?"

A voice suddenly spoke up, and everyone turned to look.

Lucas, dressed all in black, stood like a looming figure in the corner.

"I’m not Anson, but I’m his brother."

"If I show up at the protest, it won’t be as direct, but it will make my stance clear. Obviously, I’m dissatisfied with Sony Columbia’s response. Obviously, something shady is going on."

"Obviously, Sony Columbia’s polished statement is all lies."

"Even though Sony Columbia would know that my actions reflect Anson’s feelings, they wouldn’t be able to admit it. And if things don’t go well, Anson can just say he had no idea about my actions and distance himself from me."

"Just like Sony Columbia’s official statement."

The real meaning, hidden beneath the surface, was to deliberately lead the audience to imagine something different.

Once the storm passes, they’ll tear off the mask and reveal their true selves, only to argue that they never meant it that way, blaming it on the audience’s overactive imagination.

After all, with enough clever wording, anything can be spun either way.

Chapter 1055: The Man in Black Takes Action

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.

All eyes focused on Lucas, and Eve and Edgar’s eyes lit up.

Clearly, Lucas' idea was quite good.

However, Edgar was still a bit worried about Anson’s opinion and remained silent.

Eve, on the other hand, had no such concerns. "I think this is feasible."

The atmosphere in the room grew slightly tense.

Lucas noticed Anson’s gaze.

Anson didn’t want Lucas to get too involved, and neither did the Woods. They had their own lives, and once exposed under the Hollywood spotlight, their world could be turned upside down.

But Lucas’ gaze was firm—this time was different. He couldn’t just stand by.

Anson sighed in mild frustration.

He knew that even if he objected, Lucas would still persist.

Nonetheless, Anson needed to try. "Luke, even if you don’t get involved, we still have backup, right? Eve?"

Eve glanced between the Wood brothers. Even though Anson’s gaze was sharp, Lucas' stare could pierce through anything—

Jesus Christ, did they even know how thick her skin was? If Lucas' stare could break through it, it must be extremely sharp.

In a flash, Eve decided on her strategy. "Yes, we have backup."

"But," Eve turned her gaze to Anson, shifting the conversation, "we’ve done everything we can, but I can’t guarantee the outcome. Remember what you said? You can’t ask James and Kristen to risk their careers for you, and the same goes for the other actors."

"So, we can only guide things, but nothing is certain. We don’t know how things will develop."

"Otherwise, Anson, how about this? You let me convince James and Kristen to publicly support you, and then we won’t need to..."

Bother Lucas.

The rest of her sentence was swallowed naturally, as Eve looked at Anson with a sweet, innocent expression.

Anson glanced at her, "Eve, if Lucas is threatening you, just say something."

Eve: "…Meow?"

They exchanged glances, especially with Eve’s eyes darting around, her expression amusing.

It was obvious Eve was using this moment to subtly push back against Anson.

Clearly, Eve and Anson had different opinions.

Lucas, calm and composed, looked at Anson: "See?"

Anson couldn't hold back and closed his eyes, thinking deeply for a moment. When he reopened them, he looked at Lucas, still unwilling to accept the situation.

Although Anson knew that if the paparazzi were interested, exposing his family wouldn’t be difficult; in Hollywood, there’s an unspoken rule to try and separate the lives of artists from their families.

Yet now, Lucas was voluntarily stepping into the spotlight, and the aftermath was unpredictable.

Anson made one last attempt. "Luke, you showing up like this might scare the kids."

Lucas didn’t budge. "That’s exactly the effect we’re going for."

Anson sighed. "Is there anything I can do to stop you?"

Lucas: "Rest well, focus on your rehab, and play Spider-Man perfectly."

Anson was speechless and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Lucas nodded slightly. "Good boy, listen up."

Anson lay back on the hospital bed, pretending to be a dead fish, looking utterly defeated.

Meanwhile, Edgar was barely holding in his laughter, and Eve gave up any pretense, laughing wildly until her face muscles stiffened.

...

550 Madison Avenue was packed with people.

A cacophony of noise.

In fact, a small group of people had already started leaving.

After Sony Columbia's statement, some decided to believe it over conspiracy theories. They had come to protest because they thought Sony had mistreated Anson, but now that the misunderstanding seemed cleared up, they saw no reason to stay.

A group of fans tried their best to convince them otherwise, but they couldn’t stop them. They watched as people trickled away, three or four at a time.

Like a sandcastle, it was inevitable.

Even so, the majority of the fans remained, and the crowd was still considerable. However, there was no denying that about a third of the crowd had dispersed.

Maybe not that many, perhaps just a fifth or a quarter; but visually, the gaps and spaces in the crowd gave the impression that the loss was far more severe than it actually was.

The atmosphere was still lively, but there was now an undercurrent of unease.

It seemed that Sony Columbia’s official statement had indeed had an effect, and the situation was gradually shifting back in their favor.

But then, without much delay, the situation took another turn.

A man entered the scene. He didn’t speak to anyone or make any moves. He simply joined the crowd and looked up at the Sony Columbia building.

Dressed entirely in black—a black hoodie, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black baseball cap—his figure stood out. His long legs, broad shoulders, and well-proportioned body easily caught attention.

Within three to five minutes, whispers began to spread, and soon someone recognized him—

Lucas Wood. Anson’s brother.

He had made a name for himself after his firm response at the hospital entrance, a story that spread like wildfire among the fan base.

Now, many knew that Anson had a handsome brother; and this low-key figure had finally stepped into the public eye.

Here he was again, standing before them.

After a brief flurry of excitement and confusion, speculation began to ripple through the crowd.

Lucas was right in front of them, so why not just ask him directly? But Lucas' cold, distant demeanor kept people at bay. No one dared to approach him, afraid they’d get caught in a storm, so they stayed back, watching and whispering.

Eventually, some brave fans cautiously approached, asking him questions.

Lucas remained aloof, responding with a question of his own, "You’re here to support Anson, right?"

After receiving an affirmative response, Lucas turned away, not answering any more questions. Despite repeated attempts, this iceberg of a man remained unmoved.

The group of girls, frustrated by his coldness, turned and left.

Rumors began to swirl through the whispers until it became clear: they didn’t need answers. Lucas’ actions spoke louder than words—

He supported Anson.

It was obvious that Lucas wasn’t satisfied with Sony Columbia’s response; their seemingly perfect statement had dodged the real issues. Clearly, Sony was trying to deflect the focus, and Lucas’ presence here was his form of protest.

As the rumors spread, the crowd grew restless again.

Earlier, the atmosphere had felt uncertain, uneasy, as if the gathering could collapse at any moment. With people leaving, those who stayed began to wonder if they should too.

Was it worth it?

But now, with Lucas' appearance, their spirits were steadied once again.