1021-1025

*Chapter 1021: The Giants' Struggle*

Aggressive, relentless, unwilling to yield.

The atmosphere in the conference room tightened once more. Even as eyes darted through the air, the sole focus of the room was unmistakably on Michael Lynton.

This was no surprise.

In most top companies, there is only one CEO, as it's common sense that having too many captains steering the ship can lead to disaster. And right now, Sony Columbia is facing just such a scenario.

Michael Lynton was the disruptor in this case.

Over the past few years, Amy Pascal had served as the CEO of Sony Columbia. However, as mentioned earlier, the company's performance had not met expectations, forcing them to gamble everything on Spider-Man—a do-or-die situation.

Fortunately, Amy’s gamble paid off. The historic success of Spider-Man caused a sensation throughout Hollywood.

But for shareholders, that still wasn’t enough.

One blockbuster movie couldn’t transform a giant corporation. Just as Titanic hadn’t catapulted 20th Century Fox to permanent dominance in Hollywood, Spider-Man also wasn’t enough to lift Sony Columbia out of its struggles with underperforming projects.

Thus, after much deliberation, the board appointed a second CEO in March of this year—Michael Lynton. They hoped Michael could help Amy transform Sony Columbia.

However, a key detail was left unclear: Who would take the lead between Michael and Amy? Was Michael assisting Amy, or was he there to replace her?

The board didn’t specify, and roles remained ambiguous. Still, the winds within the boardroom leaned toward empowering Michael and sidelining Amy, who had been CEO for years without pulling the company out of its slump.

In other words, nothing had been said directly, but Amy was now defending her position, while Michael was positioning himself for a takeover.

This wasn’t a friendly partnership where everyone benefited.

All the major decisions regarding Spider-Man 2 had been made by Amy before Michael’s promotion.

Now that issues had arisen, Michael wasn’t about to miss the chance to reshuffle the deck and bring Spider-Man 2 under his control.

What made things trickier was that Michael’s argument was persuasive. Considering the costs of production delays, the board might back his decision.

And so, the burning question became—

In the eyes of these people, was Anson truly irreplaceable?

Michael Lynton remained composed, almost like a professor, never raising his voice or getting angry. His calm, rational demeanor concealed an almost imperceptible air of superiority.

No one responded this time. Michael’s words hung in the air, slowly sinking into an uncomfortable silence.

Michael didn’t seem bothered. He lowered his chin slightly and smiled.

"It might seem like I’m the villain here, but let’s calm down. I mean no harm—I’m just stating the facts."

"We need rationality. We need calm. We need to face this challenge."

Sam, who had been sitting quietly with his head down, suddenly spoke up, “I thought Anson was the one facing the challenge right now.”

Michael was momentarily thrown off and paused slightly. "Of course, Anson has his challenges, and we have ours. I sincerely hope his acting career goes well, but now we must think about the interests of Sony Columbia. Don’t you agree?"

Ian glanced at Amy.

Amy’s face was clouded. It was clear that, in the face of Michael’s aggressiveness, she was struggling—not with this current battle but with the behind-the-scenes power struggle within the board.

If Amy couldn't protect herself, how could she vouch for Anson?

Ian sighed inwardly and then turned to Michael. "So, what are you thinking right now?"

Michael had finally reached his goal but didn’t seem surprised or overly pleased with himself. "I think we should replace the actor."

As he spoke, Michael pushed the folder sitting in front of him forward.

Ian stood up and opened the folder. Inside was a stack of A4 papers. After a quick scan, Ian said nothing more and handed a sheet to everyone in the room.

Sam still didn’t lift his head and didn’t even glance at it.

But Amy did. She was instantly furious. "You’ve already prepared all of this. So what’s the point of this meeting?"

It was a list of potential actors to replace Peter Parker, and there wasn’t just one—there were more than twenty names.

Considering the age, appearance, and style of the actors, it was evident that Michael had done his homework and conducted thorough research. From the start, Michael hadn’t planned to support Anson.

Amy’s anger erupted. "God, Anson is still lying in a hospital bed!"

Michael replied coldly, "I didn’t know you were such an emotional person—like other women. I sympathize with Anson’s situation, but we have work to do."

Michael remained unmoved.

The air was thick with tension, and as Michael and Amy clashed again, Sam felt nothing but boredom.

Suddenly, he found himself disillusioned. While Anson lay struggling between life and death, all Sony Columbia could think about was profit. They had reduced a human being to a mere number, completing their cold calculations like a simple game of figures.

But life wasn’t just numbers. Things shouldn’t be this way.

It was worth remembering that, at the time, the pressure of Spider-Man’s box office success had fallen squarely on Anson’s shoulders. After the film's tremendous success, they were now contemplating replacing him—burning the bridge after crossing it. The behavior was disgraceful.

In Sam’s eyes, this meeting shouldn’t have happened in the first place. They should’ve been supporting Anson without hesitation—no question.

But the truly heartbreaking part was that Anson seemed to have known this from the start.

In the hospital, Anson had spoken to Sam to express his feelings. He promised to recover quickly and return to the set, understanding that the delay could cause trouble for the production. He assured Sam that once he was back, he would work hard to get everything back on schedule.

At the time, Sam had told Anson he was overthinking it and reassured him to rest and recover, as the crew could shoot other scenes first. He believed they could finish the film on time.

Only now did Sam realize why Anson had brought up the issue so early in the hospital.

Clearly, Anson knew Sony Columbia lacked compassion.

All Sam could feel now was sadness and disappointment. Not only were they failing to support Anson, but they were also preparing to stab him in the back.

It shouldn’t be this way.

*Chapter 1022: Factions Divided*

Everything seemed absurd and laughable.

If word got out that Sony Columbia was planning to replace Anson—not only the key figure behind the success of "Spider-Man," but also the undisputed top rising actor in Hollywood—the first reaction would likely be:

"Are you kidding?"

What is this, some satirical news? Even when fabricating news, there should at least be some logic. Such outrageous nonsense is easy to see through, so what's the point?

However, the situation was indeed unfolding—

Judging from Michael's actions, he was determined to see it through.

Even before the meeting, Michael had already begun gathering information on replacement actors, conducting a thorough evaluation, and offering a flawless solution that left no room for refusal.

Michael and Amy were once again locked in a fierce confrontation, sparks flying, but this power struggle showed no signs of concluding anytime soon.

Amy, well-established and deeply rooted in Sony Columbia, had been building her career for years. Now standing on the edge of a cliff, she was prepared to fight with everything she had for her career.

Michael, on the other hand, was all-in. Although he appeared unstoppable for now, stepping forward like this also put him in a position with no way out. If he lost this battle, his career could face a disastrous setback.

"Spider-Man" remained Sony Columbia's top priority. Even if nothing unexpected had happened to Anson, Michael would have still found a way to insert himself and leave his mark on the project.

If Anson knew about this, the confusion and discord between the second and third films in the series might have had deeper reasons.

The atmosphere was tense. Ian wisely kept his mouth shut, staying out of the storm's path.

Unexpectedly, a sudden voice chimed in.

"I think Michael has a point."

Laura Ziskin, another producer, and one of the key figures who had initially supported Anson, finally spoke. She had been silent throughout the meeting as the fifth participant.

Ian thought he was hearing things, "Laura?"

Although Laura hadn't been the biggest fan of Anson, she had still respected his talent. Now, she seemed to have changed sides.

Ian's gaze quickly shifted between Laura and Michael.

Perhaps Laura hadn't "betrayed" Anson but had simply chosen a new faction.

Laura remained calm, unbothered by Ian's scrutinizing look.

"I'm not saying we should replace Anson immediately, but we need to be prepared."

"Yes, Anson needs time to heal and recover, three to six weeks. But no one can guarantee whether it'll be three weeks, six weeks, or even longer."

"We can't just wait indefinitely."

"We need to be ready. If Anson needs six weeks or more, then next summer's release will be a joke. We can choose to wait for him, but that might cost an additional ten to twenty million in budget increases."

"Alternatively, we could demonstrate the company's strength, showing Hollywood that no one is irreplaceable. The studio should win over the actor. We refuse to be led around by the nose."

Smart—

Laura had deftly shifted the conversation toward salary disputes, clearly indicating that the studio was still dissatisfied with actors earning more and more.

Ian guessed that Laura had already chosen her new faction.

As Sam prepared to speak, Laura interrupted him.

"Besides, finding a successor isn't that simple."

"Remember how long it took to choose the final actor? Anson's success wasn't just luck."

"Now, choosing a new Spider-Man, under time pressure after an accident, will be no easier."

Laura looked directly at Sam, then shifted her gaze to Michael.

"We should give these potential replacements a chance, while we monitor Anson's recovery progress."

"Being prepared on both fronts will minimize our losses."

"After all, we are the victims here. Every day we wait costs us more."

Reasonable and well-argued.

After Michael's push, Laura's compromise sounded much more palatable and easier to accept.

Assuming, of course, everyone in the room played nice.

But they weren't.

Ian tilted his chin slightly. Michael and Laura's tag-team approach seemed victorious, but he wasn't going to be fooled easily.

"Hah, tight schedule, difficult situation. So, perhaps you already have an actor in mind? Why not speed things up and save us from going through the motions of auditions?"

To Ian, this seemingly reasonable plan was just a cover. Michael and Laura probably already had someone in mind, ready to be approved within forty-eight hours, leaving no time for Anson to recover. It would be a swift and ruthless decision, cutting Anson out before he even had a chance to speak.

Although Anson was riding high in public perception, the studio still saw him as unsteady, far from a true superstar.

Laura remained calm, looking at Ian. "You’re one of the interviewers too. You have a vote. You can make your own judgment."

Ian didn't buy it.

Within the board, some votes supported Michael, while others backed Amy. If new actors were chosen, it would be less about "auditions" and more about another round of factional voting.

Michael or Amy?

If Michael's side was chosen, they would naturally pick the actor he had already set his sights on. The process would seem complex but, in reality, simple and transparent.

Laura's steady gaze bore into Ian, neither denying nor refuting his guess, but smiling as she asked,

"So, what's your stance?"

Ian was speechless.

Had he already decided to side with Amy? Was he truly standing against Michael? Once a choice was made, would there be no turning back?

His mind raced with a thousand thoughts.

Ian kept quiet, needing time to think.

Laura wasn’t surprised, knowing Ian was smart. Dealing with smart people was easy—one hint, and they got it.

Amy's heart was in her throat. She knew Ian hadn't made a final decision yet, and she still had a chance to bring him into her camp. But one thing was clear: today, Michael would get what he wanted—

The audition for replacement actors was inevitable.

As for whether Michael’s chosen candidate would become the new Spider-Man, that was another battle.

For now, Amy couldn’t stop Michael any longer. His argument was too solid, and the board wouldn’t reject it.

Amy couldn’t afford to keep aggravating the board.

With that realization, Amy fell silent, her mind whirling with thoughts.

Michael, always observant, sensed the differing thoughts in both Amy and Ian. His tense expression relaxed slightly.

"Well, then, it's settled. We’ll notify these actors—"

Bang.

A sudden noise interrupted Michael’s concluding statement.

*Chapter 1023: All or Nothing*

"So, it’s settled then..."

It was clear from Michael’s tone that he was wrapping things up, signaling the end of the meeting. Sam quickly looked up at Amy and Ian, only to find them both remaining silent.

Should he be disappointed?

Honestly, he had anticipated this. When faced with real interests, they were all insignificant—himself, Anson, even Leonardo DiCaprio or Tom Cruise—none of them could stand against capital. In front of the powers that be, they were all just ants.

Yet knowing this, even sensing the impending doom moments before, why was he still so furious?

An uncontrollable rage.

Sam recalled the past few months, the countless emails exchanged with Anson, the discussions about the characters and the plot, and the way they meticulously crafted this movie, piece by piece.

He also remembered Anson’s dedication since filming began. If it weren’t for his insistence that Anson personally perform his stunts, if it weren’t for his demand for authenticity in capturing the actors' real emotions and essence, Anson wouldn’t have taken the risk, and the accident wouldn’t have happened.

Now, while Anson lay on a hospital bed, enduring pain and struggling to recover, no one at Sony-Columbia seemed concerned about his condition. Instead, they were discussing how to replace him.

A cold shiver ran from Sam’s feet to the top of his head, exploding like a shockwave.

Michael’s unhurried voice droned on in the background, and though the tone was emotionless, it felt so cold, so sharp.

Finally, Sam could no longer control himself—

Bang.

He stood up suddenly, his chair tipping over with a loud crash, echoing through the small room like thunder.

"If you replace Anson, I’ll quit the project too."

A bombshell.

Without waiting for a response, Sam turned, pushed open the meeting room door, and stormed out, his breaths heavy, his anger palpable.

Sam knew it was the heat of the moment talking. He also knew that neither he nor Anson could stand up to the studio. Even so, he didn’t care.

This was the only way he could show his backbone.

When they were revising the script, Sam had already been holding in a lot of frustration. Deep down, he knew Anson was right, but Sony-Columbia had their own agenda. They refused to compromise on the female lead’s character, and that left Sam with a bitter taste, knowing the movie could be better but wouldn’t be made the way they envisioned.

That feeling was awful.

Now, facing a similar situation again, Sam knew he might regret it once he cooled down. After all, if Sony-Columbia didn’t care about Anson, why would they care about him? But he couldn’t just stay there, pretending everything was fine, when it was eating away at him. Even if he stayed, he wouldn’t find peace.

Leaving meant regret, staying meant regret—so why not do what felt right?

At least it felt liberating.

He let out a long sigh, the weight on his chest finally lifting.

Sam straightened his back and walked more confidently. The tension in the room he left behind was thick, a suffocating silence spreading.

Michael felt a dull throbbing in his temple but managed to keep his cool, shrugging as if it didn’t matter.

"Well, I guess I didn’t prepare well enough. I should’ve made a backup list of directors. Next time, I’ll be better prepared."

It was a joke, a light attempt to break the tension.

But it didn’t work this time.

Laura merely gave Michael a knowing smile. "I think we’ve got a lot... a lot of work ahead of us."

Her words hung in the air, loaded with meaning but left unsaid.

The meeting didn’t continue. It ended there.

For Michael, replacing the actor and the director wasn’t a problem. Sure, Sam quitting might stir up some opposition from the board. After all, Amy had personally approved Sam’s contract renewal, and the board had also signed off on it. The renewal was done even before the release of Spider-Man a month ago, so Michael would need to do some convincing. But he didn’t think it was an impossible task.

Sam Raimi wasn’t Steven Spielberg or James Cameron—even top directors like them weren’t above producers and studios. That’s why those directors often doubled as producers. In Hollywood, the producer’s authority is at the core of any film project.

Replacing Anson and Sam would fully erase Amy’s mark on Spider-Man 2, paving the way for Michael to take full control of this major project.

But it wasn’t that simple.

At this delicate moment, replacing Anson was already pushing public tolerance. Sony-Columbia would need a flawless PR strategy to navigate this. If the director quit too, the studio would be seen as heartless and could face a massive backlash.

One misstep, and Spider-Man 2 could go from highly anticipated to universally hated, with audiences potentially boycotting the film.

On moral grounds, Sony-Columbia would be in a tight spot.

So, even though Michael would love to see both Sam and Anson gone, his rational mind pulled him back from the edge—he couldn’t take that risk.

If Michael were going to take such a gamble, he’d need a much more solid plan, or else it would end in disaster.

Sam, risking his career, had won a small glimmer of hope for Anson. But that hope remained fragile and slim. Sony-Columbia still held the upper hand.

It was like hitting a rock with an egg. Everyone knew it was foolish, yet in real life, miracles sometimes required that kind of spirit. Without it, they wouldn’t be called miracles.

On one side, Sam had just dropped a bombshell, barely giving Amy room to maneuver.

On the other side, Sony-Columbia still made the call to the backup actors—

Under the guise of Plan B.

"We’re not replacing Anson, just preparing for the possibility. If Anson can’t return to set in time, we don’t want the project to come to a halt."

Neither Amy nor Sam could argue with such a reasonable excuse. Even if the media caught wind of it, Sony-Columbia could stand tall.

The key was that Sony-Columbia’s secrecy was airtight. They kept everything as low-profile and confidential as possible, avoiding any leaks.

So, was this a guilty conscience?

One accident had stirred up a storm, muddying everything and making the waters murky and chaotic, with noise and clamor everywhere.

The storm was brewing.

Now came the moment of truth—who would be the first to get the inside scoop?

Chapter 1024: The Moral Bottom Line

At Mount Sinai Hospital, in the VIP ward, Anson’s rest was interrupted again.

“…Anson!”

Edgar seemed slightly helpless, his shoulders slumped, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit deflated.

Eve, arms crossed over her chest, leaned against the windowsill. Her bright red lips curled slightly upward. "Although I hate to say it, I did warn you."

Edgar glanced at Eve. “We should be on the same side right now.”

Eve raised her chin slightly. “Oh, right.”

Then, she looked at Anson lying on the hospital bed. “I didn’t realize you had such a high moral standard.”

Anson chuckled. “So, what image do I have in your eyes?”

Eve thought for a moment. “Free. Carefree. Laid-back. Not one for small rules. Not that you don’t have a moral baseline, but you’ve seen through a lot and refuse to bind yourself to it.”

Anson smirked. “A bit disappointing. The image of breaking stereotypes has now become another stereotype. I should work harder.”

Eve responded, “Then start with this. Show some of the tricks of the entertainment world. Trust me, such things are all too common in Hollywood.”

Anson replied, “Of course, I know. Did you forget? What was my first project?”

Eve blinked, taking a moment to catch up. “Oh, how could I forget? You lent a helping hand, and they landed a record-breaking paycheck. So, you’re no stranger to this.”

Anson nodded. “No stranger, and I don’t reject it. I’m not refusing because my moral standards could win a Nobel Peace Prize.”

Eve, curious, asked, “Then why?”

The first to get the news was Eve.

Edgar hadn’t been a formal agent for long, and his network in the industry was limited. To this day, the gaze of jealousy and envy towards Edgar within William Morris Agency far exceeded any friendly looks.

However, Eve was different.

As a PR specialist, she had ears everywhere, and her informants were scattered across every corner of the entertainment industry. She was the first to catch wind of Sony-Columbia’s moves.

After further investigation, Eve confirmed Sony-Columbia’s plan—they wanted to replace Anson.

In this whole situation, Anson was the most innocent. He did nothing wrong, yet somehow ended up injured and losing his job. It made no sense. But Eve knew this was part of a power struggle at the top of Sony-Columbia. It was the classic case of "when whales fight, the fish in the pond get hurt." Anson had no choice.

Anson should be resting now, but Eve and Edgar had to find him to quickly come up with a strategy.

After hearing Sam’s stance, Eve and Edgar had an idea:

“Stage a coup.”

If Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, and Alfred Molina took a stand like Sam did, and said that if Anson were replaced, they would also walk off the project, it would create enough pressure.

Like with “Friends,” if the cast stuck together, Sony-Columbia would likely think twice before removing Anson. Otherwise, public backlash could overwhelm them.

However, Anson refused.

Unbelievable!

Edgar and Eve were trying to convince Anson, thinking he was refusing to morally coerce his friends. But it seemed there was more to it?

Anson explained, “Of course, if I asked, James and Kirsten would probably agree. But I don’t want to morally bind them. That’s also a fact. They have their careers, and I can’t ask them to jump into the fire with me…”

Edgar disagreed. “Without you, ‘Spider-Man 2’ would probably be a disaster. You’d be doing them a favor, saving them from the fire.”

Anson couldn’t help but laugh. “Ha, so confident?”

Edgar looked completely certain.

Anson continued, “But, like I said, that’s not the real reason. In my view, Sam’s stance carries enough weight. He’s the writer and director, the one who sets the tone for the whole film.”

“If the director and the lead actor walking away isn’t enough to make Sony-Columbia change their minds, then their resolve must be strong. Adding Kirsten and James wouldn’t help. It might even anger them.”

“To them, if both the lead actor and director are replaced, they might as well overhaul the entire cast and reshape the project, showing their strength and refusing to be threatened by actors and directors.”

“This isn’t like ‘Friends.’ ‘Friends’ had a solid fan base, and NBC wanted to continue the series, so their unity worked. But here, Sony-Columbia already wants to kick me out. Banding together would only give them an excuse.”

“So, what might have been just my loss could result in my friends losing their jobs too. I couldn’t live with that. And then I’d probably have to worry about finding them new jobs or starting a whole new project. Oh, what a headache.”

As he spoke, his tone lightened with a bit of humor.

Eve and Edgar exchanged glances, and Eve smiled slightly. “I admit, your concerns are valid.”

Eve glanced at Edgar again. Of course, they hadn’t only prepared one plan. “If we have no other choice, we could always leak the story, let the public know. Anson Wood got hurt on set, and Sony-Columbia couldn’t wait to drop him.”

“Trust me, the whole of North America would explode, and everyone would side with you.”

“But…”

Eve paused, “Sony-Columbia probably expects this. That’s why they haven’t clarified the rumors and have even fanned the flames, exaggerating your injury.”

“I suspect they’re positioning themselves as the victim, saying they have no choice but to prepare a backup plan out of concern for your health, not because they want to replace you, begging fans not to be misled by malicious actors. Blah blah.”

“And that would give them a chance to clarify, even though they’re the perpetrators posing as victims, muddying the waters.”

“That’s why I don’t want to go public. Sony-Columbia is prepared. We didn’t anticipate that ‘Spider-Man 2’ would become a battleground for Sony-Columbia’s internal power struggles, so we’ve lost the advantage. Even though Anson is the victim, we’re constantly on the back foot.”

Does the truth matter?

Yes, it matters—a lot. But in real life, the distractions around the truth can obscure, exploit, or weaponize it.

So, even though Anson holds the truth, that doesn’t mean he can hold the upper hand.

After all, Sony-Columbia has only talked to other actors—they haven’t actually replaced Anson yet.

“If we choose that path, we need to prepare thoroughly and strategize in advance. We can’t let the crew be controlled by Sony-Columbia and become their mouthpieces. They could slander Anson, even twisting the accident to make it seem like his fault. That’s possible.”

“Once we fire the first shot, Sony-Columbia could respond with everything they’ve got—machine guns and rocket launchers aimed right at us.”

*Chapter 1025: Strategic Game*

Eve truly lived up to her professional reputation. With just a small opening, her mind raced ahead, piecing together the big picture from small details—she could now see the entire grand blueprint.

Michael Lynton planned to replace Anson. Did he not foresee the backlash from public opinion? Was he unaware of Anson's overwhelming popularity?

Clearly, Michael knew. He wouldn't recklessly expose his true intentions by acting too hastily.

However, an unexpected element emerged—Sam Raimi.

Sam unhesitatingly sided with Anson, and his all-in stance shifted the dynamics, causing Sony-Columbia to tread more cautiously.

At present, everything seemed calm at Sony-Columbia, like the calm before the storm. Perhaps Michael was waiting for Anson to make the first move so he could respond accordingly, avoiding an early reveal of his own ambitions, turning both disadvantages and advantages into momentum for himself.

Suddenly, Eve's eyes lit up.

"Anson is right."

Anson shrugged casually, "Well, I'm always right, but do go on."

Eve: Heh.

"We can't stir up Kristen and James. If we band together, Anson, who started as the victim, could quickly be seen as the one disrupting team unity, someone attempting to break ties with Sony-Columbia over a minor issue. Worse, they might accuse him of staging everything to seize control of production."

"Michael Lynton has set a trap, and he's waiting for us to fall into it."

Eve quickly connected all the dots, casting a look of surprise at Anson.

She knew Anson was smart—but this smart?

This wasn't just intelligence; it showed a deep understanding of news, media, PR, and public opinion.

Anson noticed Eve's scrutinizing gaze and wore a look of casual confidence, smiling back at her.

After a brief pause, Eve convinced herself she might be overthinking it. Maybe it was just a coincidence, and Anson had simply rejected the proposal to avoid putting moral pressure on his friends.

Anson remained calm. "So, what's your suggestion?"

Eve pulled her thoughts together. "We can't be direct or forceful. We need a well-thought-out plan before confronting Sony-Columbia."

"Even though the situation caught us off guard, we still hold the moral high ground. As long as we don't make any stupid mistakes, we can strike back."

"My guess is, Michael Lynton didn't expect this 'pretty face'—you—to stay so calm and even turn the tables on him."

Anson glanced at Eve. "I have a strategy, actually. I'm not sure it’ll work, but it might be useful."

Eve and Edgar exchanged a look, eyes brightening slightly.

Whenever Anson started strategizing, it usually meant trouble for someone.

Michael Lynton: Ahchoo!

What’s going on?

Michael looked around, but nothing seemed out of place. Still, he couldn’t stop sneezing—three in a row, leaving his ears ringing.

Was he coming down with a cold?

...

Dusk slowly fell outside Sinai Hospital, and the bright light outside the window gradually turned into a glorious golden hue, even more magnificent than at sunrise.

Anson was quietly admiring the blazing sunset.

Forced to lie in bed after being injured—especially with the damage to his waist and back—Anson had no choice but to rest, unable to move. Lucas had used the doctor’s orders as an excuse to completely pin Anson down.

Perhaps the only silver lining was that he now had plenty of time to stop, breathe, and look up at the sky.

He had heard before that modern people were too tired, too busy. Everyone was trapped by their desires and pressures, constantly running, heads bowed under the weight, never looking up to the sky.

Since the advent of smartphones, people were even more trapped within their screens. Not only did they miss out on the sky, but their immediate world became blurred, and all that was left was the virtual world on their phone, drifting further away from reality.

Every now and then, it was good to stop and look up, to find a patch of sky amidst the skyscrapers, to trace the clouds and the sun, to seek infinite possibilities in the vast universe. It made life's worries and problems seem trivial, no longer important.

Anson had always tried to remind himself of this, not to repeat the mistakes of his past life, to occasionally look up at the sky.

But he hadn’t expected that, in the busyness of recent times, he had also forgotten this simple task.

Perhaps this injury wasn’t all bad.

So while the world outside buzzed in chaos, Anson found a moment of peace, enjoying the sunset—a brief escape from the whirlwind of life.

Knock, knock.

There was a light knock at the door, not loud or forceful, almost as if unsure whether they wanted a response from the person inside.

It felt a bit like a thief testing the waters—if no one inside reacted, it would be a green light to proceed, even if someone was there.

Sure enough, before Anson could respond, the door creaked open. A head poked in, looking around stealthily. As soon as they spotted Anson lying in bed, watching with an amused expression, it was as if they had been caught mid-act.

The visitor awkwardly scratched their neck and stepped inside, standing straight against the wall like a student caught in the principal's office.

"Anson," they mumbled sheepishly.

Anson's smile widened. "Judging by your stance, you must've spent a fair bit of time in the principal's office."

The visitor chuckled awkwardly, not denying it.

Anson joined in the laughter but quickly stopped, a hint of concern crossing his face. "Jack, you shouldn't have come back to New York."

Standing before him was Jack Forrest, the boy who had once fled New York at all costs.

Jack had always tried to stay far away from New York, fearing that both he and his mother would be dragged back into their past. But now, he had returned.

Anson couldn’t help but worry.

Jack glanced at Anson, a little awkward. "You’re the one who needs worrying right now, not me."

Anson blinked, then burst out laughing. "Well, looks like someone’s grown up—learning to fight back. That's a good thing."

Jack grinned.

Anson continued, "First off, I’m fine. Half the hospital is keeping an eye on me, and now I get why kings hate being sick—it’s more annoying than the illness itself."

"Secondly, you should fight back. Stand up for yourself. If you ever run into that man, don't just let him get away with it."