526-530

*Chapter 526: Learning to Be Playful*

The 79th Academy Awards concluded, with The Departed emerging as the biggest winner of the night, claiming four out of five nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Little Miss Sunshine shone brightly, winning two out of four nominations.

Meanwhile, Luca, who garnered two nominations and plenty of buzz, also caught the attention of some industry insiders.

A number of struggling screenwriters and filmmakers were actively reaching out to him, hoping to gain his favor—primarily to secure some investment.

Even Anne Hathaway called, mentioning that her Italian businessman boyfriend wanted to meet Luca, claiming he had a promising investment opportunity and hoped for a chance to collaborate.

Luca politely declined, explaining he had no spare funds at the moment.

At present, he and Kate had invested nearly all their money into stocks—about 8% in Facebook and 3.2% in Google. Kate had also splurged on a summer estate in Hawaii, a three-story yacht, and four luxury cars. With just over $30 million left as pocket money in their accounts, they had no additional funds for investment.

After attending the Oscars, Luca stayed in Los Angeles for two film auditions.

One was for Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker, and the other for Kevin Spacey’s new film 21.

He was rejected from the first audition, as Bigelow felt he didn’t have the ruggedness needed for a military movie—his features were too refined.

However, he nailed the second audition. 21 was adapted from the bestselling novel Bringing Down the House, which originally featured a Chinese-American math prodigy, Kevin Ma, as the lead—a black-haired, black-eyed, yellow-skinned MIT genius with striking looks.

For marketability, the filmmakers decided to change the protagonist into a black-haired, black-eyed, white-skinned Westerner. Luca fit the bill perfectly and beat out over a dozen contenders, including Daniel Wu, to secure the lead role.

The film, with a budget of $35 million, was set to begin shooting in June.

After locking in the role, Luca returned to New York to prepare for an upcoming fashion show. It had been two years since he last walked the runway, so he needed to get his body back in shape and brush up on his runway skills. But most of his time was devoted to his children.

Jennifer Aniston, Britney, and Adriana Lima were all in New York, and so were their four children.

Luca ensured he spent at least three days a week with the kids to maintain a presence in their lives. The last thing he wanted was for them not to recognize him—that would be heartbreaking.

“Max, leave the yellow duck alone. Isn’t it better to sit and watch the cartoon?”

On the couch, Luca was glued to the animated movie Brother Bear. The story reminded him of Boonie Bears—funny and engaging.

While Luca was engrossed in the animation, little Max wasn’t as interested. He was more into making noise.

Max held a rubber yellow duck and kept squeezing it, producing endless squeaks. Occasionally, he pressed it right next to Luca’s ear, giggling every time the duck let out a funny sound.

Luca blocked his left ear with his hand, trying to focus on the cartoon.

Max, meanwhile, climbed over Luca’s legs, moved to his right side, and continued his relentless squeaking campaign. Laughing with pure delight, the little boy waved his tiny arms and legs excitedly. What was he so happy about?

“Luca, you said you came here to play with Max, but I’ve been watching for a while, and all you’re doing is watching cartoons. Aren’t you ignoring your son?”

From the second-floor railing, Britney called out with a playful grin.

Luca glanced up and said, “Can’t you see how much fun he’s having? He’s treating me like a big toy, using his yellow duck to attack me.”

He tousled his son’s soft golden hair, which reminded him of a little golden retriever.

“You should play along with him. Can’t you see he’s worked up a sweat? And you’re just sitting there stiff as a board. Give him a sense of achievement!”

Britney gave him some advice.

“Alright!”

Luca chuckled. As soon as Max aimed the yellow duck at him again, Luca dramatically fell onto the couch with an exaggerated “Ah!”

Max froze for a moment before bursting into laughter. He climbed onto Luca’s stomach, then onto his chest, and finally up to his neck. Settling down there, he tried to stuff the yellow duck into Luca’s mouth.

“Ha ha ha!”

Upstairs, Britney laughed so hard she sank to the floor.

Luca shook his head, refusing to let go of the little yellow duck he was biting. “Ya~ ya~,” the little guy cried incessantly, his toothless little mouth wide open. His babbling sounds were sweet, just like his mother’s voice.

"Little Max, pinch his nose," Britney shouted from upstairs, demonstrating by pinching her own nose.

Little Max looked up at her, then lowered his head and smacked Luca’s face with his chubby little hand.

“Haha, Little Max is so smart; he learned it right away,” Britney laughed.

“Hitting people isn’t right. You shouldn’t teach him that,” Luca said as he held the little guy and gently patted his tiny hands. “Don’t hit people, okay? Learn to be adorable instead. If you give me a cute look, I’d let go for sure. Why hit?”

“You’re the one teaching nonsense. If he’s bullied, of course, he should fight back immediately. What’s the point of acting cute?” Britney said, holding the little guy.

“He’s so small and so pretty. Being cute is his best weapon. Violence isn’t his forte,” Luca countered.

“Fine, go cook. After we eat, let’s go out for a walk. The baby loves being outside,” Britney said.

“Okay!”

After eating, Luca and Britney strolled around the estate, pushing the stroller.

When they encountered paparazzi on the way, they didn’t bother to avoid them. At this point, there was no point in hiding. They had resigned themselves to the situation, with a little one added into the mix.

Halfway through, they ran into Old Jamie Spears. The old man always wore a grim expression whenever he saw Luca, his fists clenched tightly, ready to attack.

“Jamie, here to see Little Max?” Luca greeted him.

“Hmph!”

Old Jamie ignored him. Back when Luca had no money, Jamie often accused him of being after Britney’s fortune. Now that Luca was wealthy, Jamie had no more accusations but still kept a sullen face every time they met.

Jamie stood in front of the stroller, glanced at the little one, then pulled Britney aside. Before long, the two were arguing again and parted on bad terms.

Luca sighed inwardly. He had let Britney down in so many ways, but how could he ever make it up to her?

He pushed the stroller over to Britney and gently embraced her.

He wanted to say something comforting but couldn’t find the right words.

As long as he couldn’t give her a promise, he would keep hurting Britney. Felicia’s words accusing him of this were undeniable, and he had no rebuttal.

“Don’t overthink it. Today’s matter has nothing to do with you,” Britney said, leaning against his shoulder.

“Oh? Then what’s the reason?” Luca asked curiously.

“I give him $100,000 a month in alimony, but he thinks it’s too little. He wants more and said he recently got a real estate project that needs $500,000 in startup funds. I know he has no business acumen, so I only gave him $100,000, and he thinks it’s not enough,” Britney said with a weary sigh.

Luca patted her shoulder. “Do you want me to have someone look into his business? Maybe we can help him make some money.”

Britney thought for a moment. “Forget it. Once I give him the money, it’s up to him. If he blows it, he shouldn’t come back asking me for more. I’m not his ATM.”

“Alright,” Luca said, though he resolved to have someone keep an eye on Old Jamie to prevent him from causing trouble. If money could solve the problem, Luca didn’t mind bleeding a little.

“Ya~ ya~ ya~”

As the two were embracing, the little guy grew impatient, standing in the stroller and crying loudly.

“Haha, the little one’s angry! Come here, let Mommy hold you,” Britney said, picking him up and planting a kiss on him.

As night fell, the family of three strolled into the twilight, pushing the stroller along.

The next day, on First Avenue, the new season of the Kate-Lima fashion show began.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 527: This Guy Is an Oddball*

Backstage, Luca walked out of the dressing room wearing a bizarre maternity outfit, drawing a burst of laughter.

“Haha, Luca, you look like a giant kangaroo!” Miranda chuckled, holding a camera.

“Maternity outfit? More like a cartoon costume!” Luca tugged at the oversized belly of his outfit, which featured a pouch on the front and a small tail on the back.

“Don’t touch it! Cartoonish is cute!” Kate slapped his hand away and stuffed a doll into the pouch. “Leave it as is. You’re going on stage like this.”

“Isn’t this a bit childish? It doesn’t really suit my style.”

“Your style? Are you seriously going to claim you’re a dignified tycoon? Have some self-awareness, please!” Miranda teased.

“Isn’t it true, though?” Luca shrugged smugly.

“Hmph! No matter how rich you are, you’re still a dad. If Kate, Lima, and I can wear maternity outfits, why can’t you?” Miranda huffed.

“Well, when you put it that way…” Luca gave in with a shrug.

“Exactly!” Miranda grinned victoriously.

“Luca, get ready. You’ll be on stage soon. I’m heading to the makeup area,” Kate reminded him before leaving.

Luca stood in front of the mirror, inspecting his reflection. The maternity outfit didn’t quite match his dashing face, in his opinion.

“Luca, look here! Let me interview you. How does it feel to wear a maternity outfit for the first time?” Miranda pointed the camera at him.

“Emm… It feels… unique and kind of sacred. Every woman wearing a maternity outfit is extraordinary because they’re nurturing new life. To all the moms-to-be out there—keep it up!” Luca declared solemnly, clenching his fist.

Miranda rolled her eyes dramatically. “Seriously? Coming from you—a notorious playboy and maternity-maker extraordinaire—you’re not even blushing?”

“Stop spouting nonsense! Maternity-maker? Cut that part out! It'll ruin my public image!” Luca shoved the camera away.

“Your public image is already in shambles. What’s left to ruin?” Miranda laughed, her dimples showing.

“Mr. Kelly, we’re starting!” the assistant director called out.

“OK!” Luca followed the staff to the runway entrance. Along the way, he passed several models—Eugenia, Ifka, Fernanda Tavares, Caroline Trentini, Raquel Zimmermann, and more. They all burst into giggles upon seeing his outfit.

“Luca, that outfit really suits you!” Fernanda joked.

“How exactly does it suit me?” Luca patted his protruding belly.

“In every way! Look at this big belly—it symbolizes prosperity. Back in the day, wealthy people always had big bellies. Then there’s the pouch—it represents greed and ambition. And the devil’s tail? That’s pure wicked power. Don’t you think this outfit reflects you perfectly?” Fernanda laughed.

“Haha, now that you say it, it does seem fitting,” Caroline chimed in.

“Is that really the concept behind this design?” Eugenia asked, scratching her chin in curiosity.

“Fernanda’s just making things up! The design is inspired by kangaroos, nothing more,” Luca explained, laughing.

“Lima, you’re the designer. What’s the real story? Am I right?” Fernanda pulled Lima over to hear her take.

Lima burst out laughing. “You’re spot on! I even considered adding a pig head to the design, but I figured Luca might find it too embarrassing.”

“Haha, you should’ve included it! A pig head would symbolize infidelity—then it’d be perfect!” Everyone laughed together.

At 5 PM, the fashion show officially began.

Luca adjusted his expression and, to upbeat music, strode confidently onto the runway. The stage was bathed in dazzling lights, with whimsical decorations like a pregnant deer doll, little fawns, adorable lambs, and baby penguins lining the sides. The warm, playful atmosphere charmed the audience.

Seated below were 500 to 600 people, mostly women, including fashion editors, brand representatives, and retailers. Among the invited guests were Maggie Bezos, Melinda Gates, Katie Ford, Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, Winona Ryder, and more.

As Luca appeared in his maternity outfit, the crowd erupted into laughter, quickly followed by thunderous applause.

Unfazed, Luca strutted down the runway with long strides. Then, mimicking a pregnant woman, he propped his hand on his back, puffed out his belly, and swung the devil’s tail behind him with gusto. Not a hint of embarrassment crossed his face.

His antics kept the audience in stitches.

“This guy…” Ed covered his face, feeling secondhand embarrassment. He wasn’t sure if Luca felt awkward, but he certainly did.

“Luca’s presence is really something,” Nina remarked softly.

“Presence? You think he has that?” Ed retorted.

Nina glanced at him. “After years as an entertainment agent, have you forgotten your roots?”

“I’m a modeling agent, remember?” Ed replied.

“Then can’t you see his transformation? His role is to warm up the crowd and energize the atmosphere. Isn’t he doing a fantastic job?” Nina pointed out.

“You were talking about his ‘presence,’ though.”

Nina shook her head. “An ordinary person could clown around on stage and still fail to make those stern fashion editors and designers laugh. But Luca barely moves, and the room bursts out laughing. That’s charisma—he’s become a big deal, almost without anyone realizing it.”

Nina sighed as she watched Luca on stage. “I never imagined he’d be this successful. When he said he’d protect Kate and make her more successful, I didn’t believe him. But in just four years, Kate’s become a symbol of success and an icon of the times—and Luca’s played a huge role in that.”

“Yeah, this guy really is an oddball,” Ed muttered, his mind full of thoughts. Luca hadn’t just helped Kate succeed; he’d influenced a whole circle of people—himself, Nina, Felix, Hanley, Rose, Fanny, Lima, Miranda, even Britney and Aniston.

Directly or indirectly, Luca had boosted everyone’s careers and incomes. Ed felt lucky to have met him.

When Luca left the stage, the real fashion show began. Led by the “Queen” Eugenia, a procession of supermodels showcased various maternity designs.

Ed didn’t understand fashion, but the enthusiastic reactions from the audience made it clear that Kate and Lima’s maternity fashion line was a hit. They had successfully introduced the concept of maternity chic.

“Hey, Ed, Nina!” Luca, still in his maternity outfit and holding baby Louis, came over to them.

“Why are you still wearing that?” Ed grimaced.

“I have another appearance coming up,” Luca replied with a grin.

“Don’t you care about your image at all? You’re a tycoon, for crying out loud! Where’s your dignity?”

“Wealth is just a tool, not a rule. As long as I’m having fun, nothing else matters,” Luca said, cradling the baby.

“Fine, you always have a point.”

Luca smiled and focused on watching the show. “Louis, look—Mommy’s going on stage!”

“Yah! Yah!”

(End of chapter)

Chapter 528: Can You Still Have Kids in Your 50s?

The second day of the fashion show, major U.S. media outlets covered the event extensively.

From celebrity attendees and guest performers to the number of supermodels walking the runway, the uniqueness of the clothing designs, and even the infamous Luca’s opening act—all became the talk of the town.

Following the news reports, videos from the show started circulating online, particularly the one featuring Luca. That clip went viral, amassing tens of millions of views in just one day.

With the buzz, many people began mimicking him in maternity wear. Most of it was parody, but the trend spiraled out of control, and the maternity outfit became a joke. Luca's look turned into a meme.

Apart from his antics, another hot topic was the presence of Aniston, Britney, and Lima at the same event. Many knew about their connections to Luca, and some expected drama when they met. However, to everyone's disappointment, the three women seemed to get along quite well.

This unexpected harmony annoyed many spectators. They didn’t vent at the women but instead turned their criticisms toward Luca, accusing him of disrespecting women, toying with their feelings, and being irresponsible.

But these attacks didn't carry much weight. A new issue of Fortune magazine had just been published.

It reported that Luca Kelly, with a net worth of $2.8 billion, had become the youngest billionaire in the world and the top self-made billionaire under 30.

Thanks to his successful investments, Luca and Kate's combined assets had soared to $3.6 billion this year, ranking them 298th globally and 22nd in Brazil.

When faced with these figures, critics quickly dropped discussions about his personal life—because in a world dominated by wealth, money often overshadows morality.

These hot topics stayed in the media for about two weeks before gradually dying down.

Meanwhile, leveraging the media buzz, Kate and Lima’s new designs gained traction in the fashion industry, earning high praise from professional designers. Their brand, *Kate-Lima*, rose from a second-tier label to a nearly top-tier one.

No matter how chaotic the outside world seemed, Luca remained unfazed, focusing on his fitness routine.

With the filming of Wanted approaching, Luca, cast as the agile assassin lead, needed to prepare for high-intensity action scenes.

Before production began, he hired two professional stunt coaches to help improve his skills.

Two weeks of training paid off. Where he once could only spar with Jinna for ten moves by brute force, he could now last ten minutes.

---

### March 18: A Wedding for the Ages

On an ordinary day, 54-year-old Ross and 52-year-old Ms. Nia tied the knot, making them a rare pair of senior newlyweds.

According to Ross, the two had dated for five years in their youth, even considering marriage. However, his inability to stay faithful turned him into a reviled man, and they broke up.

Nia moved on and built a new family, while Ross spent his life alone.

When Nia was 45, her husband passed away in a car accident, leaving her single again.

Ross seized the opportunity to confess his feelings and vowed to win her back.

At first, Nia rejected him. While she had lost her spouse, she still had her children and wasn’t eager to start a new family.

But Ross was persistent. Over five years of relentless pursuit, he finally won her heart.

Their wedding was held in Ross’s small villa, a modest affair with just over 30 family members and friends in attendance.

Luca and Aniston arrived together, bringing along their two little ones.

Katherine, in a princess dress, and George, in a white suit, were lively and cheerful, melting hearts as they played around like two adorable angels.

---

A Toast

“Haha, Luca, today I finally understand what’s most important in life: family. I could have had it 30 years ago, but I missed my chance. Luckily, I caught it this time!”

The glowing groom, Ross, raised his glass, laughing heartily.

“Ross, congratulations to you and Nia. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness, love, and… may you have children soon!” Luca said with a grin.

Hmph!  

Ms. Nia’s face darkened. Children? At our age? Is this guy joking?

“Haha, Luca, thank you! That’s a fantastic wish!” Ross roared with laughter.

“Fantastic? What’s so fantastic about it?” Nia asked, her expression stern.

“Uh…” Ross’s laughter stopped abruptly as he hesitated. “Is it… not?”

“He’s suggesting we have kids at our age. Do you think that’s appropriate?”

“Why not? You’re only 18, after all. Having kids is no big deal!”

“Pfft! You shameless man!” Nia laughed and scolded him.

Ross winked at Luca, who gave him a thumbs-up. "Classic moves from an experienced rogue," Luca thought.

“Ross, you should spend less time with Luca. He’s a bad influence,” Nia remarked.

“Alright, alright. I’ll listen to you,” Ross replied obediently.

Luca chuckled awkwardly. “Nia, you’re blaming me unjustly. Honestly, the reason I turned out like this is mostly Ross’s fault. Back in school, he taught me a lot of tricks.”

“Really?!” Nia asked in disbelief.

Nia glared at Luca furiously. “Did you teach him to be a player?”

“How could I? Why would I teach him that? Even if I wanted to, someone at his level wouldn’t be able to learn. Nia, don’t listen to his nonsense. Let’s move on.”

Ross grabbed Nia and pulled her along, pointing at Luca as they left.

Luca smiled lightly, looking entirely innocent. He hadn’t even mentioned being a player, so how did Nia misunderstand?

“Luca, look at these two. Just a moment ago, they were clean and proper. Now they’ve turned into little messy cats.”

Aniston came over, leading two dirty little rascals by the hand.

When they arrived earlier, the kids were dressed to perfection—George in a crisp white suit and Catherine in a lovely white dress. They looked stylish and adorable.

But now? Their outfits were smeared with an explosion of colors: red from ketchup, blue from blueberry stains, chocolate brown, purple from grape juice, and green from grass stains. Add their flushed cheeks, and they looked like walking paint palettes.

“I think it’s pretty artistic. George and Catherine clearly have talent as future artists,” Luca said, picking up the two little ones, one in each arm. He kissed their chubby cheeks.

“Daddy~”

The kids hugged his neck and left sticky kisses on his face.

“Haha! George and Catherine are such sweethearts!”

Feeling a warm satisfaction, Luca smiled smugly at Aniston, even tilting his chin up slightly in triumph.

Aniston rolled her eyes, then suddenly giggled. She pulled a small mirror out of her bag and shoved it in his face.

“Take a look at yourself!”

“What?”

Luca glanced in the mirror and was shocked to find smudges all over his face, neck, and clothes. Little handprints were everywhere, evidence of the kids’ “artwork.”

And as he stood there, the two little ones were still at it, happily using his face as a canvas.

“Still think George and Catherine are sweet?” Aniston asked with a teasing smile.

“Of course! They’re still the sweetest!” Luca laughed lightly. “Hey, George, Catherine, look at Mommy! Her face is all clean and white—perfect for drawing! Want to try?”

“Yes! Mommy!”

“Mommy, let’s draw!”

The two kids stretched out their tiny hands toward her.

“No! Keep your dirty hands away!”

Aniston dodged quickly.

“Haha! George, Catherine, let’s chase her!”

With the kids in his arms, Luca ran after her.

On the lawn, Nia sighed as she watched the scene of the playful family. “I just don’t understand why Jenny chose Luca. That guy is such a player.”

“Well,” Ross said, “I think Luca isn’t bad. He’s young, rich, family-oriented, and hardworking. Other than being a bit of a flirt, he doesn’t seem to have any real flaws.”

“Hmph! Being a flirt is the biggest and most fatal flaw. No matter how good a man is, if he’s unfaithful, his score is still negative.”

“I don’t see it that way. The worst flaw a man can have is incompetence. Luca’s ability is exceptional, and Jenny made the right choice in picking him. Look at how happy they are—much happier than when she was with Pete.”

Nia frowned. “But it’s still not fair to Jenny.”

“How is it unfair? Jenny’s getting older. Finding someone suitable is hard. With Luca, she has everything. Isn’t that good?”

“Ross, remember before we got married, you said you’d agree with me on everything? It’s only our wedding day, and you’ve already contradicted me seven or eight times. Do you have a problem with me?”

“Uh, no, no! Nia, don’t be mad. Luca is a total player, and we should both criticize him.”

“Hmph!”

Nia spun around and left.

Why did I defend Luca just now? Ross regretted it, smacking himself on the mouth before running after her.

From now on, whenever Luca’s name came up at home, he’d make sure to criticize and disdain him. That was the politically correct stance.

*Chapter 529: The Lead Actor and Actress Spar with Real Passion*

After their wedding, Ross and Nia went off on their honeymoon, but Luca had no time for leisure. Wanted was set to begin filming, so he bid farewell to Kate, Lima, and the kids and headed to Los Angeles with his assistant and bodyguards.

“Luca, the 21 deal is settled—still $4 million.”

At LAX, as soon as they got in the car, Ed handed Luca a contract. Ed had spent the past few days in L.A. negotiating the details.

Luca glanced over it and signed his name. “I probably should’ve waited a few months before taking on another film. By the time The Proposal and Atonement are out, my rate might go up.”

“It’ll definitely go up, but that’s months away. Didn’t you once say you didn’t care about paychecks?”

Ed chuckled, closing the folder.

“I said that about films that could win me an Oscar. I’d do those for free. But 21? No Oscar potential there—I need the paycheck, or it’s not worth it.”

Luca leaned back in his seat.

Ed nodded. “If you’re so eager for that golden statuette, why not take matters into your own hands? You’re a famous screenwriter, you can direct, you’re a good actor, you’re not strapped for cash, and you even have a production company. You could do it all yourself. Why don’t you?”

“Emm~ One word: lazy. Writing, directing, and starring? Way too much work. I’d rather not deal with all that hassle. Maybe someday, once I’m an A-lister. Then I’ll aim for S-tier status.”

“Slow and steady—it’s a solid plan.”

Ed approved of his approach.

When they arrived at the Big Pear Tree Estate, Luca hopped out of the car.

The next day, he was at a training facility in L.A. for Wanted. The actors were undergoing intensive training, focusing on two key skills: fight choreography and the infamous “gun-flicking” technique.

One of the movie’s standout features was its slow-motion bullet shots, showcasing bullets curving mid-air to hit their targets.

The killers in the story achieved this effect by flicking their wrists—a special gun technique that caused the bullet to follow an arc, bypassing obstacles to hit a hidden target.

As far-fetched as it sounded, the actors had to believe in it to pull off the scenes convincingly.

At the training facility, Luca stood in front of a target, holding a prop gun. He closed his eyes, spun halfway around, and flicked his wrist to "fire" the unloaded weapon. “Bang!” he shouted, supplying his own sound effects.

“Luca, slow down. This scene will be shot in slow motion, so we need to break down every movement. Practice slower and focus on the details—the feel of the shot,” director Timur Bekmambetov advised as he walked by.

“Got it, Timur. Maybe tying a blindfold around my eyes will help me get into character,” Luca joked.

Timur stroked his beard, laughing. “That’s worth trying. Ever seen Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? This technique has a bit of that wuxia feel—more about instinct than logic. In the film, Fox teaches Wesley by showing him first, then giving him time to internalize it.”

“Seen it. I’ve studied Chinese martial arts—Tai Chi, Wing Chun. Soft overcoming hard, strength through subtlety.”

“Perfect! Let’s see if you can really master the gun-flick.” Timur grinned and walked off.

Timur was one of Russia’s top directors, famous for Night Watch and Day Watch, both record-breaking hits. His style was akin to John Woo’s—violent, action-packed, and drenched in visual flair. After his success in Russia, he’d moved to Hollywood, with Wanted as his debut film. Timur poured everything into the project, frequently chatting with cast and crew to foster a positive vibe.

Once Timur left, Luca resumed practicing.

“Luca!”

A while later, his assistant Annie approached, looking irritated.

“What’s up?”

Luca removed his headphones.

“Ms. Jolie is here. Her assistant says this platform is reserved for her, and you need to move,” Annie said, clearly annoyed.

“Good morning, Mr. Kelly!”

Jolie’s assistant appeared, looking conflicted. “Mr. Kelly, Ms. Jolie practiced here yesterday, and she’s used to this spot. Could you...”

“Nope. I like it here too.”

Luca glanced over to see Angelina Jolie approaching in a black tank top, tight jeans, and a crossbody bag. Her face was stern.

Bang! She slammed her bag onto the equipment table. “Move. This is my spot.”

Her assistant paled, clearly exasperated. Jolie’s diva tendencies were well-known and tolerated because of her star power—but was it wise to pull this on someone as influential as Luca?

“Ms. Jolie, the platforms aren’t assigned. There are plenty of others available. Why not pick a better one?” Annie protested, barely containing her frustration.

Jolie ignored her, crossing her arms and staring coolly at Luca.

The surrounding cast, including Morgan Freeman, Chris Pratt, and Terence Stamp, watched the standoff, unsure how to react. Someone hurried off to find a producer.

“Okay, Ms. Jolie. It’s all yours.”

Luca picked up something and walked over to the nearby training platform.

"Why should I?"

Annie muttered softly, clearly dissatisfied with her boss's overly cautious approach.

Earlier, she had taken the initiative and launched the first attack, expecting her boss to follow up with a second wave.

But instead, he packed up and left without a word. What kind of man does that?

"We're all part of the same production crew. We'll be working together, so there's no need to create unnecessary conflict," Luca said, picking up a handgun.

"But she provoked you first! And you just walked away without saying a word? That's... well, you're Luca Kelly, the big-shot tycoon!" Annie protested.

Luca glanced at her. "On set, I'm just Luca the actor. Don't bring my status into this—it’ll make people uncomfortable."

"Fine, I won't say anything more. But you're the one embarrassing yourself."

Annie sat down in a chair, silently stewing.

Luca smirked faintly but didn't explain further. He continued practicing his gun-spinning techniques.

"Luca, you did the right thing!"

Director Timo walked over and gave him a reassuring pat on the arm.

Luca smiled slightly in response.

The morning was spent practicing firearms handling, and the afternoon was dedicated to fight choreography. Six actors were training, including Luca and Julie, the two leads, who had multiple scenes together.

"Ms. Julie, Mr. Luca, please practice the moves I just demonstrated," instructed fight coordinator John Mayer.

"Got it!"

The two nodded and took their positions. Because of their strained relationship, they didn't exchange a single word during practice.

*Bang!*

Luca executed a sweeping kick. Julie raised her hand to block it and, holding onto a metal rig, swung her legs up to strike his arm. Luca staggered back two steps.

"Good! Keep going!" John Mayer encouraged.

Luca then attempted a straight kick. According to the choreography, Julie was supposed to sidestep and counterattack. However, she seemed to hesitate.

Luca's foot landed squarely on her stomach.

*Thud!*

The kick lacked real force—it was mostly for show. But Julie let out a dramatic scream, stumbled backward several steps, and slammed into a metal frame as though she'd been hit by a truck.

*Splurt!*

Julie spat out a mouthful of blood.

"..."

Luca froze in confusion. What just happened? Who am I? Where am I? When did my legs become this powerful?

"Julie, are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital? I swear I didn't use much force," Luca said, genuinely concerned.

"Hmph!"

Julie pushed him away coldly. "You're unbelievable!"

"Julie!"

Her assistant rushed over. "Julie, are you okay? I'll call an ambulance right away!"

Cough cough. "No need, I'm fine!"

Julie left the training area, coughing as she went. She looked pitiful.

Everyone at the training ground stared at Luca with strange expressions. He didn't need to guess what they were thinking—it was probably the same as what his assistant was thinking.

"Boss, that kick of yours was brutal! I thought you weren’t going to retaliate, but wow, you were just waiting for the right moment.

Still, boss, hitting a woman like that is a bit much. If the media finds out, your reputation is going to tank."

"Stop talking nonsense if you don’t know the whole story," Luca snapped, glaring at her.

He touched the "blood" on the ground. Sticky. No doubt it was tomato sauce. Shaking his head, he realized Julie must have prepped it in her mouth without anyone noticing. What a drama queen.

"Luca!"

Director Timo approached, visibly upset. This project, Assassin Alliance, was his first Hollywood film—a big-budget production.

Initially, he was thrilled to work with stars like Julie and Luca. But now, before filming even began, the leads were already bleeding on set. How was the rest of the shoot supposed to go? Was someone going to end up dead?

"Timo, it was an accident. I’ll apologize to Julie," Luca said, wiping the "blood" off the ground with his shoe.

"Alright, John explained what happened to me earlier. I believe Julie will understand," Timo said, scratching his scalp anxiously. His already-thinning hair looked even worse after a few scratches.

Feeling a bit sympathetic, Luca said, "Director Timo, don’t worry. I’ll go apologize to Julie right now. This won’t delay production."

"Good. I hope you two can reconcile!"

Timo sighed deeply, still looking troubled.

Luca shook his head and left the training ground.

Once in the car, he sent Julie a message.

"Are you okay?"

"Hmph, you heartless man. How could you do that to me? You're so cruel!"

"Stop acting. Tomato sauce."

"Ha! You little psycho, how was my performance?"

"Not great. Too over-the-top. Spitting blood? You almost turned it into a crime scene."

Luca shook his head and added another message: "Call Director Timo and let him know you’re fine. He’s already stressed, and I’m worried he might pull his hair out over this."

"Alright!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 530: Things Are Getting Out of Control

*Ring, ring, ring~*

At 7:30 a.m., Luca was still in bed when his phone started ringing incessantly. He picked it up to see that it was a call from Aniston.

"Darling, what's up?"

He asked, still lying on his pillow.

"You're not up yet?"

"I'm getting up soon. What's wrong? Are the little ones okay?"

"They're fine. I called, and it’s not about the kids. I was reading the newspaper this morning, and it said you had a fight with Jolie yesterday and hit her so hard she bled. Is that true?"

"Of course not. I’d never hit a woman, let alone beat her to the point of bleeding. That’s ridiculous. Yesterday, Jolie and I were rehearsing an action scene—you know, the punch-and-kick kind of thing. I accidentally miscalculated and hit her. During training, we all hold back, so making her bleed is impossible."

Luca felt helpless. The security at the training facility had been far from sufficient. Something that happened yesterday afternoon was in the newspapers by this morning, exaggerated and blown out of proportion.

"Alright, I was shocked when I read the papers too. You’re not the kind of guy who’d go hard on a woman. But you should know, public opinion today isn’t on your side. People are calling you out for hitting a woman, saying it’s disgraceful. Some are even playing the nationality card, accusing you, a Brazilian, of daring to hit an American. There’s talk of kicking you out of Hollywood and even replacing you in the movie. It’s a mess. You should take a look at the papers yourself."

"Got it. I’ll check the news soon."

Luca hung up, stretched lazily, and put on some comfortable shorts. Just as he did, *ring, ring, ring~* the phone rang again. This time, it was Kate calling.

"Luca, are you and Jolie playing some kind of new game?"

Kate asked, knowing the two’s complicated relationship, which made her even more curious.

"No. The newspapers are full of lies. Miranda isn’t with you, is she?"

"Nope. Keep going."

"Nothing major. Pete and I are rivals, and Jolie criticized me in the media before. Us having some friction is normal."

"Ah, I see. You’re acting, trying to show the public—and Pete—that there’s no way you and Jolie would ever end up in bed together."

"Exactly. Jolie and I being at odds is good for everyone."

Luca chuckled and hung up. As he was pulling on his workout pants, *ring, ring, ring*, the phone rang again.

"Hey~ Luca, I heard you kicked Jolie so hard she had a miscarriage. That’s hardcore!"

Theron laughed loudly.

"Miscarriage? Where did you hear such nonsense?"

Luca frowned.

"Haha~ The papers. A very reputable one too. Okay, it said ‘suspected miscarriage.’ Luca, you’ve really outdone yourself. Even if you’re fighting with Pete, why’d you go for his kid? Your already bad reputation is about to hit rock bottom."

"I didn’t kick her, and Jolie didn’t have a miscarriage either."

Luca explained yet again, exhausted. "It was just an accident during action scene training. Mistakes happen—you’re an action star, you know this."

"Alright, alright. I was just teasing. Why are you so worked up? Honestly, you? Beat a woman? Please, it’s the women who would beat you up."

"You’re absolutely right."

Luca smiled wryly.

"But you’d better be careful. Americans already aren’t fond of you, and now this? You should take steps to clear your name, maybe get Jolie to explain. Otherwise, you might face a full-on fan revolt."

"I know. Thanks, Charlize."

"Hmph. Don’t mention it. I’ve got a thousand fifty-cent coins I haven’t spent yet. Don’t even think about leaving Hollywood until I’m done with you."

"A thousand? At ten a year, it’d take a hundred years."

Luca rubbed his back, suddenly feeling a chill in his spine.

"Haha, who says it has to be ten a year? Why not more? Don’t tell me you can’t handle it."

"Of course I can!"

Luca glanced down at himself, suddenly more confident. "If you want more, you’ll get more. But remember, it’s always you begging for mercy first."

"Ugh, jerk. Next time, we’ll see who’s begging whom!"

*Click.* Theron hung up.

Luca chuckled, threw on a T-shirt, and then *ring, ring, ring~* the phone rang again.

"Hey, jerk! Why’d you go and create such a scandal again? Why can’t you just stay quiet for once? The movie’s about to premiere, and all I hear are your bad headlines!"

Knightley scolded him.

"Haha, dear, you sound a bit angry."

Luca teased.

"Ugh, don’t call me ‘dear.’ We’re not close. No, you’re my enemy, you woman-bullying jerk!"

Knightley’s voice was sharp but playful.

Luca smirked, picturing her pursed lips and scrunched nose. "Darling, I didn’t bully anyone. Jolie’s situation is just a misunderstanding." He gave her the short version of events.

"Even if Jolie’s thing is a misunderstanding, you are a jerk who bullies women. I remember every time you’ve done it to me."

"You didn’t like it?"

"Of course not! I’m not some weirdo. Obviously, I didn’t like it."

"Great. I’ll make sure to do it again next time."

"You’re insufferable!"

*Click.* Another woman hung up on him.

Luca laughed, put on his shoes, and *ring, ring, ring~*, another call. This time, it was Rachel, who had just returned to LA for a new project and was alarmed by the morning headlines.

Luca reassured her, smiling all the while.

As he headed to the bathroom, his phone *ring, ring, ring~*, Scarlett called. As he brushed his teeth, it kept ringing.

For an hour straight, his phone rang non-stop, with friends and colleagues checking in and urging him to address the situation before things spiraled further.

After finishing his calls, the housekeeper brought out breakfast, along with a stack of newspapers.

Over a salad, Luca browsed the headlines. The media frenzy was intense, with many outlets covering the supposed fight.

The Los Angeles Times entertainment section had an extensive article reconstructing the events, claiming Jolie’s injuries were serious and hinting at possible legal action.

Luca chuckled. The "source" was likely Jolie herself.

"Are you playing this too far? Do you really want to see me ruined?"

He texted her.

After finishing his salad, her reply came:

"Little troublemaker, things got a bit out of hand. I just wanted to stir up some buzz, but Pete found out and reached out to the media, saying he’d destroy your reputation."

"Really? He’s good to you. You should be happy."

"Jealous? Haha, don’t be. I’ve told you it’s fake. I pretended to be mad at you for fun, and he said my idea was brilliant—it hit you where it hurts. Then he started pushing it to attack you, even suggesting I use this as leverage to have you replaced in the movie."

"Let him attack. I can take it."

"Don’t worry. I’ll back you up."

"Backing me up ruins your plan, doesn’t it?"

"It doesn’t matter. I have my ways. Gotta go now. Let’s talk at the set later. See you."

"Alright."

Pocketing his phone, Luca returned to his breakfast.

(End of Chapter)