466-470

*Chapter 466: Are You Two Dating?*

"Good morning, Kyra!"

The next morning, Luca walked into the restaurant.

"Hmph!"

Kyra was still upset and didn’t greet him warmly.

Luca smiled helplessly. Even though he was the one who had suffered last night, she was the one who got angry first. Confucius was right, women and petty people are hard to deal with.

"Good morning, Luca. Good morning, Kyra."

The new crew member, Benedict Cumberbatch, walked over politely.

"Good morning, Ben!"

"Ben, are you heading to the set today?"

"Yes, I’m planning to check things out!"

Benedict, who played the rapist Paul in the film, sat down across from Luca. With his iconic curly hair and squinty eyes, he smiled in a way that didn’t seem entirely proper.

Seeing him, Luca suddenly remembered how Chinese fans liked giving Western celebrities nicknames—like Leo, Tom Hiddleston, Jennifer Lawrence, Fran, and many others.

He wondered, What will my nickname be in the future? Handsome guy? Superman? King of Beauty? Or something else?

He was genuinely curious.

Later that morning, they went to the set to continue filming.

In the scene, after a vase was broken, Cecilia got angry, making Robbie very nervous. He wrote several apology letters, hoping to apologize to Cecilia. By mistake, he handed a letter expressing his sexual fantasies about her to Briony, asking her to pass it to Cecilia. Out of curiosity, Briony opened and read the letter, finding descriptions of a woman's body parts. Disgusted, she started to see Robbie as a pervert.

These scenes were simple enough, but Kyra was still giving him a hard time. Whenever they acted together, Kyra’s performance would suddenly intensify, bringing her A-game.

Luca couldn’t relax. If he did, the audience would notice and say he was not as good as Kyra. He had no choice but to give it his all.

After a few days of shooting, he was nearly exhausted. The heat didn’t help either; after every scene, he would be drenched in sweat.

Kyra wasn’t faring much better. She looked pale, almost as if she were ill.

Luca tried to make peace with her.

But Kyra wasn’t having it. Whenever they acted together, she seemed energized, like a steamroller aiming to flatten him.

What could Luca do but face her head-on?

"Cut!"

"Haha, Kyra, Luca, that scene was great. Keep it up!"

Director Wright clapped his hands, full of praise.

Luca and Kyra had been performing excellently these past few days.

Part of it was due to their strong acting skills, but they also had great chemistry, making every scene feel like an intense competition. The passion was palpable, and everyone could feel it.

At first, Director Wright wanted to nitpick Luca’s performance to humble him a bit, but after watching closely, he couldn’t find anything to criticize. Frustrated, he started reviewing every frame, meticulously searching for flaws, as if developing an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

A director driven to OCD by his actors—Wright had no choice.

"Joe, who do you think did better in that scene, me or Luca?" Kyra walked over and asked.

"Probably you."

This was a frequent question from Kyra. Director Wright was tired of it by now. If they weren’t friends, he would have shouted at her to stop asking.

"Joe, you always say I’m better than Luca. Why don’t you criticize him?"

"For what?"

"Tell him he sucks!"

Kyra laughed.

"But he’s just as good as you. What’s there to criticize?"

Director Wright asked.

Kyra clenched her fists. One second, he says she’s better, and the next, they’re equally good. Where’s the credibility?

"Haha, Joe, is there nothing wrong with that take? If not, I’ll go take a break."

Luca chuckled.

"Go ahead. Your scenes are done for the day. You’ve got half a day off, but tomorrow’s shoot is important, so be prepared."

Director Wright reminded him.

"Got it!"

Luca nodded.

Tomorrow, they would be shooting the passionate library scene between Robbie and Cecilia, one of the climaxes of the movie. A well-executed scene would greatly enhance the film, and Luca was confident they would nail it.

How could it not go well, with both of them being so attractive and talented?

"I heard we’re filming a love scene tomorrow. Are you excited?" Kyra teased as she walked.

"Why would I be excited?" Luca looked confused.

"Because you get to take advantage of me."

"Stop joking. You’re the one taking advantage of me."

Seeing Kyra’s expression change, Luca quickly corrected himself. "Okay, fine, I’m taking advantage of you, and yes, I’m excited. Satisfied?"

"Good answer."

Kyra gave him a disdainful look and strode into the break room with her long legs.

Luca shook his head. Women.

He followed her inside.

Today’s scenes were being shot at a villa, where Briony was to deliver the letter to Cecilia.

The main cast for the scene included Benedict, young actress Saoirse, Kyra, and Patrick, who played the two women’s brother.

Before filming, the actors gathered in the break room to chat and review the script.

"Kyra, are you two dating?" Saoirse quietly asked, pulling Kyra aside as the two entered the room.

The break room was small, so everyone overheard the question.

"Are you asking about me and him?"

Kyra shook her head. "Saoirse, don’t you know who he is? Why would I date someone like him?"

"Isn’t he Luca?"

Saoirse asked, puzzled.

"But he’s a player. A huge player. If you read the tabloids, you’d see his scandals everywhere. Last year, a magazine even ranked him as the second-biggest player in Hollywood, right behind Pitt. Who would date someone like that?"

"Wow!" Saoirse giggled, cleverly shaking her head.

"Yep, second place. First was Brad Pitt. Saoirse, you’re still young. When you look for a boyfriend, be careful. Don’t go for guys like Luca—charming, rude, and with zero gentlemanly manners. You’ll end up with nothing."

Kyra glanced disdainfully at Luca.

He smirked, drinking tea quietly.

"But Luca’s so talented! He’s only 25, yet he’s won so many honors—Brazilian national soccer player, supermodel, Oscar-winning screenwriter, Berlin Film Festival Best Actor. He’s even written so many great songs for Britney! Luca’s amazing."

Saoirse said excitedly.

"Saoirse, don’t be fooled by all that. No matter how many awards he wins, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a player."

Kyra looked disgusted.

Saoirse stared at her for a moment, then smiled. "Kyra, I’m even more convinced you two are dating now."

"What?"

"Yeah. If you weren’t, why would you say all that about him? And Luca doesn’t even seem mad."

Saoirse asked innocently.

"Tch!"

"Hahaha!"

Laughter erupted from the break room.

Kyra’s expression shifted. "Saoirse, stop imagining things. Luca and I are just friends, so we speak freely. Besides, I already have a boyfriend, and he’s even more handsome and successful than Luca."

"Oh, is that so? Alright then."

Saoirse nodded.

Kyra sighed in relief, glancing at Luca, who was still sipping his tea and reading the paper, seemingly indifferent to the conversation. Annoyed, she suppressed the urge to lash out, mostly because there were too many people around.

"Ta-da! Chocolate cocktails, anyone want to try?"

Benedict walked in with a tray of martini glasses filled with a dark liquid.

"Ben, is this drink safe?"

Luca asked, taking a glass. The cup, chilled with ice, felt cool in his hand.

"Of course! I just had two glasses in the kitchen. It’s delicious!"

Benedict smiled.

"Ben, aren’t these drinks for the scene? What’ll we use if we drink them now?"

Kyra asked.

"No worries. They made plenty today. Everyone can have a glass."

Benedict’s character in the movie was a chocolatier, and in the upcoming scene, he would offer chocolate cocktails to the others.

"Alright, I’ll try one too!"

Kyra took a glass.

"Me too!"

Patrick, who played the brother, grabbed one.

"Is there one for me?"

Saoirse asked.

"You’re too young for alcohol. The kitchen made you a special chocolate ice cream instead."

Benedict chuckled.

"Thank you, Ben, and thanks to the kitchen staff!"

Saoirse happily accepted it.

"You’re welcome!"

Benedict smiled and continued playing the role of a waiter.

"Look at Ben, so professional!" Kyra praised, giving Luca a pointed glance.

"Yeah, yeah!" Luca laughed, taking a sip of the cocktail. It tasted like chocolate milk tea with alcohol—strange at first, but after a few more sips, he found it quite enjoyable.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, we’re starting in ten minutes. Let’s meet in the music room for the next scene."

The production assistant called from the doorway.

"Got it!"

They each took a few sips, set down their cups, and headed to the set to get ready.

Luca wasn’t needed in this scene, so he sat on the side to observe. Watching others act gave him useful insights for his own performance and helped him better immerse himself in the story.

"All departments, get ready!"

Ten minutes later, the crew started filming.

"Scene 15, take 2, first shot. Action!"

(End of this chapter)

*Chapter 467: Your Mouth Tastes Like Black Tea*

As evening fell and the sun set, dusk descended upon the manor.

Robbie, dressed in formal attire, stood at Cecilia's door. He wore a black suit, white shirt, and black bow tie, looking impeccably groomed and quite handsome.

His deep, dark eyes were especially captivating—clear, profound, and as enchanting as the starry sky.

"Fantastic!"

"Close-up! I want more close-ups of Luca—his mouth and eyes, everything!" Director Wright instructed from behind the monitor.

"Understood!"

The two cameramen zoomed in on Luca.

In front of the camera, Robbie paced nervously at the foot of the stairs, unsure of how to explain the letter to Cecilia.

Click, click~

Footsteps echoed behind him. Robbie turned around and saw Cecilia.

She exuded a cold and noble aura, wearing an emerald green gown that contrasted her fair skin, making it appear almost luminescent in the soft corridor lights. Her graceful figure was mesmerizing.

Robbie took a breath and said, "This was a mistake!"

"Brianna has already seen it!" Cecilia responded.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry. This wasn’t the version I meant to give you."

"I understand."

"I never intended for anyone to see that version," Robbie explained.

"Say no more," Cecilia replied.

Robbie bit his lip as he gazed at Cecilia. His dark eyes brimmed with love and affection.

Cecilia looked at him, then abruptly turned and walked back inside. Under the lights, her green chiffon dress accentuated her graceful curves.

Robbie hesitated briefly before following her inside.

"Cut!"

"Luca, Keira, take a ten-minute break. We'll shoot the indoor scene next!" Director Wright called out.

"OK!"

Luca and Keira exchanged a glance and walked off set, sitting down on a bench.

Several makeup artists quickly gathered around, touching up their makeup. Shooting at night meant poor lighting, so some powder was necessary.

Both actors’ outfits and hairstyles also had to be kept pristine and polished, especially since there would be many close-up shots, and the next scene was an intimate one, which required extra attention to detail.

Luca, holding a thermos, sipped black tea while waiting for his makeup to be fixed.

"What are you drinking?" Keira asked.

"Tea, black tea," Luca replied.

"You're drinking black tea out of that huge cup?" Keira scoffed.

"Why not?"

"We British drink black tea in an elegant and relaxing environment, savoring the grace and romance of it. The way you're drinking it is like how a cow drinks water."

The makeup artists around them chuckled. Most of them were British and agreed with Keira—Luca's way of drinking tea was indeed a bit crude.

Luca smirked. "I'm thirsty. What’s wrong with drinking tea to quench my thirst? Does drinking tea have to be graceful and romantic? I think this way is just fine."

"Heh~"

Keira gave him a sidelong glance. "Let me see."

"See what?"

"Your cup is quite pretty."

"You’ve got good taste!" Luca handed her the cup.

Keira lifted the lid and took a whiff. The fragrance was elegant and sophisticated, with a faint hint of grape. The tea was a bright, reddish color. She took a sip—the taste was rich and slightly bitter, but with a sweet aftertaste. Upon closer tasting, there was also a subtle hint of rose honey.

"Is this Duke Uva’s black tea?" Keira asked.

"That’s right. How does it taste?" Luca smiled.

Keira’s hand trembled. "Top-grade black tea, £1,000 per 100 grams, and you’re drinking it like this?"

"How else would I drink it?" Luca asked, confused.

"Hmph~ Wasteful!" Keira raised the cup and downed the tea in three big gulps.

Luca stared at her, speechless. I waste it, but you don’t?

"What are you looking at? I only drank some to save you from wasting good tea!" Keira said with a straight face.

Luca shook his head, chuckling. "Keira, you said I drink tea like a cow. Do you know what you look like?"

"What?"

"A cow drinking water!"

"You!" Keira picked up the cup, ready to throw it at him.

"Keira, don't be violent!"

"You're about to shoot, no fighting!" the people around them hurried to mediate.

Keira huffed, handed the cup back, and put on a stony face.

Luca chuckled softly, glancing at the cup. "You drank it so clean, not even a tea leaf left."

"You jerk!"

Keira was furious. Not a tea leaf left? What, does he expect me to eat them?

"Keira, it was just a joke. Don't get too worked up. Madam Mary is still doing your makeup. Be careful!" Luca teased.

"Luca, you're the worst! I've never met such an ungentlemanly man in my life!" Keira fumed. For some reason, every time she talked to this jerk, she couldn’t help but get angry. She always felt like releasing her inner violence and punching him until he looked like a blowfish.

Luca smirked but said nothing more. He feared that if he kept talking, Keira might actually hit him.

"Luca, Keira, are you ready?" Ian, the assistant director, asked.

"We’re ready!" Luca stood up and stretched his neck.

“I’m fine now too,” Kayla said.

“OK, let’s continue filming!”

“Everyone ready?”

Luca and Kayla walked into the set. The next scene had them entering a room together, chatting, getting close, and then being interrupted by Briony.

“Scene 17, Take 3, Action!”

The filming began. Cecilia, wearing a long green dress, walked gracefully across the soft carpet through the dimly lit hallway, with Robbie closely following her. As the midnight bells rang, Robbie followed Cecilia into the study and closed the door behind them.

Click!

Cecilia walked to the desk and turned on the lamp.

“What version were you planning to show me?”

Cecilia leaned on the desk, her long arms resting on its surface.

“I don’t know, something more formal, not so...”

“Explicit?”

“Yeah!”

Robbie pressed his lips together.

“It’s been a few weeks; this morning by the fountain...”

Cecilia looked at him and slowly turned around, speaking as she walked, “I’ve never acted like that before. I was really angry, not just at you but at myself too. I thought I’d be happy if you went to medical school, but I don’t know what was wrong with me, why I became so childish and foolish!”

Cecilia turned around, her eyes slowly reddening.

“You should understand what I’m saying, right? You know me better than I know myself,” she said, leaning against the bookshelf.

Robbie gazed at her tenderly. “Why are you crying?”

“Don’t you understand?”

Cecilia said softly, tears in her eyes.

“Yes, of course I understand!”

Robbie stepped forward and gently kissed her.

“Cut!”

“Luca, slow down a bit; make it a tentative kiss first, then go for a passionate one, and take your time with the bookshelf scene—make it more detailed!”

Director Wright said.

“I got it!”

Luca replied.

“This time it’s your fault,” Kayla said with a laugh.

“I know; do you want me to apologize?”

“No need. You just want to take advantage of me; I see through your sleazy intentions.”

“Ha, you’re overthinking it. Your mouth is full of the taste of my black tea; you might as well drink a few more sips instead of kissing me,” Luca replied.

Just then, he received a punch to the stomach.

“Hey! What’s going on with you two? Why are you fighting again?”

Director Wright asked with a frown. They were about to film a passionate scene, but the leads were fighting instead. Being a director was really tough.

“Director, we’re ready to film!”

Kayla said, putting away her fists, acting as if nothing had happened.

“Luca, any problems?”

Director Wright asked.

“No problem!”

Luca replied with a gentle smile; those chocolate abs didn’t come easily.

“Alright, lights, sound, props—check the equipment on set and do a makeup check on both of them!”

Director Wright shouted.

“Director, all good!”

“Director, everything is ready; we can continue filming.”

The crew responded.

“OK, Scene 17, Take 4, Action!”

(End of chapter)

Chapter 468: Am I Being a Little Cruel?

Panting~ Panting~

The dim lights cast shadows in the study. Cecilia sat on the edge of a bookshelf, her body pressed against it, her clothes half undone, and her arms raised high.

Robbie stood on the ground, gripping Cecilia's wrists, his breathing heavy.

Click

The door to the study opened.

Little Briony walked in and saw her sister pinned against the bookshelf by Robbie, her hands held down as if she was being assaulted by him.

“Cecilia!” Briony cried, her eyes filled with tears.

Robbie and Cecilia froze. Slowly, Robbie let go of her hands, and Cecilia quickly stepped down, fixing her dress and hair as she hurried out of the room.

Robbie zipped up his pants, adjusted his clothes, hesitated for a moment, then also left the room.

“Cut!”

“That’s a wrap!”

Applause broke out on set as the director called it a wrap, and there were sighs of relief.

This intense scene was crucial, so the director shot it meticulously, breaking down each movement piece by piece. From 5 PM until after 10 PM, more than five hours of shooting left the crew exhausted.

Luca was especially tired.

While the crew members could take breaks, he and Keira, the two main actors, had to keep going nonstop, filming continuously in a room with no ventilation. His shirt had long since been soaked with sweat.

As soon as he stepped off set, Luca immediately stripped off his suit, shirt, and trousers, leaving him in just a T-shirt and shorts.

When the hot, steamy air from his body met the cool breeze blowing through the hallway, he couldn’t help but shiver.

“Ah, that feels good!”

“Luca, you need to hydrate!” Tony handed him a thermos.

“Hot water or room temperature?” Luca asked.

“Beer, with ice!” Tony laughed.

“Even better!”

After hours of filming, Luca was hot, tired, and thirsty. Nothing could beat an ice-cold beer.

He unscrewed the lid and chugged the beer down in one go. It felt amazing!

“Got more? One cup isn’t enough.”

“I’ll see if I can find more!”

“Alright then.”

Luca exhaled and sat down on a bench.

“Want another beer?” Keira approached, holding two cans of porter beer.

“For me? Are you sure?”

It surprised him that Keira would offer him a beer out of nowhere.

“Do you want it or not? If not, I’ll toss it.” Keira’s tone was annoyed.

“I want it! I really need to rehydrate, and your beer came at the perfect time.” Luca grabbed the cold can from her hand and drank half of it in one go.

“The ox is drinking again!” Keira shot him a disdainful glance.

“Alright, I’m an ox!” Luca laughed, taking another big gulp. Porter beer, a classic British brew, had a sweet and bitter malt caramel flavor with a hint of chocolate. It was incredibly smooth, with a lingering aftertaste.

Keira sat down next to him, sipping her beer slowly. She noticed his gaze on her and frowned.

“Why are you staring at me? I’m not as rough as you.”

“Keira, you look so beautiful pretending to be a lady!” Luca teased.

“…”

Keira fell silent, giving him a cold glare.

“Okay, I said something wrong.” Luca admitted, raising his hands in defeat.

“Keira, you look absolutely stunning right now. That green dress suits you perfectly—no one could wear it better than you. When the movie comes out, the audience will gasp, ‘Wow, Keira looks gorgeous; she’s my dream girl!’ Keira, that’s what I think too.”

Luca sincerely complimented her.

Having watched most of Keira’s films, he thought her portrayal of Cecilia was her most breathtaking role. Just like how Scarlett Johansson’s portrayal of Nola in Match Point was considered one of her most beautiful roles, Keira’s Cecilia was the epitome of beauty.

Keira glanced at him, leaned back in the chair, and took a sip of her beer. “The scenes at the manor are almost done.”

“Yes.” After the intense scene, the storyline moved on. The twin boys would soon go missing, and everyone would go searching for them.

Briony would later stumble upon someone assaulting her cousin, Lola, in a bush, but it was too dark to see the perpetrator’s face. When the police arrived, Briony would accuse Robbie, convinced that he was the culprit because of what she saw in the study.

Robbie would be arrested and sent to prison, marking the end of the manor scenes and the start of the second half of the film.

In the second half, World War II would break out, and Robbie would enlist, heading to France to fight.

That part of the film would take up a lot of screen time and be critical, so the crew would begin shooting it soon.

Keira would have some time off.

“Are you sad to leave this place?” Luca asked her.

“A little… Not really. I’ve wanted to leave for a while,” Keira said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s too hot down here in the south, and the hotel’s too far from the set, making it a hassle to travel back and forth every day. But what really drives me crazy is the presence of a rude, perverted, shameless, and utterly un-gentlemanly person in the crew. So no, I don’t like it here at all.”

Luca chuckled. “I feel the same way. There’s this stunning British woman in the crew—she’s gorgeous and talented, but she’s so headstrong. Every scene with her turns into a battle, and I have to give 100% of my energy just to keep up. After all these days of filming, I’m utterly exhausted.”

“Serves you right!” Keira smirked, turning her face away.

Luca laughed, scooting his hand over to the right until he found hers. She resisted for a moment, then relaxed.

The two of them sat shoulder to shoulder on the bench, gazing up at the dark blue sky dotted with stars, looking out at the distant city of Winchester, its lights twinkling faintly.

After the intimate scene, the crew spent three more days filming scattered shots around the manor.

Three days later, the production moved to the northeast English town of Ricard to begin filming the war scenes.

The war scenes were set in Dunkirk and on its beaches, but the real Dunkirk had become a popular tourist destination, making it unsuitable for filming. So the crew relocated to the coastal town of Ricard for these scenes.

This portion of the story featured several large-scale sequences, including a citywide manhunt, an escape, and the Dunkirk evacuation. For the evacuation scene alone, the crew used over 2,000 extras and spent two weeks filming it.

It was Luca’s first time shooting a war movie, and he had to march across the set every day, carrying gear, running around in both the scorching sun and pouring rain. The process was exhausting.

After more than a month of filming, Luca finally finished the war scenes. During that time, he made a brief trip to New York to celebrate his twins’ birthday, and after the party, he returned to the set to continue shooting.

In early May, the film wrapped.

He returned to Los Angeles, worn out, heading to Big Pear Tree Manor.

“Luca, you’re finally back!”

Before he could even rest, Ed, his ever-demanding agent, showed up, repeating his usual line.

Luca wasn’t happy about it. “Ed, what do you mean, ‘I’m finally back’? I went to the UK to shoot a movie, not to go on vacation. Why are you acting like I’m late?”

Ed grinned, flashing his pearly whites. “I know, I’ve just gotten used to saying that. It slipped out when I saw you.”

Luca shook his head, rubbing his temples. “Alright, spill it. What do you need?”

“You’ve been gone for over two months, and there’s a ton of work piled up!” Ed opened his work bag with a dramatic cough. “First, you accepted that ad deal with Zegna for their suits. It’s time to shoot the commercial.

“Second, YouTube’s first short film competition has started. The Tuner is leading in every metric, so as the director, you’ve got a lot to do.

“Third, under Mr. Ross’s urging, Director Wang finished the script last week, and they’re about to start filming My Blueberry Nights. You’re the lead, so you know what that means.

“Fourth, after the Oscars, you ran off, and we’ve still got a lot of interviews to do. Don’t worry, I know you hate that stuff, so I’ve filtered out the unnecessary ones. There are about six left—these media outlets have close ties to the Academy, so we can’t really say no.

“Fifth, now that you’re a big star, tons of production companies want to work with you. I’ve got eight scripts here, three of which are big-budget films. When you have time, I’ll show them to you.

“Sixth…”

“Snore~ Snore~”

As Ed continued his briefing, he suddenly heard loud snores. Looking up, he saw that Luca had already collapsed on the sofa, fast asleep.

Ed smirked. The guy was exhausted. Am I being a bit cruel?

“Lima, Luca’s asleep. I’ll head out now.”

Ed informed her as he left

Ed was giving his work report when suddenly he heard a loud snoring sound. He looked up and, well, Luca had already slumped on the couch and fallen asleep.

He smirked a bit. "Wow, he's really tired. Maybe I'm being a little harsh?"

"Lima, Luca's asleep. I’m going to head out," Ed said as he stepped out.

"Luca’s asleep?" Lima, who was being helped across the lawn by the nanny, slowly made her way back into the living room.

'Snoooore~'

Luca was sprawled out on the couch, snoring loudly.

"He really can fall asleep just like that!" Lima chuckled, taking a blanket and gently draping it over him. Just as she was about to get up, she felt an arm wrap around her waist, and a warm hand rested on her belly.

"Are you pretending to be asleep?" Lima teased with a smile.

"Nope, I'm really tired. Now that you're here, why don't you nap with me?" Luca said, his eyes still closed.

"Alright, alright, I could use a nap too," Lima laughed softly and nestled into his arms.

"Sweetie, do you prefer a boy or a girl?" Lima asked.

"Mmm... either's fine," Luca mumbled sleepily.

"Last week, Kate went with me to the hospital for a check-up, and we already know the baby’s gender. Want to know?"

"Huh? What?"

"I’m not telling you!" Lima grinned and closed her eyes.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 469: Little Angel or Little Demon?

On May 5th, the sun shone brightly over the Los Angeles area.

Luca, dressed in a sports T-shirt and shorts, was on a morning run along the Pacific Coast Highway. He loved running, especially after finishing a film and returning home. It helped him switch from work mode to home mode, using the morning jog as a transition between being at home and working.

From 6:30 a.m., just as the sun was rising, until around 7:00 a.m., when the sun bathed the beach in light, he had run about 8 or 9 kilometers along the coast before returning to the estate.

By the time he got back, two of the household staff were already up—a nurse and a housekeeper.

The nurse was a professional maternity care worker, responsible for arranging Lima's meals and exercise during her pregnancy.

The housekeeper, Chris, was one of Lima’s cousins, in her thirties. Her duties included taking care of Lima, cleaning, and looking after the pets.

“Good morning, Mr. Kelly!”

“Good morning,” Luca nodded and walked upstairs. Lima was already up, standing on the balcony, holding her waist and breathing in the fresh air.

When they had first moved in, the wall of the balcony was bare. Luca had planted trumpet vine seeds on the roof, and in less than two years, the vines had spread all over one side of the wall.

By April and May, the trumpet flowers started blooming, with light red blossoms dotting the green vines, looking delicate and lovely.

A few flowers dangled upside down from the balcony, swaying in the breeze, adding to the beauty.

Luca walked over and asked, “How about a walk on the lawn?”

“It’s not time for my morning exercise yet. Let’s take a walk after breakfast,” Lima replied with a smile.

“Mary has breakfast ready. Shall we go down?” Luca asked.

“Alright!”

Luca helped Lima down the stairs. She was almost seven months pregnant, and her baby bump was getting more pronounced. Just seeing her belly made Luca think of Britney, who was far away in Germany.

If she were pregnant, her belly would be about the same size, maybe even bigger. Britney tended to gain weight more easily, so her belly would likely be larger.

He couldn’t help but wonder how she was doing now.

With a sigh, Luca decided he would go to Germany to find Britney when he had time.

In the dining room, Mary and Chris had prepared breakfast. Lima’s meal was simple, with a bland taste: eggs, toast, a bit of ham, and fruit porridge.

Luca had the same breakfast, except for an added steak.

Lima only ate a bowl of porridge, a piece of bread, and some ham before putting down her fork.

“Is that enough?” Luca asked as he continued eating.

“I eat four meals a day,” Lima chuckled.

“But aside from your chest, you haven’t gained much weight.”

“How is that possible? My arms, thighs, butt, and waist have gained a lot. How could you say I haven’t gained weight?”

“Really? Let me feel,” he teased.

“Don’t be silly!” Lima swatted away his hand playfully.

Luca laughed. Compared to how Jennifer Aniston looked in the last months of her pregnancy, Lima was still quite slim. She was tall, so even with a few extra pounds, it didn’t show much.

“Dear, you’ve been working hard!” Luca said.

“I’m glad you noticed,” Lima smiled at him before picking up a copy of the Los Angeles Times.

“Oh, Julie had her baby.”

“What?”

“Julie had her baby. The news said she went to the hospital last week, and she gave birth yesterday at noon,” Lima said, looking at the paper.

“Really?” Luca did some quick mental math. If the baby was born in early May, it shouldn’t be his—no, it definitely wasn’t his. Otherwise, Julie wouldn’t have had the baby.

“Is it a boy or a girl?”

“Definitely a girl!”

“How can you be so sure?” Luca asked, puzzled.

“Julie said in a TV interview back in March that she had an ultrasound. You don’t watch TV, so you wouldn’t have seen the show,” Lima explained.

Luca nodded. “I didn’t see it. Speaking of ultrasounds, you had one recently. So, is our baby a little angel or a little demon?”

“What do you mean, little angel or little demon? Our child is, of course, a little angel.”

Lima smiled as she touched her belly.

“So, it’s a girl?” Luca’s eyes lit up.

“Can’t a boy be a little angel?”

“No, I’m the big demon, so if it’s a boy, he’s definitely a little demon. You’re an angel, so if it’s a girl, she’ll be like you, an angel too.”

“Haha, then the baby in my belly must be a little demon,” Lima laughed.

“So it’s a boy, huh?” Luca sounded a bit disappointed.

“You don’t like boys?” Lima asked, a bit upset.

“I do, but little demons are too rambunctious. I’d prefer a little angel. How about after our little demon is born, we have two little angels to balance things out?”

Luca joked.

“No way! I haven’t worked for a year because of this pregnancy. If I have two more, I’ll be a middle-aged woman by the time I’m done!”

Lima laughed, pressing her lips together.

“That won’t happen. You’ll always be beautiful and sexy,” Luca said, holding her hand.

“You sweet-talker!” Lima smiled as she popped an egg into his mouth, silencing him.

After breakfast, Luca left the estate and headed to work. In March, he signed a three-year contract worth $5.5 million to be the spokesperson for Zegna luxury suits, a fee seven to eight times higher than what he made as a model.

This was one reason why acting was more desirable than modeling—once you became famous, the money-making opportunities were endless.

The commercial shoot took place in a Los Angeles studio, lasting from morning until the afternoon when they finished one series of shots.

“Luca, here’s the outline for tomorrow’s interview. Take a look and get familiar with it,” Ed said, handing over a folder at a café.

Luca shook his head. “Ed, are you treating me like a robot? I just finished a film, haven’t had time to rest, and now I’m shooting ads and doing interviews. At this rate, I’ll have to retire before I turn 30.”

“That’s not my fault. I told you to focus on acting and be dedicated to one profession, but you insisted on doing so many side jobs. Look at all the fields you’re working in—acting, modeling, screenwriting, directing. How can you blame me?” Ed replied, sipping his coffee.

“Did you really say that? I only remember you telling me not to be fickle, not to avoid side jobs. Don’t forget, when I wanted to be an actor, it was you who tempted me with a runway contract to become a model,” Luca protested.

“Did I? I remember telling you to focus on acting. Never mind, if you want to concentrate on acting now, I’ll fully support you. Have you made up your mind?”

Luca shook his head. “I’m too talented—I can write, act, and direct. It would be a waste to just act, so for now, let’s keep it as it is.”

“Fine, as long as you don’t complain about me overworking you,” Ed said with a laugh.

Luca shook his head, focusing on the interview outline. Most of the questions revolved around his screenwriting career, touching on topics like his works, famous writer Kate, his girlfriend Lima, his collaborations with Aniston and Charlize Theron, his acting career, rumors of being blacklisted, the inspiration behind The Tuner, and gossip.

As he skimmed through, he made some notes. “Ed, during the interview, don’t mention Leo. I don’t want people accusing me of riding his coattails.”

“Alright, I’ll coordinate that.”

“And about the gossip, this is supposed to be a serious interview about my journey as a top screenwriter. Why bring up gossip?”

“You have too much gossip surrounding you. If we don’t mention it at all, the interview will feel dry and forced, lacking entertainment value. The producers won’t agree to that.”

“Fine, but let’s tone it down a bit,” Luca agreed.

“OK!” Ed responded.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 470: With Me Here, Everything’s Fine*

In the evening, Luca returned to the estate, and Kate and Miranda arrived.

They brought several sets of stylish maternity clothes, including loose dresses, overalls for big bellies, and oversized cartoon T-shirts—over a dozen items in total.

At their urging, Lima tried on a pair of large, brown, plaid overalls with some stretch to them.

"Luca, what do you think of this? I designed it especially for Lima," Kate asked with a smile.

"Emm~ isn't this what lumberjacks wear?" Luca said, confused.

"Hahaha~" Miranda burst into laughter.

Kate didn’t say a word, just gave both of them a deadly stare.

"Beautiful!" Luca quickly corrected himself. "Very beautiful!"

"Yes, it looks great! The design is very creative, especially the pouch like a fat kangaroo pocket—it’s perfect," Miranda praised.

Luca nodded in agreement, "That’s exactly what I was thinking."

"Don't steal my words. You know nothing, how could you think the same as me?" Miranda rolled her eyes at him.

"You make a good point. Can’t I just give you a thumbs up?" Luca said, smiling.

"Humph, Luca, you’re going to be a father soon. Can you stop being so thick-skinned? What if the baby grows up to be like you? How will you teach him to be a proper person?"

"What’s wrong with being like me?" Luca protested.

"Enough, both of you!" Kate said, stitching a few more threads into the overalls. "Every time you two meet, you argue until I get a headache."

Lima smiled and rubbed her belly, saying, "The baby was sleeping, but you guys woke him up. Now he's kicking me. When he's born, he’s going to keep you up at night with his crying."

Miranda stuck out her tongue and helped adjust Lima's clothes. While doing so, she said, "Baby, I’m sorry, it's all your dad's fault. Your dad is a troublemaker."

"Ah~" Lima suddenly let out a sound.

"What’s wrong?" Kate quickly helped her sit down.

"The little one kicked me again," Lima said with a soft laugh.

"Miranda, you bad-mouthed his dad, and the little guy got angry," Kate laughed.

"I don’t think so. The little guy’s probably trying to punch the troublemaker. What a good baby!" Miranda joked, tapping Lima’s belly.

Luca shook his head, placing a hand on Lima's belly. The little one, though only seven months along, kicked quite strongly.

"Lima, how do you like these maternity clothes?" Kate asked.

"Why? Are you thinking of starting a maternity line?" Lima asked with a smile.

"Yes, I’m considering it. I want to help pregnant women feel fashionable too. Fashion is everywhere. What do you think?" Kate asked.

"I agree. Pregnant women are a special group, with a limited window of time. We need to create infinite fashion within this short period," Miranda said, raising her fist.

Lima nodded with a smile, "Well said!"

"Luca, what about you? Tell the truth," Kate asked.

Luca smirked, "Pregnant women should just stay home and rest quietly. What’s the point of being fashionable?"

The three women all rolled their eyes at him.

"Kate, you shouldn't have asked him. People like him who lack any sense of fashion—it's a waste of time asking," Miranda said with disdain.

"It wasn’t a waste!" Kate said confidently. "We all know Luca doesn’t understand fashion, so people like him are called old-fashioned. Their views are the opposite of fashion, so if Luca doesn’t like it, the design must be fashionable."

"Haha, I get it now! If Luca doesn’t like the design, then it’s fashionable, right?" Miranda clapped her hands, laughing.

"Exactly. Before Luca spoke, I was worried he’d say the design was great. If he had, I would’ve thrown all the designs out immediately. Luckily, he didn’t approve," Kate said.

"Haha~" Lima and Miranda couldn’t stop laughing.

Luca's face darkened, and he grumbled, "Stop laughing." He gently touched Lima's belly and said, "Too much laughing isn’t good for the baby."

"Not true. Science says that babies born into families full of laughter will grow up to be cheerful and lively," Miranda said.

"My child will definitely be an outgoing and lively kid. That’s a given," Luca said proudly.

"Narcissist!"

As they chatted, night fell. Luca took his work documents and headed into the study, researching for tomorrow's interview.

After finishing, he sent an email to Britney, catching up and checking on her health. He rambled on about many things.

After sending it, he waited for a while. As usual, there was no reply. He sighed, about to leave.

Ding~

There was a new unread email from Britney. Luca was excited. Over the past few months, he had written her seventy to eighty emails, every chance he got, but Britney had never responded.

Finally, she replied.

He eagerly opened the email.

It was short, just one sentence: "I’m fine. Felicia is with me, so don’t worry."

"Where are you? I’ll come find you!" Luca typed quickly.

But after a long wait, there was no reply. He sighed, recalling what Felicia had said: "If you can’t commit, don’t disturb Britney."

What good would it do to go now? Especially with Lima about to give birth, going wouldn’t change anything.

But staying made him uneasy.

Lima had plenty of people to take care of her. Things were fine on her end.

But Britney’s parents were divorced, and her mother had remarried. She was alone overseas, trying to avoid the paparazzi, with only Felicia by her side—so many inconveniences.

Thinking about it all gave him a headache.

"What’s wrong?" Kate asked, walking in.

Luca rubbed his temples. After Kate closed the door, he said, "Britney might be pregnant too."

Kate raised an eyebrow. "She probably is. There hasn't been much news about her in the media lately. Maybe she's resting abroad."

"Yeah, her parents are divorced, and she only has an assistant with her. I’m really worried about her."

"Has she still not told you where she is?"

"No, she replied just now, saying she's fine and not to worry. But when I asked where she is, she didn’t respond," Luca said, feeling a bit helpless.

Kate thought for a moment, then snapped her fingers. "How about I ask her?"

"You?"

"Yeah, I’ll ask her right now. But I don’t have her new number, so I’ll contact her via email."

Kate sat down and logged into her email, sending Britney a message.

Ding~

Two minutes later, Britney replied.

"See, Luca? Britney just doesn’t want to see you!" Kate laughed.

"Stop laughing! What did she say?" Luca urged.

"Don’t rush me!"

Kate opened the email. It was simple: "Is Luca there? If he is, I’m not talking."

"Haha~" Kate pushed Luca away, laughing. "You should leave. Britney really doesn’t want to see you."

"It’s fine. Just say I’m not here. She won’t know," Luca said, his face darkening.

Kate glanced at him. "Am I that kind of person? You need to leave. If Britney stops responding to me too, then we’ll lose this lead."

"Fine, fine. I’m leaving!" Luca shook his head and walked out of the study.

He leaned on the balcony, waiting. After almost an hour, Kate stretched and walked out of the study.

"How’d it go?" he asked quickly.

"All set!" Kate replied confidently.

"Where is she?"

"I’m not telling you yet. I’m planning to visit her in a few days. I’ll tell you when I get back."

"You’re going?"

"Of course! I’m your sister. If I don’t go, who will? Don’t worry. With me there, everything will be fine."

Kate waved her fist and walked into her bedroom.

Luca smiled softly and said, "Good night."

(End of Chapter)