531-535

**Chapter 531: Night Chat with Monica**

The evening at Cannes was enchanting, with a full moon reflecting on the vast ocean and the beach illuminated by lights. After enjoying some dessert at a local café, Link played in the water at the seaside with little Kassel, who giggled endlessly, full of joy.

Once the little guy grew tired, Link carried him back to the beachside restaurant. There, he found Guillaume, drunk, slumped over the table, badmouthing Link and making overly emotional confessions to Marion, even tearfully declaring his love.

"Link, it’s tough being your rival in love," Monica Bellucci teased.

Link just shook his head, handed the sleepy Kassel to Marion, and helped Guillaume into a car to take him back to the hotel.

With Guillaume passed out and Marion busy taking care of both him and Kassel, Link had to spend the night alone. Back in his room, he checked the news on his phone. As expected, it was all about his surprise win for Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival.

Most of the coverage was filled with skepticism, questioning why the jury would break tradition and award both leading actor and actress prizes to the same film.

Link skimmed through a few articles but soon grew bored and turned off the browser. He checked his missed calls, texts, and social media messages. His inbox was flooded with over a hundred congratulatory messages from acquaintances like Emma Roberts, Kristen Stewart, Katy Perry, and Paul Walker.

Among the messages were a few from unknown numbers, which piqued his curiosity since not many people had this number.

Three messages came from the same number. When he opened them, they congratulated "Mr. Baker" on his Cannes Best Actor win, praising his acting skills. The sender claimed to be a fan of his boxing, music, and films and expressed how much they admired him, hoping for a reply. The messages were signed by someone named Bingbing Fan, who claimed to be a close friend of Yang Mi.

The second message contained a few selfies from Bingbing Fan, dressed skimpily, showing off her fair skin and suggestive poses. However, Link, having seen many beautiful faces in his life, felt hardly any excitement.

The third message was an apology. She explained that she had meant to send the message to Yang Mi to show off the Cannes scenery but accidentally sent it to him instead.

Link, sensing her motives, deleted the messages and sat on the balcony, replying to messages from some close friends.

*Knock, knock.*

While discussing how to handle the media’s skepticism with the head of his PR team, Goldsmith, he heard a soft knock on the door.

He checked through the peephole and saw that it was Monica Bellucci, whom he had only just parted from. Her long, wavy hair hung loose, and she wore a red slip dress with thin straps that nearly disappeared into her skin. He couldn’t see what she was wearing below.

Opening the door, Link asked, "Monica, what’s up?"

"I can’t sleep, and I thought I’d have a chat with you. How about it?" Monica smiled, holding half a bottle of red wine.

"Come in."

Link stepped aside to let her in. As she brushed past him, her smooth shoulder grazed his chest, carrying a soft scent of the same perfume Marion used, though Monica’s scent was warmer and more inviting, given her fuller figure.

She stepped in, heels clicking, and sat on the sofa, her short dress riding up enough that she had to cross her legs to avoid revealing too much.

"You’re alone? Marion isn’t here?" she asked.

"She’s taking care of Guillaume."

Link figured Monica already knew this, which is why she came at this hour.

"I envy Marion," Monica said with a mischievous smile, crossing her bare legs. "She has a man who loves her deeply and another whom she loves with all her heart. I never understood Marion before, but now I see that this way of preserving love is the best. With you around, Guillaume wouldn’t dare mess around, and with Guillaume, you get the thrill of stealing love from him, right?"

"I’m not that cruel. If Marion wanted to leave Guillaume, I’d be happy."

Link placed a wine glass on the coffee table.

"I don’t think so," Monica said, swirling her wine. "You’d just be more stressed because you’d have to spend more time caring for Marion when you’re away. If you make her wait too long, she might leave you. So, this arrangement is the most lasting and comfortable."

Monica poured herself a glass, swirling it around. "Why only one glass? Are we sharing?"

Link chuckled. "Marion must’ve told you I’m not much of a drinker. I already had a glass earlier, so I’m afraid I’ll have to pass."

"You get drunk on wine?" Monica asked with curiosity.

"Beer too," Link said with a shrug.

"Interesting! What are you like when you’re drunk?" Monica asked, amused.

"Like any other drunk. Though I get a bit more violent. You probably wouldn’t want to see it."

Link sat across from her, propping his head up with his hand, studying her. Even though Monica was older, her pale skin and voluptuous figure were still in excellent shape, with her tight silk dress straining against her chest and hips.

"Want to try? I don’t mind looking after you when you’re drunk," Monica teased, offering him her glass.

Link took a sip and handed it back. "Take it easy. Being drunk isn’t as fun as it sounds."

"Alright, if you say so," Monica smiled, lazily finishing half the glass. She reclined on the sofa, her legs no longer neatly crossed, casually draped over the side, exposing just a bit more.

"What were you up to earlier?" she asked.

"Replying to some congratulatory messages."

"You deserve all the praise," Monica said, her eyes growing distant. "You’re only twenty-four, half my age, and you’ve already achieved so much. Thirteen Olympic gold medals, numerous championship belts, a Grammy, a Berlin Best Actor Award, and now a Cannes Best Actor. How do you do it?"

"Like the media says, I’m probably just a genius. A jack of all trades," Link said with a smile.

"You certainly are. If I were twenty years younger, I’d chase after you with everything I’ve got, even if it meant being in Marion’s shoes."

Monica drained her glass and handed it back to Link.

He smiled and poured her another half glass.

Monica took a sip and suddenly stood, moving over to sit beside Link. "Can I borrow your shoulder for a moment?"

"Be my guest."

Monica didn’t hesitate. She hugged his arm and rested her head on his shoulder, softly recounting her story with Vincent Cassel. They had met on the set of *The Apartment* in 1996, married in 1999, and had two daughters in 2004 and 2010.

But after years of marriage, their relationship had faded. Vincent had started dating younger women, and they hadn’t been intimate for over two years.

"Link, do you think I’m too old?" Monica asked, her breath warm with the scent of wine.

Link shook his head. "You’re a very attractive woman, at any age."

"Really? Then do you dare kiss me?"

Monica fluttered her long eyelashes as she looked up at him.

Link gently tilted her chin and pressed a kiss to her plump lips.

That kiss seemed to unlock something in Monica. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, their bodies pressing together.

They kissed for a long time, exchanging many words. Eventually, things escalated, and under the moonlit terrace facing the sea, they did things that even the Cannes midnight screenings couldn’t capture.

—

When Link woke the next morning, Monica was already gone. He rubbed his temples, marveling at her resilience. Among all the women he had known, she was truly unmatched.

At breakfast, Link browsed through several French newspapers. The headlines were similar to what he’d seen online last night, though the language was more refined and elegant.

The front page of France's largest newspaper, *Le Figaro*, reported yesterday's Cannes Film Festival awards ceremony, with the headline: "Link and Marion win Best Actor and Actress, making Cannes history."

The article also covered the awards won by other films.

Initially, the report was written in an objective and fair tone. However, in the film review section, the newspaper raised many questions about the Cannes jury.

It stated that although Link and Marion gave great performances in *Rust and Bone*, awarding either of them individually wouldn’t have been controversial. However, awarding both raised many issues worth discussing.

First, were Link and Marion significantly better than the other nominees?

Second, was it necessary for the jury to break precedent for them?

Finally, when voting, did the jury act fairly and without outside interference?

In the editor's commentary, these questions were addressed.

The editor agreed that, compared to the four other actresses in the competition, Marion had a clear advantage in terms of acting skills, making her win well-deserved. However, when it came to Link, the editor felt he was not significantly better than the veteran actors he was up against, and the results were nearly tied.

In such a situation, the jury should have followed Cannes tradition and chosen another actor for Best Actor, instead of voting for Link. The jury's decision to give the award to Link despite knowing it would be controversial was puzzling.

As for whether the jury was influenced by external factors, *Le Figaro* speculated that Link's fame and sensitive status could have affected the jury's decisions. The editor suggested that jury president Steven Spielberg should have considered this and avoided awarding the prize to Link for the sake of impartiality.

The *Le Figaro* editor hoped that the Cannes Film Festival organizers would address these questions directly.

Other French newspapers, as well as British *The Guardian* and German *Bild*, reported on this controversy and questioned Link's win.

Link read these articles but wasn’t bothered. He knew that since the Cannes Film Festival began, it has always been surrounded by controversy. After every award ceremony, there are media questioning the winners.

For example, in 2004, *Fahrenheit 9/11*, a documentary, won the Palme d'Or, the second documentary in Cannes history to do so, despite its strong political leanings and limited artistic merit. The jury president, Quentin Tarantino, was said to have pushed the film to victory, and he had close ties with producer Harvey Weinstein. This led to accusations of favoritism.

In the same year, Japanese actor Yuya Yagira, just 14 years old, won Best Actor, beating veterans like Tony Leung, Daniel Brühl, and Choi Min-sik. Tony Leung later criticized the decision, saying, "What kind of acting can a 14-year-old have?"

In 2006, under the presidency of Wong Kar-wai, five actors were jointly awarded Best Actor, and six actresses were jointly awarded Best Actress, which sparked further controversy.

In 2009, when French actress Isabelle Huppert was jury president, she gave the Palme d'Or to *The White Ribbon*, directed by Michael Haneke, her mentor. Haneke had directed *The Piano Teacher* in 2001, which earned Huppert her second Best Actress award at Cannes. The media later exposed intense disputes between Huppert and the jury, leading to even more controversy.

In 2010, Tim Burton was jury president and awarded the Palme d'Or to *Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives* by Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Burton admitted he hadn’t paid much attention to the film. That year also saw a joint win for Best Actor, shared by Javier Bardem and Elio Germano.

With such strange stories in the past 13 years at Cannes, Link and Marion winning Best Actor and Actress together seemed insignificant by comparison. Therefore, Link wasn’t too worried about the questioning articles.

As long as he could take home the Cannes Best Actor trophy, everything else could be dealt with later.

After spending two days in Cannes, Link, Marion Cotillard, Vincent Cassel, Monica Bellucci, and Guillaume Canet returned to Paris for the *Rust and Bone* premiere.

The controversy surrounding the film boosted its exposure. Within three days of release, it grossed 10.59 million euros across 334 cinemas in France, securing the top spot in the French weekly box office. The film was also well-received, with both fans and the media praising Link and Marion's performances.

French media gave the film an overall rating of 8.8, calling it a classic love story. With a production budget of 22 million euros, the film was expected to break even in France alone, likely becoming a box office hit.

Just as Link was putting the Cannes situation behind him and returning to the U.S. for film promotions, he discovered that the American media continued to focus on his unexpected win.

They claimed he interfered with the jury through PR channels, used his girlfriend Jennifer Lawrence to win the award, and even suggested that he had financial dealings with jury members.

Some even criticized Link for being too accomplished already, asking why he would compete for an award that should go to a less established actor.

The media seemed determined to tarnish his image and ruin his reputation.

Given that *Rust and Bone* was about to be released in North America, and that the film’s promotion required money, Link decided not to ignore the matter. He started to engage in PR efforts, battling the critics in the media to clear things up.

(End of Chapter)
**Chapter 532: A Failed Attempt Backfires**

The *Hollywood Reporter* revealed that during the voting process, Jennifer Lawrence was a strong supporter of Link’s win, showing a lot of enthusiasm, which influenced other jury members' decisions. This was one of the reasons for Link’s victory.

In response, Jennifer publicly stated that *Rust and Bone* was a great movie, and she liked both the film and Link’s performance.

On the other hand, Bruce Dern’s *Nebraska* was more depressing, and after watching it, she didn’t feel a connection. So she didn’t vote for Bruce Dern, and the same applied to the other three nominees.

She insisted that she voted according to her personal preference, following the jury's guidelines, and there was no favoritism involved.

The *Los Angeles Times* published an article suggesting that Link, as the owner of Lionsgate and an entertainment mogul with immense influence in Hollywood, might have affected the votes of the Cannes jury, most of whom worked in Hollywood. They questioned if the jury voted for him because of his status, which would be unfair to the other actors.

Actress Nicole Kidman responded publicly, saying that voting for a favorite film or a familiar actor is not exclusive to Cannes. This happens at the Oscars, Golden Globes, and even in political elections. It’s inevitable.

She added that if people didn’t vote for Link out of fear of being criticized because they knew him, that would be the real injustice.

Moreover, she praised Link’s performance in *Rust and Bone*, noting that he made significant sacrifices, including bold nudity on camera, showcasing exceptional acting skills. He deserved the award.

Other jury members, including director Ang Lee and Christoph Waltz, also praised *Rust and Bone* and Link’s performance in the film.

The Cannes Film Festival responded to these concerns by stating that the awards are based on the personal preferences of the jury. Jury members vote for the films and actors they like, not based on public opinion. That’s how it has always been.

Thus, the film that wins the Palme d’Or isn’t necessarily the most artistically superior, but the one the jury likes the most.

The same applies to the selection of actors.

The winning actor may not be the best among all the festival’s performers but rather the one whose performance resonates with the jury’s taste.

This is why Cannes always sparks controversy after every edition.

The saying “Cannes’ favorites are doomed to lose” refers to how the films and actors favored by the media before the awards often don’t win.

The reason for this tradition is that the films and actors the public loves often differ from those the professional jury prefers.

The Cannes Film Festival welcomes media discussions about the awards but always respects the jury’s final decisions.

---

As the controversy surrounding Link’s victory subsided, several media outlets pointed out that Link was already a billionaire, a 13-time Olympic gold medalist, multiple Grammy winner, boxing champion, and a global superstar. Someone with so many accolades shouldn’t be competing for film awards with regular actors.

*The Baltimore Sun* criticized Link for “excessively pursuing honors and awards,” saying it was unfair to his competitors.

They suggested that Link stop participating in film festival awards as this excessive pursuit of “vanity” could harm his reputation and wasn’t worth the trouble.

However, this comment was met with a strong rebuttal from mainstream media and Link’s fans.

The *Los Angeles Times* argued that there’s no such thing as “excessive” pursuit of honors. It would be absurd for Link to quit the Olympics because he already has too many gold medals or to stop boxing because he’s won too many titles.

*The New York Times* commented that after reaching the pinnacle of boxing, Link moved on to dominate the music industry and is now striving for success in the film industry. This demonstrates incredible courage and determination, which everyone should admire. More people like Link would inspire humanity to realize its potential and make the world a more exciting place.

*Ring Magazine* also published an article saying that boxing is all about the pursuit of being the “strongest.” Without a doubt, Link is one of the most formidable boxers of our time, a towering figure in the sport, and an inspiration for countless professional boxers. Competing against him is an honor, not something “unfair.” Without people like Link, boxing would lose its appeal, and humanity’s drive to be the best would come to a halt.

Therefore, Link’s “excessive pursuit of honors” is something to be celebrated, and everyone should cheer for him as he continues to fight in the ring.

Link’s fans also defended him on social media, stating that if Link were truly obsessed with honors, he wouldn’t have announced his early retirement from music award competitions, leaving the spotlight for younger singers.

He knows how to give opportunities to the next generation, a rare quality in the music industry.

In terms of acting, Link is still considered a “newbie” compared to many others.

He has only won a “Best Actor” award at the Berlin Film Festival, a “Best Actor” award at Cannes, and received two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor.

He hasn’t won that many awards, so claims of him excessively pursuing honors are unfounded. His work ethic, perseverance, and willingness to challenge himself in new fields make him a role model for his fans.

“Damn it, how did it turn out like this?”

Harvey Weinstein, seeing the flood of media praise for Link and the overwhelming support from his fans online, felt like he had swallowed a ton of flies.

During the Cannes voting for Best Actor, he had received inside information that Link was likely to win.

After learning this, Harvey had reached out to several jury members, including Christoph Waltz, who had won an Oscar for *Django Unchained*, asking them to vote for Link to help him secure the Best Actor award.

But Harvey’s goal wasn’t to help Link—it was to sabotage him.

Everyone knew Jennifer Lawrence was Link’s partner. By having him win while she was on the jury, Harvey could stir up a media storm, leading to widespread controversy and potentially damaging Link’s reputation.

At first, everything went according to plan. News of Link’s Best Actor win at Cannes sparked significant controversy in the U.S., with widespread criticism. Link’s reputation took a hit.

But as soon as Link returned to the U.S., the tide of public opinion shifted dramatically.

The media shifted the focus from whether Link deserved the award to whether he was “excessively pursuing honors.”

This debate went beyond Link and touched on broader societal issues.

If the media validated the notion that Link’s pursuit of honors was excessive, it could lead to many negative repercussions.

For example, should veteran actors like Meryl Streep, who has been nominated for the Best Actress Oscar over a dozen times, stop doing so? What about athletes competing in multiple Olympics for gold medals?

And then there were the Pulitzer Prize, Fields Medal in Mathematics, Pritzker Prize in Architecture, and even sports awards in the NBA and NFL.

Once the media discussion shifted to a societal level, mainstream outlets had to support Link, debunking the idea of “excessive pursuit of honors” to prevent confusion.

Once the mainstream media sided with Link, the narrative around his Cannes win shifted from controversy to positivity.

This amplified Link’s victory, turning him from just a great actor to a symbol of perseverance and excellence.

In the end, not only did the negative press fail to harm Link’s reputation, but it actually made him more popular.

Realizing this, Harvey became furious.

To sabotage Link, he had called in favors and spent some money. But instead of hurting him, he had helped Link become Cannes’ Best Actor, inadvertently boosting Link’s image.

“Harvey, give it up. Link’s a master of self-promotion. He built his career on it. We can’t beat him at this game.”

Bob Weinstein said helplessly.

At first, Bob thought Link’s win was a fluke, and the media criticism was natural. But after hearing Harvey’s explanation, he realized this was all part of Harvey’s scheme.

Harvey tried to bring down Link but ended up failing miserably.

Bob shook his head, tempted to call Harvey an idiot.

Link was a billionaire, a shareholder of News Corp, and well-connected with various media empires. He also had a team of PR experts skilled in controlling narratives. For someone like him, ordinary negative news wouldn’t stick, and the effort would be wasted.

“This is between me and Link. Stay out of it.”

Harvey waved his hand, breathing heavily as he struggled to calm down. “Right now, Link is being targeted by the Big Six studios. This is our chance to strike. If we win, Lionsgate will go bankrupt, and we’ll gain from it. Doing nothing now would be foolish.”

“But I believe all efforts against Lionsgate should be focused on making movies—producing more blockbusters and earning more box office revenue. That’s the real competition, not these useless distractions.”

“Of course, I know that. This move against Link is about his film. *Rust and Bone* is distributed by Lionsgate. If Link’s reputation takes a hit, the movie’s box office will suffer too. But Link is too clever, smarter than a damn fox.”

Harvey cursed angrily.

Bob frowned, doubting Harvey’s foresight. But he didn’t want to argue, so he opened a file to discuss their upcoming film projects.

After securing $300 million in production funding from Warner Bros., The Weinstein Company’s finances improved, giving them the ability to produce more films and make more money.

When it came to making movies, Harvey was the expert, and Bob had to follow his lead.

Harvey glanced over the file, pointing out several scripts he had read, identifying potential hits, as long as they kept the budget low. He also had valuable input on directors.

Bob carefully took notes.

"Hmm? I remember there was a script for The Butler. Why isn’t it here?" Harvey asked, pointing at the documents.

"Director Lee Daniels also sent the script to Lionsgate, and they agreed to invest, so..." Bob hesitated as he explained.

"What?!" Harvey erupted in anger. Just as he was about to stand up, a wave of dizziness hit him, and he plopped back into his chair, cursing Link.

(End of chapter)
**Chapter 533: The Release of "Rust and Bone"**

"Rust and Bone" premiered in France during its second week, earning 7.38 million euros and was also released in other regions.

In North America, the movie gained considerable attention even before its release, thanks to media hype about Link’s awards and leaks of major plot points. It was revealed that Link had a full-nude scene and a passionate performance with Marion Cotillard, which only fueled anticipation. As a result, "Rust and Bone" became one of the most highly anticipated films of the summer.

On May 20, the film was screened in six theaters across North America, grossing $828,000 in just three days, with an impressive per-theater average of $46,000. This made it the highest-grossing R-rated film in terms of per-theater revenue during the summer season.

The movie received positive reviews, with over ten media outlets giving it ratings above 8.5. On Rotten Tomatoes, it held a 74% fresh rating, with 32 positive and 9 negative reviews. The passionate scenes between Link and Marion Cotillard were also praised as the most sensual and intense moments of the year.

Link's strong, sexy physique once again earned him the title of "Sexiest Actor of the Year" by *Vanity Fair*.

Five days after the limited release, "Rust and Bone" expanded to 2,339 theaters across North America. Its opening weekend grossed $38.55 million, ranking third behind *Fast & Furious 6* and *The Hangover Part III*.

In Japan, the movie's first-week performance was astounding, with a box office haul of 6.94 billion yen (around $46.05 million), surpassing *Fast & Furious 6*, *Star Trek: Into Darkness*, and *Iron Man 3*. It even set a new record for a French-language film in Japan. According to Japanese media, 72% of the audience were adult women, meaning Link single-handedly contributed to this remarkable box office performance.

Japanese media found this unsurprising, noting that Link's photo books had been bestsellers in Japan for years, with almost every adult Japanese woman owning at least one. His bold and intimate scenes in "Rust and Bone" naturally attracted a huge audience.

In South Korea, "Rust and Bone" drew 3.55 million viewers in its first week, slightly trailing the 3.87 million for *Fast & Furious 6*. However, given that "Rust and Bone" is an R-rated art film and *Fast & Furious 6* is a commercial blockbuster, the difference was minimal.

In China, "Rust and Bone" passed censorship and was released in major theaters, earning 46.77 million yuan in its first week, placing fifth overall and making it the only art film in the top five.

The film also performed well in the UK, Australia, Spain, Belgium, and other regions. In its opening week, "Rust and Bone" grossed an impressive $165 million worldwide, an outstanding result for a film with a budget of just $24 million.

Seeing the commercial success of his nude scenes, many studios offered Link more explicit roles with hefty offers, some exceeding $30 million.

Even Lionsgate Studios was eyeing him for potential projects.

"Honey, have you thought about it? So many women want to see you in those steamy scenes," Ivanka teased in the office while flipping through a script.

"No thanks. Doing too many of those films would get boring," Link replied.

For Link, it wasn’t about the money; if a good script like *Rust and Bone* or *Lust, Caution* came along, he wouldn’t mind doing another intense role. But the scripts Lionsgate and other studios offered weren’t appealing, and they didn’t seem award-worthy.

"Sweetheart, you’re a professional actor. You should make what your audience wants to see. Learn to serve your audience," Ivanka smiled.

Link put down his newspaper and looked at her. "So you want to see me in those kinds of movies?"

"Yes, the papers say your butt is sexy. I saw it on the big screen, and I agree."

"Very bold of you to tease me like this. I won’t hold back then."

Link walked over, kissed her lips, and started playfully messing with her. Before long, Ivanka’s face was flushed, and she softly begged him to stop. After some playful cuddling, he finally let her go.

"Taylor was right; you are such a flirt," Ivanka said, glaring at him, her usually cold and dignified demeanor softened by the flush on her face.

"So you and Taylor are bonding now? That’s not a good thing," Link chuckled.

"I disagree. Taylor thinks I should be stricter with you, and I agree with her."

Ivanka adjusted her clothes, her expression turning icy again, the commanding air of a CEO returning as she spoke.

"Well, then, take her advice. Let’s see how you handle things tonight. Begging won’t help you this time," Link said coldly.

Ivanka rolled her eyes at him and went back to her work, while Link smiled and returned to his newspaper.

In May, Lionsgate released several films, including *Rust and Bone*, *Identity Thief*, *Red 2*, *Tyler Perry’s Marriage Counselor*, and the action film *Now You See Me*.

*Identity Thief* grossed $152 million in North America and $55 million overseas, surpassing the $200 million mark globally, making it the second movie this year to achieve that milestone after *The Expendables 2*.

*Red 2* grossed $61.17 million in North America and $106 million overseas after a month in theaters, enough to break even, though just barely.

*Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection* had a decent run, earning $56.39 million domestically and $24.48 million internationally, bringing in a solid profit for the studio.

*Now You See Me*, one of Lionsgate’s biggest projects this year, opened with $36.86 million from 2,949 theaters in North America, coming in second at the box office behind *Fast & Furious 6*.

Meanwhile, *The Hangover Part III*, a major Warner Bros. release, was critically panned and grossed only $23 million this week, a sharp 68% drop.

Another flop was Sony’s sci-fi film *After Earth*, starring Will Smith and his son Jaden. Despite a $130 million production budget, the movie earned just $27.52 million in its opening weekend from 3,401 theaters. It was also panned by critics, with an 11% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 46 rating from Yahoo users, making it one of the worst-reviewed films of the year.

In its second week, *Now You See Me* held strong, grossing $32.30 million, bringing its total to $69.16 million in North America.

*Rust and Bone*, now in its third week in North America, brought in an additional $12.07 million, pushing its total to $74.28 million and ranking fifth for the week.

Its overseas earnings reached $162 million, bringing its global total to over $200 million. This made it the third Lionsgate film to surpass the $200 million mark globally, and the studio expected to earn over $100 million from it.

With back-to-back box office successes, Lionsgate outperformed the major studios, whose recent releases were underperforming.

According to *The Hollywood Reporter*, if the major studios don’t turn things around in the next few months, Lionsgate, buoyed by *The Hunger Games: Catching Fire*, could break into the top five studios by year’s end.

"Hey, honey, time to call it a day," Link said, glancing at his watch.

Ivanka looked up from her computer. "I’ve still got some work to finish. You can go home first if you want."

"How much longer? I can wait," Link replied, sipping his water.

Ivanka blinked her long lashes and smiled. "Do you enjoy watching me work?"

"Yes, a hardworking woman is the most beautiful."

"Okay, then. I’ll work overtime. You can admire me a bit longer, how about that?"

"Not happening. You’ve got ten minutes. Then we’re going home to have dinner, take a bath, and cuddle until morning."

Ivanka gave him a teasing look and then smiled as she typed faster, speeding through her work.

(End of the Chapter)
**Chapter 534: The Heavyweight Match**

After finishing the promotional work for *Rust and Bone*, Link wasn’t idle, spending his time teasing Ivanka in the office.

His match with James Toney was fast approaching, and he spent most of his time training in the boxing gym, honing his skills.

His opponent, James Toney, was a formidable heavyweight champion. Standing at 178 cm tall with a reach of 183 cm, he currently weighs 250 pounds, over 60 pounds heavier than Link.

James debuted in 1988 and has an impressive record of 87 fights with only 8 losses. He is an experienced and seasoned boxer.

At the peak of his career, he boasted a record of 46 wins, 2 draws, and no losses in 46 fights, almost breaking the "curse" of boxing—that no boxer has ever won more than 49 consecutive professional matches without losing or facing death.

In 1994, Toney faced Roy Jones Jr. and experienced his first defeat.

Toney started his career in the middleweight division and gradually moved up to heavyweight, winning multiple world titles along the way. His accolades include the IBF Middleweight Championship, IBF Super Middleweight Championship, WBU Light Heavyweight Championship, IBO-IBF Cruiserweight Championship, and the WBA Heavyweight Championship.

He even defeated Evander Holyfield in 2003 to claim the WBA heavyweight title.

Known as a hard hitter, Toney boasts a KO rate of over 65%, earning him the nickname "Lights Out."

Although age has caught up with him in recent years, Toney remains a dangerous and intimidating opponent.

Link needed to take this fight seriously.

The match was set to take place at Ford Field in Detroit, USA. The promoters, Dynasty Promotions and Don King Promotions, heavily marketed the fight, turning it into a highly anticipated showdown.

Last year, Link publicly declared his intention to claim all the heavyweight titles and dominate the division.

In their promotion, the media dubbed him "The Conqueror" and James Toney as "The Gatekeeper." They claimed that for Link to conquer the heavyweight division, he first needed to defeat Toney, the gatekeeper.

To promote the fight, the organizers teamed up with HBO to shoot a short film. In it, Link, dressed in shining armor and riding a majestic horse, leads a squad of soldiers to storm a fortress. Toney, also clad in armor, prepares with his troops to defend it.

The film, which cost $500,000 to produce and lasted 120 seconds, featured elaborate battle scenes and lavish costume design, reminiscent of a Roman legion clashing with Spartan warriors. It garnered positive reactions and accumulated 2.2 billion views on YouTube in just one week.

Through this short film, the Link vs. Toney match gained worldwide attention.

“That’s all flashy stuff. What really matters is winning the fight, not these theatrics. I have a feeling you might lose this time, Link,” said De La Hoya, walking over with a tablet in hand in the Muscle Beach Gym.

“Like you thought you’d win the last time we fought?” Link retorted.

“Hmph, this time is different. James Toney is 60 pounds heavier than you, more experienced, has a strong chin, and his punches are just as powerful. I’m not sure you’ll win this time.”

Hearing this, De La Hoya’s face darkened, still bitter about his previous defeat.

“We’ll see.”

*Bam, bam, bam!* Link continued to throw punches at the heavy bag, sweat flying off his arms with each hit. After over three hours of training, he was drenched in sweat.

“That guy’s getting more arrogant by the day,” De La Hoya muttered.

“Of course, if you had 31 consecutive wins with 31 knockouts and were making over $50 million per fight, you’d be even more arrogant than Link,” Morales chuckled.

De La Hoya shot him a glance, “I’m your boss. You’d better watch how you speak to me, or I’ll dock your pay.”

“I make you money, help you buy villas, cars, and pick up girls. You should be the one watching your tone.”

Morales wasn’t fazed by the threat.

“Hmph, I’m saying Link might lose to James Toney this time. Want to bet on it?”

“Of course. How much? How about a million dollars?”

“Why bet so much? I know you don’t have that much, and I don’t want to take your money. How about $10?”

“$10?!” Morales rolled his eyes. As a millionaire, the smallest bill in his wallet was $50. Betting $10 seemed pointless.

“So, you admit Link is better than Toney? Then why are you bothering him? Trying to distract him during training? How much did Toney pay you?” Morales asked.

“I didn’t say Link is better. I’m just trying to give him some advice, but he’s too arrogant to listen.”

“Link’s right not to listen. Your advice is a waste of time,” Morales said, flexing his muscles as he walked off.

De La Hoya glared at him, frustrated by Morales’ growing arrogance since becoming the WBO Super Middleweight Champion. After watching Link train for a while and realizing there wasn’t much he could criticize, he sighed and left.

On June 8, at Ford Field, Link's first heavyweight challenge was about to take place.

Detroit, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., is known for its automotive industry and engineering expertise, earning it the nickname "Motor City." The city also has a deep boxing culture, one of the reasons the match was hosted there.

Another reason was the city’s financial crisis. With debts exceeding $18 billion, Detroit had filed for bankruptcy. To help the situation, the city sought to boost its economy by hosting major events like concerts and sports matches, including Link’s bout.

Link’s fights were hugely popular in the U.S., consistently drawing large crowds and generating millions of dollars in revenue for hotels, transportation, and gambling, contributing to the city’s GDP.

On the day of the match, a Saturday, Ford Field’s 36,000 seats were filled, and dozens of photographers aimed their cameras at the two fighters—Link and James Toney.

Link, wearing black boxing trunks and gloves, appeared more muscular than he had during his WBO light heavyweight title defense in March. His broad chest, rock-solid abs, and sculpted muscles gleamed under the lights like chiseled marble, exuding explosive power.

On the opposite side, James Toney, a bald-headed black man, was shorter but stockier than Link, with a physique that resembled a stone pillar—solid, though without visible muscle definition.

“Hmph, Link, choosing me as your first heavyweight opponent was a mistake. I’ll make sure you taste defeat here,” Toney growled, raising his fists.

“James, you were good in your younger days, but now that you’re older, I’m afraid you’re no match for me,” Link smiled.

“We’ll see,” Toney sneered.

The two touched gloves, and as the referee signaled, the match began.

“Go, Link!”

“Link, you’ve got this!”

Thousands of Link’s fans cheered from the stands, waving flags and shouting encouragement.

Many others cheered for Toney.

Detroit, a predominantly black city, had a passionate fanbase for boxing. When a fight featured a black and a white fighter, many locals would naturally root for the black fighter, regardless of the opponent’s status or skill. They chanted, “Take him down, Link!”

*Bam, bam!* In the first round, Link launched the initial attack, using his reach advantage to land a series of punches on Toney.

However, Toney’s 250-pound frame, composed of a mix of muscle and fat, absorbed the blows with little visible effect. His defensive skills and durability were evident as Link focused on targeting his head.

At the same time, Link stayed alert for Toney’s counterpunches. As a heavy hitter, Toney’s punches carried over 1,400 pounds of force—enough to be deadly.

During the feeling-out process, Link took a couple of hits to his body, which hurt more than expected.

To avoid further damage, Link adopted a mix of guerilla tactics and close-range combat, constantly moving and landing accurate punches on Toney’s body and head.

*Bam, bam, bam!* In the first round, Link threw 121 punches, landing 21 of them, with 6 striking Toney’s head. The rest hit his shoulders and below.

Despite the blows to his head, Toney’s sturdy frame kept him standing. This was the first time in Link’s career that he hadn’t knocked down an opponent in the first round.

Toney, in contrast, threw over 110 punches, landing 16 on Link’s body and grazing his chin once.

Toney’s strategy in the first round was mostly defensive, protecting his head from Link’s lightning-fast strikes. But Toney’s bulky frame struggled to keep up with Link’s speed and mobility. By the end of the round, Toney was drenched in sweat, gasping for breath as he sat in his corner.

“Hang in there, James. Even if you don’t win, make sure to land a few heavy blows. Don’t let Link take this victory easily,” Holyfield encouraged from Toney’s corner.

“James, tighten up your defense. Don’t let Link hit your head. His punches are brutal,” Toney’s coach advised.

*Spit!* Toney glared at Link across the ring, spitting water. “I know. In the next round, I’ll show that kid who’s boss.”

(End of Chapter)
Chapter 535: Prize Money Exceeds $100 Million
Ding ding ding!
The second round began. Link shook the water droplets off his bronze muscles and, with the crowd cheering loudly, raised his fists and moved toward James Toney.
James Toney glared back at him with wide eyes, like an angry black bull.

"Boxing!"

The match continued, with Link taking the offensive again. Left jab, right jab, left hook, right hook—his fists rained down like a storm on Toney, giving him no time to breathe.

He had no choice but to fight this way.

In previous matches, he liked using a strategy of attacking high and low alternately.

But that didn’t work against Toney.

Toney had a thick layer of muscle around his midsection, and his defense was strong. Hitting his stomach and chest with gloves didn’t do much damage.

Since that tactic was ineffective, Link focused his attacks on Toney’s arms, aiming to break through his defense and land punches on his head for a knockout.

Toney knew this, so he kept his thick arms up to shield his head from Link’s punches.

Bang, bang, bang!

Link delivered over a dozen punches, all aimed at Toney’s left side, forcing him to shift his defense and attention in that direction.

Once Toney got used to his pattern, Link suddenly switched hands. With a fierce right hook, he broke through Toney’s right-arm defense and landed a powerful punch to his face.

Toney staggered from the blow to his right cheek, and Link followed up with a vicious uppercut, penetrating Toney’s defense and striking his left chin.

This punch was even more brutal than the first, hitting Toney square on the jaw.

With a crack, Toney’s head jerked violently, his eyes squinting instinctively, and sweat flew off his bald head as his face twitched from the impact.

Toney stumbled back three steps, crashing into the ropes, his massive weight bending them.

As the ropes threatened to spring him back onto the canvas, Toney, with his vast experience, instinctively grabbed the ropes, bent his knees, and barely managed to stay upright.

“Oh! That was close!”

“Go, Link!!”

“James, hang in there!”

The crowd roared in excitement.

Before Link could move in for another punch, the referee stepped in, calling for a pause to check on Toney, who was bleeding from his mouth.

Toney, baring his mouthguard, insisted he was fine, glaring at Link with anger.

"Boxing!"

The match resumed.

“Looks like James is going to lose,” Evander Holyfield sighed from the audience.

“James is old now. Maybe 20 years ago, he would’ve had a chance,” Oscar De La Hoya said, clapping his hands.

“James is still a solid contender in the heavyweight division. For Link to challenge him in only his second round and land such heavy hits... it’s possible he might defeat all the heavyweight champions and dominate the division,” Holyfield remarked.

“Really? The Klitschko brothers, Valuev, Alexander Povetkin, Tyson Fury—they're all tougher than Toney. Beating them would be a huge challenge for Link,” De La Hoya replied.

Link was at a height and reach disadvantage against most of them, meaning he had to get very close to land any solid punches, which made it exhausting and dangerous.

Meanwhile, his opponents could simply keep their distance and avoid his attacks.

Like in today’s fight, Link had a 12-centimeter reach advantage over Toney, making things a bit easier.

“The Klitschko brothers are strong, but they’re not that much stronger than Link. Don’t forget, Link is a tactical genius. He’s young and full of stamina. Against the Klitschkos, I’d say he has at least a 50% chance of winning,” Holyfield stated.

“Hey, Evander, how many rounds do you think you could last against Link?” Mike Tyson asked, flashing a grin full of gold teeth.

Holyfield frowned, staring at Link in the ring, about to respond when suddenly, the crowd erupted in cheers.

Link had just broken through Toney’s defense with another combo, landing two punches to Toney’s chin and forehead. Toney staggered and leaned against the corner post, grabbing Link in a clinch.

As the referee moved in to separate them, Toney suddenly stumbled and accidentally headbutted Link’s chin due to his shorter height, landing a solid hit.

Link stepped back, a cut now visible on his lip.

"Stop!"

The referee halted the match to check on Link, while Toney insisted the headbutt was accidental and even apologized to Link.

After some discussion, the judges issued Toney a warning.

Toney flashed a grin at Link, while Link wiped his chin and smiled back, a warm smile that sent a cold sweat down Toney’s back.

“Start!”

The referee ordered the match to continue, and Link wasted no time, attacking relentlessly. He tore through Toney’s defense with a series of combos, targeting his vulnerable spots with brutal punches.

Two consecutive punches landed square on Toney’s nose, causing blood to gush from both his nose and mouth.

Toney, now enraged, started using dirty tactics, headbutting and charging with his weight advantage.

Link wasn’t fazed, continuing to land solid blows to Toney’s head.

The two fighters engaged in a brutal exchange, every punch landing hard as the crowd rose to their feet, cheering loudly.

Boom!
With the ninth hit to Toney’s head in the second round, Toney finally lost his footing and fell backward, landing on his rear. It took him six or seven seconds to struggle back to his feet due to his massive weight.

Ding ding ding!
The second round ended.

After a minute of rest, the third round began.

Link, seeing Toney’s nosebleed had barely stopped, immediately launched another barrage of punches, breaking through his defense and landing several heavy blows to his face.

At 12 seconds into the third round, Toney was knocked down for the second time.

This time, he fell flat on his back, crashing onto the mat like a mountain of flesh, creating a dramatic visual as the crowd gasped in awe.

“Yikes!”

“That’s brutal!”

De La Hoya covered his eyes, unable to watch.

“At least James made Link bleed. He’s done well. Go, James!” Holyfield shouted.

“James, get up! Don’t give up!” Bernard Hopkins yelled.

“Are you trying to get him killed by Link?” Erik Morales retorted.

Toney struggled for seven or eight seconds on the canvas, and just as the referee was about to finish the count, he staggered to his feet, roaring at Link and pounding his bald head with his gloves, signaling he was ready for more.

Link smirked slightly and launched another attack.

At 32 seconds into the third round, Link broke through Toney’s defense again with a brutal combo. A hook smashed into the side of Toney’s face, followed by a straight punch to his forehead.

Toney collapsed again.

This time, Toney lay on the mat, struggling to move but unable even to lift his head. Finally, he admitted defeat.

Link had won the match.

His professional record now stood at 32 fights, 32 wins, all by KO.

Although this wasn’t a title fight, it marked Link’s first match in the heavyweight division.

Winning this match solidified his position in the heavyweight category, giving him the credentials to challenge the heavyweight champions of the four major organizations.

However, for safety, Frank and his coaching team advised Link to fight a few more heavyweight matches to gain experience.

Link agreed after some consideration.

In his fight against Toney, he realized that heavyweight boxers were generally stronger than light heavyweight champions in terms of punching power, durability, and experience.

While he could finish off light heavyweight champions in two rounds, it took him three rounds to defeat even ordinary heavyweights.

This demonstrated that the heavyweight division had more skilled fighters, making it more challenging.

That’s also why heavyweight boxing matches were more popular—they were more intense and exciting.

This match had been well-promoted, selling 3.28 million pay-per-view buys in North America, generating $256 million in revenue. With online streaming, ticket sales, hotel accommodations, and sponsorships, the total revenue reached about $430 million.

Link, Toney, and the promotion company earned around $200 million, with Link taking home $115 million.

This was his third time earning over $100 million from a single match.

And this time, his opponent wasn’t even a titleholder. If he were to fight one of the heavyweight champions, the earnings would be even higher.

This is why all boxers aspire to fight in the heavyweight division—heavyweight matches are more intense, get more attention, and have significantly higher payouts than other divisions.

After the match, Link continued his training, preparing for another heavyweight bout and three light heavyweight title defenses.

Since he didn’t yet have a heavyweight title belt, he hadn’t given up on the light heavyweight belts, as defending them could still bring in billions of dollars.

(End of Chapter)