341-345

*Chapter 341: Is This a Proposal?*

After being interrupted by Britney, the crew finally got back to order at 3:30 PM and continued filming the scene where Chris kills Nora.

Once the shoot resumed, Luca stood in the hallway with a shotgun, anxiously waiting for Scarlett to come upstairs. He wiped some sweat off his face; his long hair clung to his forehead, making him look even more disheveled.

Clank~

The old-fashioned elevator rattled as it stopped in front of the hallway. Click~ Scarlett opened the iron gate and stepped out.

“Nora!”

Luca shouted.

Scarlett turned around.

Bang~  

Luca fired the gun.

“Cut!”

At 5:20 PM, the scene finally wrapped up.

Luca and Britney left the set and got into the car together.

The car was an old model Mercedes, driven by Britney.

The driver started the car and headed towards the DC area.

“Luca, is the character you’re playing some kind of psycho?”

In the back seat, Britney wrapped her arms around his shoulders and asked.

“Why do you say that?”

“He killed his pregnant lover, isn’t that psycho enough?”

“Yeah, it's pretty psycho. The character is someone who stops at nothing to succeed.”

Luca shrugged.

“But you acted really well,”

Britney said, looking at his face. “Your expression was terrifying, like it was real.”

“Are you trying to say I’m a psycho too?”

“No, what I’m trying to ask is, if you were faced with the same situation as that character, what would you choose?”

“There’s no need to choose. First of all, I’m not married. Secondly, I’m not like the main character—I’ve achieved my success through my own efforts, not because of a wife. No matter what choice I make, I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone.

Besides, I don’t have a pregnant lover. My situation is completely different from his, so I wouldn’t face such a dilemma.”

Luca patted the back of her hand as he said this.

“Alright, sly guy, you passed the test!”

Britney leaned against his shoulder, watching the traffic outside, and suddenly said, “Honey, how about we have a child?”

“Then let’s have one!”

“But the child can’t go without a father, a legal father.”

“…”

Was this a proposal?

For a moment, Luca found himself caught in a dilemma just like Chris. Chris was greedy, and so was he.

The conversation about the child didn’t go anywhere. The car stopped in front of a villa near the Thames, not far from Hampton Court.

In 2001, after being knighted by the Queen, Britney had invested in this property. It was her first time visiting.

The villa hadn’t been lived in for a long time, and the exterior had a strong sense of old-world charm, much like the many ancient alleys of London that Shakespeare, Shelley, and Dickens might have walked through.

This villa had the same classical style.

Before their arrival, the housekeeper had renovated the place, making the interior look brand new.

Luca and Britney walked in side by side.

The next day, the weather was clear.

After waking up and having breakfast, the two went their separate ways—Britney continued her TV work, while Luca went back to filming.

However, Luca’s luck was bad that day. Director Allen was in one of his moods again, constantly losing his temper.

“Luca, can you take this seriously? Look at what you’re doing—your expressions, emotions, actions, and even your damn lines! They’re all off! It’s a mess! Are you trying to fob off the audience with this kind of performance...?”

At noon, on set, Director Allen yelled into the megaphone, loudly criticizing him.

Luca stood awkwardly on set. The scene was simple, and he had already discussed it with Allen beforehand, but for some reason, he still got scolded during filming.

The crew around him tried to suppress their laughter. Yesterday’s filming schedule had been delayed due to Britney’s visit.

Director Allen had been holding in his frustration and finally exploded, giving Luca a harsh dressing down, which seemed justified.

“Everyone, get ready for the next take. And be serious this time!”

After his rant, Director Allen gestured for the crew to continue filming.

“Scene 5, take 2. Action!”

The crew resumed filming. Today’s scenes involved the police beginning their investigation into the murder Chris committed. During their investigation, it wasn’t long before they found clues leading to Chris.

Chris, however, got lucky. While disposing of the old woman’s jewelry, one of the rings had hit the railing and got stuck on the guardrail.

Just when the police were about to name him as the prime suspect, they found the ring in the possession of a drug-addicted robber, who was shot dead at the scene, leaving no one to testify against Chris.

Chris had dodged a bullet.

But late at night, his conscience gnawed at him, causing him to experience hallucinations.

On set, in the dimly lit bathroom, Luca splashed water on his face, washing away his tears.

“Chris!”

Scarlett’s ghostly voice came from behind him.

Luca slowly turned around. “Nora... It was a difficult choice. The situation was so urgent that I had no other option. Before the crisis hit, I didn’t know I would become like this. Now that you’re gone, I need to bury the guilt and continue living. It was an unavoidable choice.”

“And what about me?”

The old lady’s ghost floated over and said, “I was just an innocent neighbor. I had nothing to do with your wretched affair. As a bystander, did I deserve to die too?”

“Sometimes, in order to achieve a greater goal, sacrificing some innocent people is necessary,”

Luca said coldly.

“You were just collateral damage.”

“And so was your child,”

the old lady reminded him.

Luca’s eyes twitched, choking up slightly before forcing a smile. “Sophocles once said, ‘Not being born may be the greatest blessing.’”

“Chris, be ready to face the consequences. Your crime was too sloppy, filled with flaws. The police won’t let you off easily,”

Scarlett said coldly.

Luca chuckled, tears in his eyes. “If I get caught, then I deserve it. At least it would mean that justice still exists in the world, and that karma is real.”

“Cut!”

After the scene, Director Allen called for a pause.

Everyone on set looked over, waiting for his final verdict. If he was satisfied, it meant his anger had cooled. If not, they’d have to do it again.

“What are you all staring at me for?”

Director Allen waved his hand dismissively. “Get on with your work and prepare for the next scene.”

“Hahaha~”

The crew burst into laughter, and the atmosphere on set lightened again.

Luca also breathed a sigh of relief. He washed his face, calmed down, and sat on the couch to rest.

“Are you still in character?”

Scarlett asked nearby.

“No, I just realized that even being a scumbag isn’t easy,”

Luca said thoughtfully.

“Not easy?”

Scarlett frowned.

“Yeah, Chris was originally a smart, promising man, but he ruined his life because of Nora.”

“F***, what kind of logic is that?!”

“Scumbag logic!”

“Wow, you really are a scumbag!”

Scarlett said, scornful.

Luca shrugged, unbothered, and casually picked up a newspaper to read.

Most of the entertainment news lately had been about Britney’s trip to the UK. Photos of her visiting the set and shopping with him were plastered in the papers.

Having expected this, Luca didn’t mind.

“Hmm~”

However, today’s entertainment headlines weren’t about Britney but were related to Aniston.

Last month, news of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie dating had appeared in the papers again.

Rumors had been flying about their affair and vacationing on nearby islands, causing quite a stir.

Afterward, Aniston had reportedly flown to the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, hoping to save her marriage and love, but to no avail.

With these scandals, Pitt easily overtook him as Hollywood’s top scumbag.

The media was all about how wronged Aniston was, but she had remained silent.

Today, Aniston finally spoke up, and it was a bombshell—her spokesperson officially announced that Aniston and Pitt had separated and that she had filed for divorce.

The news spread like wildfire, dominating the headlines and pushing Luca and Britney’s gossip aside.

After reading the article, Luca felt like their separation had happened earlier than expected.

He thought for a moment and decided to give Aniston a call.

---

*Chapter 342: Aniston's Happiness*

"Haha, come catch me~"

"Lily, grab him!"

"Woof woof woof~"

In the wealthy villa district of Long Island, New York, a few children were playing with a dog on the lawn, their crisp laughter filling the yard and spilling outside.

On the second-floor balcony of the villa, under the bright sunshine, Aniston sat on a white sofa, watching the little ones running back and forth on the lawn. She couldn’t help but smile sweetly, her lips curving upwards.

She gently touched her belly, and her smile deepened.

"You must be an angel!"

Aniston murmured, then picked up a folder and began working.

At the start of July, the "Blind Side" project officially launched. The actors had been cast, and the director and producers had taken their teams to South Carolina to scout locations, shoot outdoor scenes, and build sets. Filming was expected to begin in October.

She was the initiator of the project, both the lead actress and a producer, so she had a lot on her plate. However, due to her current situation, she couldn’t overwork herself.

"When that guy comes back, I'll hand these tasks over to him. It's his job to do, right, little angel?"

Aniston smiled as her lips curled.

Ding-ding-ding~

Her phone rang.

It was her private number, known to fewer than twenty people. She glanced at it and smiled. "The little guy really can't handle being thought about. I was just thinking of him, and here he is calling."

"Luca, what's up?"

Aniston reclined on the sofa, squinting her eyes and letting the warm sunlight bathe her body.

"Jen, how are you?" Luca asked over the phone.

"I'm great, never been better," Aniston replied with a smile.

"I saw the news," Luca said hesitantly.

"So what?" Aniston’s lips curled again. "Do you think I’d be upset?"

"I don’t know. I just hope you're okay, and if you want, we can talk."

"Alright, but I’m really not sad. Someone incredibly important has suddenly come into my life, and because of them, nothing else matters."

Aniston touched her belly, her smile as sweet as ever.

"You’re in love?" Luca asked, surprised.

Aniston paused, then covered the phone and burst out laughing. After a moment, she said into the phone, "Pretty much. I’ve found the love of my life."

"Congratulations!" Luca said in a complicated tone.

"Thanks!" Aniston covered her mouth, laughing softly as she lay on the sofa, her shoulders shaking.

After a while, she picked up the phone and asked, "Are you still there?"

"Yes, I'm here. You’ve done a good job keeping it secret. There's no news about it at all."

"Of course, I paid a million dollars for confidentiality. Only four people know, including you!"

"It’s an honor. Congratulations again. I hope this time you find true happiness."

"I will!" Aniston smiled softly. "Luca, is your film done? When are you coming back?"

"Yes, we’re almost finished. Just three more scenes, and I’ll be back by the end of this week."

"That’s great. 'Blind Side' is about to start filming, and there’s a ton of work to do—approvals, project planning. I've been swamped lately. When you get back, help me out."

"Sure, I’m free for the second half of the year. Lots of time."

"It’s settled then. When you return, I’ll introduce you to the love of my life."

Aniston bit her lip, smiling.

"Great. I’m curious to see who’s so lucky."

As they were chatting, a voice came from Luca’s end. "Luca, we're ready."

"Alright, go do your work. Take care of yourself and don’t overwork."

"I know, you too!"

Beep beep~

Luca hung up.

"The little guy seems a bit down. Haha, how amusing!" Aniston chuckled lightly, picked up her phone to type a few words in a message, then thought better of it and deleted them.

"Never mind."

She tossed her phone aside and went back to work.

After working for two hours, the sun had risen higher in the sky. She got up and took a stroll on the lawn downstairs.

Beep beep~

Around 2 PM, the sound of a car horn came from outside the yard.

"Jen, Mr. Pitt is here!" her assistant, Veena, came out and said.

"Why is he here?" Aniston frowned. "Let him in."

Beep beep beep~

The impatient honking came again from outside.

"Let him in, but his car stays out. It's polluting the air."

Aniston turned back into the house, put on her jacket, and continued working with her files.

A while later, Pitt strode in, his heavy footsteps thudding on the floor.

"Jen, we need to talk," Pitt said sternly, taking off his sunglasses.

"Talk about what?" Aniston asked, flipping through her folder.

"Jen, I didn’t date Jolie. We only met to discuss work."

"Enough, stop saying things like that. We're all in the industry. Who would believe that?"

Aniston said flatly.

Pitt’s face darkened. "Jen, are you really going to divorce me?"

"The divorce papers are already filed. You can discuss any legal matters with your lawyer."

Aniston didn’t even look up.

"Why? Why are you divorcing me? Do you not love me anymore? I remember you saying I was the most important person in your life."

"Not anymore."

Aniston replied coldly.

"You!!" Pitt stood up, looking like an enraged lion.

"Mr. Pitt, please calm down!" Veena rushed over to intervene, an electric shocker on her belt.

Pitt's face darkened even more. "Get out!" he ordered, pointing at the door.

Veena stood behind Aniston and didn’t budge.

"Mr. Pitt, please remember, this is my home, under my authority. If you want to act out, do it outside!" Aniston said coldly.

Pitt stood there, his face dark, for ten seconds. He sighed and sat down, speaking slowly. "Jen, dear Jen, I know you're upset about me and Jolie. That’s why you filed for divorce.

I want to promise you now that I won’t see Jolie anymore. Can you withdraw the divorce?"

"Sorry, it’s too late."

Aniston looked at the man in front of her, her face showing a complex mix of emotions. Once deeply in love, now all that remained were scars.

"Too late? How can it be too late?! We've been married for four years. We loved each other so much. I swear, you're still the one I love most. I know you love me too. Why can’t we set aside our problems and fight for our love and marriage one more time? If we work together, we can get through this."

"Yes, that sounds great, but I've been trying all these years, while you've been letting go. What more do you want me to do? I’m tired now. Can I let go?"

Aniston sighed softly.

"No, I don’t agree."

Pitt grabbed Aniston's shoulders in a burst of emotion. "Jen, I love you. I really love you. Jolie was just a moment of weakness. You’re the one I love most. Please believe me!"

"Stop, stop saying you love me. It just makes me sick. Ugh~"

Suddenly, Aniston gagged, covering her mouth as she rushed to the bathroom. Veena followed closely behind.

In the living room, Pitt clenched his fists, his face cycling through black, green, and white, as though someone had spilled paint.

"Fuck it! Divorce it is!" Pitt kicked over a chair in frustration.

(End of this chapter)

*Chapter 343: The Jerk’s Words Are Sweeter Than Honey*

Bang!

Outside the villa, Pitt slammed the car door hard. The car slowly started and drove away from the villa.

"Pitt, is Jenny willing to withdraw the divorce application?"

In the back seat, Wilson, the chief assistant, asked.

"Don't mention her to me again. She's not Jenny anymore. She used to be gentle, considerate, tolerant, and understanding. She really, really loved me and cared deeply about this marriage.

She used to forgive all my mistakes to keep our marriage together, but not anymore. Now, she's become cold-hearted. She didn’t budge at all when I pleaded with her. It’s so disappointing."

Pitt leaned back in the seat, grabbed a bottle of wine from the ice bucket, and took several gulps.

"Pitt, don't give up. If it doesn’t work this time, try again. Jenny is a very traditional woman. She wouldn't willingly ask for a divorce unless she had no choice. When you cheated before, she wanted a divorce but still forgave you. This time, she must just be angry."

Wilson tried to console him.

"It's useless, really useless. This time, her attitude is resolute, more than I ever imagined. Even if I got on my knees, I doubt she'd change her mind. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

Pitt kicked the seat in frustration.

Wilson shook his head quietly. Almost got on his knees? Well, that means he didn’t, so there’s still a chance.

"Pitt, you can't get divorced now. The media is all over you and Julie. If you divorce, the public will blame you, say you're irresponsible, say you hurt Jenny. Your reputation will take a hit, and that won’t be good for you."

"I know, damn it, I know! But what can I do if Jenny won’t agree?!"

Pitt threw his hands up in frustration. "Ugh, Jenny has changed. She’s not like she used to be. It's all that damn Luca’s fault. I won’t let him get away with it."

"Luca?"

Wilson scratched his head. "What does this have to do with Luca?"

"Of course, ever since he appeared, Jenny has been distant. We started fighting after he showed up. She doesn’t rely on me anymore. I'm sure that bastard is behind this, pushing her to do this. Maybe they’ve already slept together."

Pitt paused, then turned and said seriously, "Wilson, can we use this to shift the focus? Let people know the divorce isn’t entirely my fault? That I’m a victim too? What do you think?"

"Pitt, calm down. That won’t work."

Wilson advised.

"Why not? Since Jenny is dead set on divorcing me, I don’t need to play fair anymore."

Pitt’s face hardened.

Wilson shook his head. "Luca went back to Brazil at the end of last year. He’s spent most of this year there, only in the U.S. briefly in April and May for a film shoot in Baltimore. The media has reported all this. This year, he’s hardly seen Jenny, and every time it was public. We have no evidence he wrecked your marriage. Dragging him into this would only boost his exposure and popularity."

"He’s not in the U.S., and they haven’t seen each other much, but they could still be calling each other."

Pitt pointed out.

"No, Pitt, don’t think like that. You’re Pitt, a global superstar. You need to have confidence. Do you really believe a few phone calls from an outsider could ruin your marriage?"

"No, no way. Luca’s a nobody compared to me. But why has Jenny become so determined? Ugh, what a headache!"

Pitt closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.

Ring ring, his phone buzzed. He answered and listened for a moment, "I know, Julie. I’ll be there soon."

Hanging up, he closed his eyes again.

"Pitt, are you going to see Julie?"

"Mhm."

"The media is watching closely. Be careful, and avoid public places if you can."

Wilson reminded him.

"I know!"

Pitt waved dismissively. "Oh, and keep an eye on Luca. I’m sure he’s involved in Jenny's change. That country bumpkin messed with my business, and I won’t let him off!"

"Got it!"

*Achoo!*

August 28, on the set of Match Point, Luca sneezed during filming.

“Cut! Luca, keep it together. This is the last scene. Don’t hold up the wrap party!”

Director Allen called out.

"OK!"

Luca rubbed his nose and resumed filming.

The Match Point crew had been shooting for over 50 days, and they were finally down to the last scene.

The final scene was simple: Chris, after committing murder, escapes unscathed and welcomes a new child into his life. He accompanies his wife and her family to the hospital to bring the baby home, and they all start celebrating.

That’s where the story ends, with good fortune for the lucky one.

"Ready, last scene, second take, third shot, action!"

The clapperboard snapped, and the cameras rolled again.

Luca, Matthew, Emily, and the actors playing family members entered the room, carrying a cradle.

They made their way to the sofa area. Luca stayed quiet, just leaning back and watching as everyone welcomed the new family member.

"Chris, I heard you moved into Alan Sinclair’s old office?"

The second male lead, Tom, asked.

Chris shrugged, a slight smile tugging at his lips.

"Really, you’re one lucky guy!"

Tom clapped him on the shoulder, then bent to look at the baby in the cradle. "Look, he's dreaming!"

"Such a beautiful little one!"

"Yeah, he’s handsome!"

Everyone cooed over the baby, while Chris, hands in his pockets, wandered over to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing somberly out at the world.

"Alright, everyone, let’s begin!"

Mr. Hewitt held up a glass of champagne.

Everyone grabbed their drinks.

"A toast to Terrence Elliot Wilton!"

They all raised their glasses to the little one.

"With parents like Chloe and Chris, this kid is bound for greatness."

Mr. Hewitt said.

"I don't want him to be great; I just want him to always have good luck!"

Tom laughed.

"Yes, here’s to good luck!"

Everyone clinked their glasses.

Ding ding.

“Cut!”

Director Allen stood up excitedly, "I declare Match Point officially wrapped!"

"Yay!"

"Wow, amazing!"

"Finally done, that was tough!"

"Ian, were you eager to finish? Do you have complaints about this crew? Did it cause you pain?"

"Uh, no, Director, I was just sympathizing with Luca. It’s been rough for him. Now he doesn’t have to endure scolding anymore."

"Hahaha!"

The crew burst into laughter.

Luca rolled his eyes. He had nothing but fond memories and valuable experience from this crew. He wasn’t in a hurry to leave.

"Luca, congratulations!"

"Same to you!"

After some playful banter, the crew began wrapping up.

That evening, at the hotel, the crew held a traditional wrap party.

"Luca, I’ve been pretty harsh with you at times. You don’t hold it against me, do you?"

At the party, Director Allen laughed.

Luca shook his head. "Director, I’ve heard there’s an Eastern saying: ‘A jade unpolished cannot be a gem.’ I should thank you for your guidance. I’ve learned so much."

"Haha, you’ve got a great attitude, and you’re talented. Your temperament suits the film industry. Keep it up, and you’ll definitely have a place in Hollywood’s future."

Director Allen clapped him on the shoulder.

"I will, Director!"

Luca raised his glass and clinked it with Allen’s.

"Luca, working with you was a joy. Let’s collaborate again!"

Matthew smiled.

"There will be chances."

Luca raised his glass with a smile.

"Luca, I have something I want to say to you."

After Matthew left, Emily came over, smiling warmly.

"What?"

Luca knew she loved to joke around, so he teased, "You’re not going to confess to me, are you?"

"Ha! Dream on, I’m married!"

Emily waved her diamond ring playfully. "What I really want to say is, you’re the most charming jerk I’ve ever met. Haha!"

"Uh, should I say thank you? Thanks!"

"You’re welcome!"

They clinked glasses again, then moved on to the next farewell.

"Luca, will we have more opportunities to work together in the future?"

Scarlett asked with a bright smile.

"Of course. You’re one of Hollywood’s most valuable young actresses, and I’m one of the most valuable young actors. We’ll probably work together for decades."

"Decades? By then, we’ll be old!"

"Yep, seasoned actors!"

Luca grinned and raised his glass.

Scarlett sipped her wine. "Luca, are we friends?"

"Of course. I’m glad to have a friend like you."

"Hehe, jerks always talk sweeter than honey!"

Scarlett bit her lower lip. "Since we’re friends, if I ever run into trouble, will you help me?"

"Of course. Friends should always help each other. Do you have something going on?"

Luca asked curiously.

"Not telling you yet. Let’s toast!"

"Cheers!"

As the glasses clinked and the night deepened, the party echoed with laughter.

*Chapter 344: Earning Money to Buy Baby Formula*

"Mr. Kelly, what are your thoughts on Aniston and Pitt's separation?"

"What? Separation? Who's separating? Sorry, I’ve been in London filming recently, so I’m not aware of these things. I have no opinion."

"Luca, rumors say that Aniston chose to divorce Pitt because of you. Do you have anything to say about that?"

"Sorry, I have nothing to say about unconfirmed rumors!"

"Mr. Kelly, British media published photos of you shopping with Britney two days ago. Are you two planning to go public with your relationship?"

"No, we were just shopping, simply shopping. Please, step aside; I need to go home!"

On the morning of September 1, at New York’s Kennedy Airport.

After wrapping up filming, Luca stayed in London for two more days before returning. Unfortunately, just as he exited the airport, he was met by reporters waiting for news at the entrance.

He casually answered a few questions and, following Ed and Tony, made his way out of the airport.

"These reporters are crazy. They'll say anything to get a story," Luca sighed as he took off his sunglasses after getting into the car.

"Aniston and Pitt's news is all over the place right now. Any actor or celebrity associated with them is bound to get interviewed, especially someone like you who's considered a key figure," Ed smirked.

"No, I’m definitely not a key figure. Their issues have nothing to do with me," Luca replied firmly.

The key figure must be Jolie, and that other guy. Luca was quite surprised when he first heard from Aniston that a third party was involved. He remembered after their divorce, Aniston lived alone for years with no other men around. How could there be someone else this time? Is this some kind of butterfly effect?

"Luca, it’s better if you have nothing to do with it. Their situation is too messy for outsiders to touch. Once you're involved, your reputation, which isn't great to begin with, will be impossible to clean up," Ed warned.

"I get it, ugh..." Luca yawned and closed his eyes, ready to take a nap.

"Didn't you just finish filming? Why are you still so tired?" Ed asked.

"I don’t know. Every time I finish a movie, I feel lethargic and unwilling to move. Maybe it’s some kind of post-production syndrome."

"Haha, never heard of that one," Ed chuckled, showing his bright teeth. "So, what’s next after filming Match Point?"

"I’ve got a lot going on. Last year, I promised Mr. Ross I’d rehearse a play with him. Also, The Blind Side starts shooting next month, and I need to go help out on set. Any plans at the company?"

"Not really. The company is still mainly focused on modeling, but since you’re no longer a model, we don’t have many resources for you right now. However, I did take on a few small projects, so drop by the office when you have time and see if anything interests you."

"Okay!"

"Luca, don’t be too picky," Ed grumbled, displeased with Luca’s nonchalant response. "You’re not in a great position right now. I’ve reached out to several big projects, but as soon as they hear it’s you, they all say no. Basically, Pitt and his people are still blocking you. It’ll be tough to land big roles for a while."

"Alright, I get it, Ed. Don’t worry so much. I’m already a B-list actor. As long as I keep improving and doing good work, it’ll be hard for them to keep me down."

Luca said calmly, his eyes still closed.

"I know. I’m not really worried. I’ve got several models on hand besides you. Even if you don’t make a cent, I won’t starve," Ed joked.

"Just not starve? Heh, I heard Nina’s getting promoted again, right? Is she going to be a director or general manager now? So, another raise for Nina, huh?"

"Hmph, so what if she is? We’re family. Her promotion and raise are a good thing," Ed muttered.

Ever since becoming a bestselling author, Kate's influence in the fashion world had grown significantly.

She was now an elite supermodel, a renowned fashion designer, and a bestselling author, all rolled into one. Her fame was immense.

Although she rarely walked the runway these days, whenever she did, she commanded the stage.

With Kate's meteoric rise, her agent, Nina, also benefited, gaining considerable status both at work and at home.

Ed, on the other hand, wasn’t as fortunate.

When Luca was modeling, he went through a string of setbacks—like his back injury, the Mr. Big scandal, and being blacklisted by the media. It was a rough journey.

He finally earned the title of the top male model this year, which felt like the end of his hardships.

Yet he showed no hesitation in jumping into the deep end of Hollywood, only to be blacklisted once again, leading to an unsuccessful career trajectory.

With Luca struggling, Ed wasn’t getting much out of it either and had to endure being overshadowed by Nina at home.

"Ed, maybe you should sign more actors. It’s not much harder to manage a flock than a single sheep," Luca suggested.

"Forget it. Just handling you has turned a third of my hair white. If I sign two more, I’ll have to retire early."

"Don’t worry; it’s just premature greying," Luca teased, glancing at Ed’s greying temples. Ed was only thirty-nine, but he looked older—probably due to genetics, as people of his ethnicity often aged faster.

An hour later, the car pulled up in front of Luca’s apartment on 76th Street.

Luca said goodbye to Ed and Tony, then took his luggage and returned home.

Kate wasn’t there. With fashion week approaching, she and Lima had been at the studio working on new clothing designs.

Luca took a shower, changed into some comfy loungewear, and made a plate of pasta. While eating, he called Kate.

"Kate, I’m back. When are you coming home? I’ve got nothing planned for the afternoon... Okay, I’ll drop by later."

After hanging up, he lay down on the couch and started sending messages to everyone, letting them know he was back and arranging drinks with Ryan and the others.

He also called his companies in Rio, Los Angeles, and San Francisco to discuss work.

In Rio, the box office earnings for Salvation had been distributed. Including local box office sales and copyright deals, it made about $1.6 million. After investing $400,000 plus the script and marketing, they profited around $1.2 million—a small but decent return. Infernal Affairs was in post-production and aimed for a release around New Year’s.

In Los Angeles, Step Up had finished post-production and was preparing for release, likely in March or April next year.

As for the tech company in San Francisco, YouTube was growing steadily but burning through cash quickly. The $5 million they had raised was already nearly gone.

After finishing the movie, Luca had hoped to relax, but hearing about YouTube’s financial situation made him get back to work. He needed to make money to buy baby formula.

"Sigh, I’m cursed to work hard!" Luca groaned, getting up from the couch. How could he make money? He wanted to act, but there weren’t any good roles available. Should he return to modeling?

No, a good horse never goes back to grazing in the same pasture.

Ding!

Just as he was stressing out, he received a text. It was from Charlize Theron: "Back in town? There’s a role that suits you. If you’re interested, come to L.A. and try out for it. ASAP!"

Luca thought about it. What good projects did she have lined up in the next year or two? He couldn’t remember, so he texted back, asking whether it was a commercial film or an art film.

Theron’s response was simple: "It’s a good project. Take it or leave it!"

Luca chuckled, deciding to head over. After all, she hadn’t treated him to drinks since winning her Oscar for Monster.

At around 4 p.m., Luca packed up and left his apartment to go meet Kate and Lima, bringing them some support and affection.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 345: I Was Just Joking*

Kate and Lima's design studio was located in an office building on Third Avenue, less than three kilometers in a straight line from their apartment. The company wasn’t big—just twelve people, including the two owners, made up of designers, design assistants, draftsmen, and support staff.

After arriving downstairs at the office, Luca parked the car and bought two bouquets of flowers: one of tulips and one of red roses. He also picked up coffee and pizza, planning to reward the hardworking fashion workers.

As he walked into the "Kate & Lima Fashion Design Company," he could hear a flurry of voices from inside the company: "Gina, bring me that draft," "Karen, fix this line."

"Hello, who are you looking for?"

The receptionist stood up and asked.

Luca tugged at the brim of his hat and held up the paper bag in his hand. "This is the delivery you ordered."

"Sorry, our company didn’t order any delivery," the receptionist said after checking her notes.

"Alright, could you help me deliver these flowers to Ms. Kelly and Ms. Lima?"

"There’s no need, just leave the flowers over there."

The receptionist pointed to a corner where about twenty bouquets were already stacked, full of various expensive flowers.

"Do a lot of people send flowers to Ms. Kelly and Ms. Lima?" Luca asked curiously.

The receptionist smiled faintly but didn’t answer.

"Luca, what are you doing?"

Suddenly, a voice came from behind.

Luca turned around to see Lima, wearing a tricolor dress and letting her long, curly hair hang loose. She had a serious expression.

"Hey, darling, these are flowers for you. I hope you like them!" Luca offered the roses with both hands.

"Wait a minute, Marina, was he flirting with you just now?" Lima looked at the girl behind the desk and asked.

The girl recognized him and giggled softly. "Yes, Mr. Kelly pretended to be a delivery guy, trying to sneak into the company, but I stopped him."

"That wasn’t flirting, I was just joking," Luca defended himself.

"Hmph, back for just a few minutes and already flirting with pretty girls—caught red-handed by me. What should we do about that?" Lima folded her arms, half-smiling as she asked.

"Let’s talk about it at home, okay? At home!" Luca smiled awkwardly, one arm holding the flowers, the other wrapped around Lima as they quickly disappeared into the office area.

The staff inside the company burst into laughter.

"Marina, please distribute the coffee and pizza," Luca called out.

"Got it, Mr. Kelly!" the receptionist responded with a smile.

Entering the office, Luca saw Kate hard at work. She was dressed in a knit sweater and jeans, hunched over the workbench, using a ruler and pencil to sketch, looking absorbed like a researcher.

"Are you always this busy?" Luca asked.

"Of course. Unlike some people, who have time for shopping and vacations," Lima said, placing the flowers in a vase.

"I was busy in London too—four or five scenes a day. I only went shopping after the shoots," Luca shrugged.

"Is Britney back yet?" Kate straightened up and asked.

"No, she’s still in the UK for one more concert. She’ll be back in a few days," Luca leaned on the workbench, glancing at the blueprints. He didn’t understand much of the technical design drawings. "You can hire designers to handle this stuff; you don’t have to stay in the studio every day doing such tedious work."

"How can design be tedious?" Kate smiled as she tucked her hair behind her ear. "When we stand backstage and see our designs on the runway or spot celebrities wearing our clothes on the street, the satisfaction is something you can’t understand."

"Kate, why bother explaining? He may have been a model, and even became a supermodel by accident, but he still knows nothing about fashion. Talking to him about this is like discussing philosophy with a sloth," Lima teased, taking two coffees from the secretary and setting one on Kate’s desk.

"True, I forgot he's a guy with no taste," Kate took a sip of her coffee and smiled.

"Hmph, don’t talk like that. I’m a designer too. Not long ago, I sold one of my designs for $1.8 million. Do your designs fetch that kind of price?" Luca lightly tapped Kate’s shoulder.

"Hmph, that was just luck. You casually designed a few emojis, and Google happened to like them. Strictly speaking, that’s not real design," Lima countered.

"Alright, whatever. But you still can’t say I don’t understand design. I’m just too lazy to think about it. If I put my mind to it, the world would revolve around me," Luca said smugly.

"Haha, do you think you’re the sun?" Lima laughed.

"Luca, your words reminded me of something," Kate said, slapping the table. "You’re quite clever but a bit lazy. Remember the last time you designed that emoji set? It was only after I beat you up a few times that you came up with so many ideas. Should we beat you up again today so you can think up a few designs for us?"

"No way! I know nothing about design. You two keep working; I’m going out to take a look around," Luca quickly left the office.

"Hmph, coward!" Kate and Lima laughed and continued working.

A little after five in the afternoon, the company closed for the day. Luca, Kate, and Lima all got into the car.

"Luca, you drive," Kate tossed the car keys over.

"Where’s Gina?" Luca asked as he got into the driver’s seat.

"Her visa expired. She had to return home to sort it out and visit Yaya. If possible, she plans to bring Yaya to the U.S. for treatment," Kate said, reclining in her seat.

"That’s good. Yaya’s been there alone and sick. It’s great if she can come here," Luca said with a sigh, starting the car.

Instead of heading home, the trio drove to First Avenue, where Fashion Week preparations were underway. Many fashion exhibitions were being held as a prelude, with flagship stores, fashion galleries, and exhibition centers bustling with activity.

Kate mentioned that she and Lima had been frequenting the exhibitions to find inspiration.

Luca jokingly called it plagiarism, which nearly got him beaten.

Lima confidently asserted that it was called mutual inspiration, not plagiarism, pointing to the vibrant outfits on the stage. Since Gucci’s Sun series became a hit, colorful clothing designs had increased—that was the power of inspiration, she claimed.

Luca didn’t argue. Fashion was their realm; he had no say in it.

The three of them entered the Prada show.

While watching, Kate suddenly remembered something. "Luca, I’ve been offered a role in a movie. Should I take it?"

"What movie? If it’s good and the role is interesting, you should go for it."

"It’s called The Devil Wears Prada, just a small supporting role."

"Uh, it’s based on a bestseller. The story revolves around Anna Stewart. Could it be that the producer knows about your feud with Anna and cast you on purpose?"

"Really? That sounds interesting. I think I’ll take it," Kate said with a sharp smile.

"Give it a try," Luca chuckled.

The runway show began, and a few familiar faces appeared: Karolina Kurkova, who famously lacked a belly button, the stunning Tyra Banks, and Brazilian supermodel Isabeli, all wearing the latest fashion designs, radiating charm on stage.

"Lima, when’s this year’s Victoria’s Secret show?" Luca asked, not wanting to miss it again after being too busy last year.

"I’m not sure, but rumors say they might cancel the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show this year," Lima said as she gazed at the runway.

"Cancel?" Luca remembered the annual show had been held consistently until 2018.

"Yeah. You know about Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl ‘wardrobe malfunction’ incident this year, right?" Lima smiled.

"Oh, I get it!" Luca recalled the incident from January. Justin Timberlake had torn off part of Janet Jackson’s outfit during the Super Bowl halftime show, revealing something that shocked the world.

As a result, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission had fined CBS, the network broadcasting the event, and enforced stricter broadcast content guidelines. They even introduced a "five-second delay" rule for live events. Unfortunately, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was caught up in the aftermath, leading to its potential cancellation this year.

"Come on, let’s go chat with Karolina and the others," Kate said, turning to leave after watching the show for a while.

"Aren’t we staying to watch?" Luca asked.

"These fashion shows only have a few innovative designs at the start. The rest are just extensions of those ideas. It gets boring," Lima said, taking his arm as they left the venue.

Luca nodded and followed them out of the show.

(End of the chapter)