21-25

*Chapter 21: Plans Can't Keep Up with Changes*

“Blinken, come over here! Set up the lighting rig! And you, uh… what’s your name again? Right, Andy, move that thing over there. Tell them to clear the area—quickly!”

With the voice of assistant director and cinematography consultant Wally Pfister commanding the scene, a Disney studio lot buzzed with activity.

The crew of Angels & Demons, under Wally’s supervision, was busy arranging the set for the next shoot.

Meanwhile, director Milo was off to the side, discussing a scene with Tommy Lee Jones.

In this film, Tommy Lee Jones played the lead role of Professor Robert Langdon.

This role, originally slated for Tom Hanks years down the road, was now in different hands.

Tom Hanks, at this time, was far too expensive.

He was a solid member of the $20 million club, and fresh off winning a Golden Globe for Best Actor. Hiring him would likely require an additional 10% share of box office profits.

With the total production budget capped at $40 million, affording someone of his caliber was out of the question.

Plus, his age and schedule didn’t align.

Tommy Lee Jones, however, was a much more budget-friendly option.

He was already the highest-paid member of the cast, earning a relatively modest $5 million, with no box office profit sharing.

This approach meant the total salaries for the entire cast and crew stayed under $10 million.

The remaining funds could be poured into better post-production and set design.

“You’re a professor, a university professor. You can act hurried, even anxious—the situation is urgent, after all—but despite the tension, your demeanor should still reflect that of an academic…” Milo gestured as he explained.

“Director, how about this?” Tommy pondered briefly, then said.

He closed his eyes, took a moment to gather his emotions, suddenly tilted his head back, rubbed his face, and then looked at Milo with a calm, composed expression—his demeanor scholarly and refined.

“Perfect!”

Milo clapped in approval. “Exactly like that. You nailed it.”

Tommy ran a hand over his slightly thinning hairline and laughed heartily. “Glad you’re satisfied.”

“Well then, let’s get started.”

Seeing Wally give him the “all set” signal, Milo patted Tommy on the shoulder and headed toward the cameras.

Angels & Demons tells the story of Professor Robert Langdon uncovering ancient codes in Vatican City to prevent terrorists from assassinating cardinals.

It serves as a prequel to The Da Vinci Code.

But this was 1995, and Dan Brown was still in his hometown of New Hampshire, working as a high school music teacher.

His first novel, Digital Fortress, hadn’t even been published yet.

Let alone Angels & Demons or its sequel, The Da Vinci Code, the books that would make him a household name.

Recognizing this, Milo took it upon himself to "create" these stories ahead of time.

Harvard University Press, an arm of Harvard, had already printed The Da Vinci Code and was preparing to release it to the public.

Meanwhile, Milo decided to get a head start by adapting Angels & Demons into a film.

The Da Vinci Code was a proven success, one of the best-selling novels of its time.

It had been an instant hit upon release.

The widespread popularity of the book eventually paved the way for the film adaptations of Dan Brown's work in the original timeline.

Much like Harry Potter, the blockbuster novels came first, followed by the movie frenzy.

In Milo's plan, by the time Angels & Demons hit theaters, The Da Vinci Code would already have been a bestseller for a while, building enough momentum to drive interest in the film.

Of course, he hadn’t forgotten the success of Harry Potter, which had made Bloomsbury, Scholastic, Warner Bros., and J.K. Rowling rich beyond belief.

But Milo knew Harry Potter had already been written by this time.

It just hadn’t been published yet, with a struggling J.K. Rowling still shopping the manuscript around.

Instead of writing Harry Potter himself, Milo had sent Wendy’s team to London to track down Rowling last month.

They hadn’t found her yet—she was living in near poverty at the time.

Back to the set.

The Saint Peter’s Square featured in the film was a meticulously built replica.

It was clear that the Church would never allow a film crew to shoot in the actual Saint Peter’s Square.

Fortunately, Disney had invested in the project, and Disney currently needed Milo’s expertise.

With Disney’s support, Milo selected the racetrack at Hollywood Park as the filming location.

The crew constructed replicas of Saint Peter’s Square and Navona Square there, while Vatican City itself was disguised as the Los Angeles Coliseum.

As for directing, Milo wasn’t exactly a skilled filmmaker, but he had observed directors at work.

Granted, those were short films and videos…

But hey, if Xiaosi and Lao Han could make movies…

They proved one thing to the world:

You don’t need to be a great director if your assistant director and cinematographer are talented enough.

That’s why Milo had chosen Wally Pfister as his assistant director.

By 2024, Pfister would be regarded as one of the top five cinematographers in Hollywood history.

He also had directing chops, though his fame rested more on his cinematography.

Milo had the final cut in mind, along with plenty of audience feedback and critiques of the movie.

With these insights, he could adjust and improve the scenes during production.

With such an edge, he felt confident challenging any director.

Besides, Angels & Demons wasn’t a movie that demanded stellar acting or directing.

It wasn’t an art film or a dramatic masterpiece.

It was a thriller full of mysteries, conspiracies, and religious symbolism.

What mattered were the camera angles and the religious atmosphere.

And those were Wally Pfister’s specialties.

Over three days, under Wally’s guidance, Milo gradually got the hang of things.

He successfully filmed the opening scenes: the Pope’s death and the Italian research institute discovering antimatter.

When shooting the latter, Milo couldn’t help but chuckle.

If Italy had the scientific prowess to develop antimatter weapons, it wouldn’t have been a laughingstock during World War I and II!

But hey, fiction is all about suspension of disbelief.

As long as it made logical sense, it worked.

After wrapping up this portion, the next scenes to film should have been the kidnapped cardinals, the Illuminati killings, and a series of chase sequences.

However, Milo decided to jump ahead to the plaza scenes.

These required a large number of extras.

By grouping these scenes together, he could film them in a few days, saving money and achieving better consistency.

But plans are no match for the speed of change.

Whether long-term or short-term, life always surprises.

The day after Milo began shooting the plaza scenes, his first-ever “work”—a novel that blended mystery, thriller, conspiracy, and religious themes—hit the shelves.

The Da Vinci Code was officially published.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 22: The U.S. President Sells Products*

“I’ve never encountered a situation like this before. When I tried to describe a person, I didn’t know where to begin.

This is a very peculiar individual, a very strange person, and I’ve never spoken with him in person.

As you all know, I tend to look for traits of writers in their works.

But this time, it’s an exception. I’ve read his work over and over, but it’s hard to identify similarities between the work and its creator.

By now, I’m sure all of you who are reading this have bought the book you wanted, The Da Vinci Code.

And I’m sure you’ve finished reading this incredibly exciting... it’s hard to describe what genre of novel it is.

Detective? Mystery? Thriller? Or perhaps Religious?

Before we discuss the author Milo, let’s first take a look at the contents of this novel.

In the novel, Milo references a large amount of related art history, religious knowledge, and historical anecdotes, or even apocryphal tales.

But he doesn’t just quote them; he reinterprets them in a personalized way, breathing new life into them.

This subversive approach to tradition initially came from modernist writers, but it was inherited and developed by postmodern authors.

What’s most intriguing in the novel is Milo’s ‘subversive’ interpretation of Da Vinci’s artworks—

Such as the Mona Lisa, Da Vinci’s Self-Portrait, and The Last Supper.

Milo first uses the voice of a character in the novel to question the gender of the person in the Mona Lisa, then goes on to claim that the Mona Lisa is actually a self-portrait of Da Vinci himself.

And the portrait of the artist in Da Vinci’s Self-Portrait is, in fact, an “androgynous” figure.

In Milo’s view, these two paintings are no longer just isolated works, but rather two interconnected individuals, each carrying mutual references and meanings.

The most interesting part is... [omitted 865 words].

Well, that’s enough about the contents of the novel.

You can simply go to a bookstore, spend $12.99, and discover the more fascinating details yourself.

Now, back to where it all began—its creator, Milo Blackburn.

It’s hard to imagine that just a few months ago, he was nothing more than a drunken playboy!

Yes, that’s right—literally, a playboy.

Milo Blackburn’s father, Joseph, had been the CEO of a large company.

Born into a wealthy family, Milo spent his days indulging in vices and drowning in his own fantasies.

But four months ago, something happened that woke him up.

You see, Milo had an older brother—a saintly figure.

Four months ago, this saintly figure was called to the Lord.

Milo wept bitterly, so much so that he fainted from exhaustion, losing all consciousness.

When he woke up, his brother had already been buried.

From that moment, Milo put down his drink, picked up a pen, and started writing novels. His success was immediate and astonishing.

It’s unbelievable. Just four months ago, he was a clueless playboy.

And now, just four months later, he’s a bestselling author with a book that sells 1.2 million copies a month and has held the #1 spot on The New York Times bestseller list for five consecutive weeks.

I’m bewildered. I even doubted it... But then, when I spoke to the shepherd of the Lord, the esteemed Bishop Benjamin Butcher, he told me that Milo had received the Lord’s gospel.

He was divinely inspired; he was favored by the Lord!

Suddenly, it all made sense. There could be no other explanation.

Milo Blackburn is, without a doubt, the Lord’s gospel, chosen by God.

Otherwise, how could the old version of him—his former self—have possibly written The Da Vinci Code?

If possible, I’d love to interview him personally.”

—Eddie McGoodrick, The New York Times.

---

*“Fuck, what bullshit!”*

Massachusetts, Boston.

At a mansion on the outskirts.

Craig Bayard threw the latest issue of The New York Times onto the floor.

Seemingly unsatisfied, he even stomped on it a couple of times.

“Did Eddie McGoodrick eat shit? He actually wrote this kind of article? The Lord’s gospel, favored by God?”

“Is that the kind of thing Milo can enjoy?!”

“Fuck!”

In the living room, Craig Bayard was getting agitated.

“If they were talking about Paladin, I could maybe swallow it. But this is Milo! Milo Blackburn! Shit, if he’s really favored by God, then I must be an angel!?!”

Peter, the strategist, watched Craig rant and, after noticing his unguarded words, quickly interjected.

“Dear Craig, please be careful with your words! You should know this isn’t just Eddie McGoodrick’s side of the story.”

Peter reminded him, “The newspaper mentioned Bishop Benjamin Butcher.”

Peter’s reminder seemed to have had an effect.

Craig Bayard took several deep breaths and spent a little over a minute calming down.

“Phew…” Craig sneered. “Ha, Bishop Benjamin Butcher... Others might not know, but we all know he’s John Blackburn’s brother! Fuck!”

Seeing that Craig was getting more outrageous, Peter had no choice but to get up and check the door.

To make sure no one overheard and spread his words.

These things could be discussed internally, but if they got out...

“Alright. No need to go overboard. I’m calm now.”

Craig’s expression turned cold. “Heh, let them play their games. What’s it got to do with me?!”

The strategist smiled. “That’s the right attitude. Craig, it’s clear that your paths with him will never cross again.”

Craig said, “Call David and the others in, let’s continue with yesterday’s meeting.”

The strategist nodded and left to call them in. Craig, however, glanced back at the paper on the floor and muttered a quiet “fuck.”

So, why was our dear Boston district attorney, Craig Bayard, so enraged?

It all started on September 1st.

That day, Harvard University Press released a novel called The Da Vinci Code.

The first three days after the release were relatively quiet.

Harvard Press didn’t promote it aggressively.

But the book performed well, selling over 30,000 copies in those first three days.

For an unknown debut author, that was an excellent sales figure.

What made it skyrocket overnight, however, was the surge in sales on the fourth day—another 20,000 copies.

On the fifth day, 30,000 copies, and on the sixth, 50,000 copies...

The reason?

On September 4th, President Clinton happened to be visiting Massachusetts.

That evening, Clinton was interviewed on a popular PBS program in the Boston area, WGBH-TV.

During the interview, the host asked Clinton what books he had been reading lately.

Clinton smiled and said:

“Oh, on the plane today, my dear Diane recommended a really good novel to me. I’m sorry, but I actually got so into it. When we landed in Boston, I didn’t even want to get off the plane because I had to finish the last three lines of Chapter 4. It really captivated me.”

The host asked, “Oh, what kind of book could captivate you like that?”

“Well, it’s called The Da Vinci Code.”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 23: The Puritans, The City on a Hill*

Milo obviously didn’t have the ability to get Clinton to do his bidding.

But clearly, his family did.

Through some exchanges, for instance, during the upcoming election next year.

Most of Massachusetts would strongly support Clinton.

This was actually easy to pull off.

Because Clinton was charismatic, and his re-election next year was almost certain.

Moreover, Massachusetts was becoming increasingly blue, gradually turning into a solid Democratic state.

Blackburn had to do very little.

But Clinton had to do very little, too.

All he needed to do was say a few things during an interview, following a prearranged script.

It was a win-win for Clinton, and he was happy with that.

The most important factor, however, was The Da Vinci Code itself.

In America, and even around the world,

It was akin to Harry Potter, which wouldn’t be released for another two years.

They were both groundbreaking works that virtually launched a new sub-genre in literature.

There hadn’t been anything like it before, so as long as it was published, it was bound to be a hit.

Look at the achievements it achieved in its previous life:

It broke the American novel sales record with 7.5 million copies sold and sold more than 65 million copies worldwide. It held the top spot on The New York Times bestseller list for 76 weeks.

It was translated into 42 languages, and its sales rivaled those of the Harry Potter series.

At the same time, it reignited ordinary people’s interest in the history of the Catholic Church.

And it was precisely this last point that led to a critique from an American bishop in the Catholic Church, who claimed that the novel was full of fabrications.

Thus, the most powerful political faction in the U.S. came into play.

Before discussing that, we need to explain something about the history of the United States.

America was a country founded by Puritans.

It was the “City on a Hill” for the Puritans.

But remember, the “purity” in Puritans wasn’t the kind of purity we think of as simply being “pure in heart.”

It meant “cleansing.”

The earliest Puritans sought to purge remnants of the bishops in the Anglican Church of London. In other words, they were radicals.

And what percentage of Americans belong to this faction?

About 57%.

To put it another way, out of the current 266 million people in America, around 150 million are Protestant Puritans.

Within the Puritan community, no matter whether you’re Episcopalian, Baptist, Presbyterian, or Congregationalist, the differences are minimal. The main distinction lies in the organizational form and regional distribution.

The significant difference lies in which faction of Puritans you belong to.

Protestants, in fact, is a broad term for many different Protestant sects.

If you disregard the differences in form and organization, internally they can be divided into three main factions based on the teachings they follow: Evangelical, Charismatic, and Fundamentalist.

The Evangelicals make up the vast majority, over 100 million people, or 35% of the U.S. population.

This nearly 100 million people is the reason why other countries often perceive Americans as anti-intellectual.

The books written by this faction claim things like: you must believe in God without question, the moon was created by God, the Grand Canyon was shaped by God’s flood, evolution is false, and so on.

But what’s even more outrageous is that this faction is actually the most enlightened of the three.

The other two factions are even more fundamentalist.

One of the favorite activities of Evangelicals is to oppose the Vatican.

After the Catholic bishop’s criticism,

A faction of Puritans, led by Evangelical leader Bishop Benjamin Butcher from New York, stepped up.

Bishop Benjamin Butcher claimed:

Milo must have been divinely inspired by the Lord to write such a novel.

This book contained hidden divine revelations; how else could it have so many detailed theological insights, many of which even theological professors didn’t know?

It was the novel with the most knowledge of the Lord, the most secrets of the Church.

This was the Lord speaking to the world through Milo Blackburn, delivering the gospel and divine wisdom.

Thus, the leaders of various American religious factions took action.

They managed to turn The Da Vinci Code into a media sensation, breaking the sales record mentioned earlier by Eddie McGoodrick, a well-known critic from The New York Times:

1.2 million copies sold in September, and it remained at the top of the New York Times bestseller list for five consecutive weeks.

And it was still selling strong because religious leaders occasionally stoked the flames with their public comments.

And the one behind it all, pushed hard by his family, was Milo Blackburn.

After making several calls to his family, he chose to stay in Los Angeles to continue shooting his film.

He hired numerous security personnel, even bringing in some people from Massachusetts to maintain order around the set.

He was now famous, hugely famous.

Not only did numerous journalists want to interview this supposed chosen one, as described by Bishop Benjamin Butcher and other leaders,

but more devout Evangelical believers also wanted to see what the person chosen by God looked like.

But all of them were stopped, blocked by bodyguards and security personnel.

No exceptions.

Until October 15, 1995.

On the way to the Hollywood Park Racetrack.

"I said, Haggis, can you drive a little faster? If we delay any longer, we’re going to be late."

Eddie McGoodrick, sitting in the passenger seat, looked at the passing scenery on both sides of the street and muttered impatiently.

"Relax, Eddie, we’re almost there, I promise," Haggis, the assistant driving the car, said casually.

"You’ve said that eight hundred times, but we still haven’t seen anyone."

Eddie responded irritably, then turned his head to look at his assistant with a skeptical expression.

"You don’t actually know the way, do you? I thought you were from Miami?"

"Of course not! I may be from Miami, but this is my first time in LA. But I studied the map here countless times before we left!" Haggis Duval raised his voice, clearly irritated, though his eyes betrayed his nervousness.

"Well, then I’d appreciate it if you hurry up and find the place. Thanks!"

Eddie sighed, tired of arguing.

At that moment, Haggis suddenly shouted, "Look, Eddie! Over there, the crew! There are tons of people gathered; it must be there!"

Looking in the direction he pointed, Eddie saw a large number of vehicles parked at the perimeter of the Hollywood Park Racetrack, with people walking around.

Many of them had cameras, clearly entertainment journalists.

"Just stop here. Let’s walk over."

Eddie quickly instructed his assistant to park the car by the side of the road, and after preparing themselves, the two of them got out and walked toward the crowd.

"Finally, we’re going to meet that amazing young man."

As they got closer, Haggis became excited. "Honestly, Eddie, I still can’t believe that someone in this world could be chosen by God to deliver the gospel! How did he do it? Why does God favor him so much?"

In addition to being a reporter and a writer’s assistant, Haggis was also a devout Evangelical.

"Shut up, Haggis. If you keep going on like this, you can conduct the interview yourself," Eddie replied without turning his head.

"Are you serious, Eddie?!" Haggis was overjoyed.

But when he saw Eddie’s serious expression, he immediately raised his hands, "Okay, okay, I know you’re joking."

The two soon arrived near the outer perimeter of the location.

Eddie McGoodrick approached a security guard and showed his press credentials and a letter:

"Hello, I’m Eddie McGoodrick, a columnist for The New York Times, and this is reporter Haggis Duval. We have an appointment with Mr. Blackburn."

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 24: Paladin Told Me to Take Care of You*

“Hello, Mr. Blackburn. I’m Eddie McGoldrick. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”

Eddie quickly stepped forward and extended his hand toward the young man.

“I’m delighted to meet you too, Mr. McGoldrick. Please, call me Milo,” the young man replied with a smile, shaking Eddie’s hand.

Just as Eddie was about to speak, Hargis suddenly darted in front of Milo, grabbing his hand excitedly.

“Hello, Mr. Blackburn. My name is Hargis Duval. Have you truly heard the Lord’s gospel? Could you sign something for me, please? I swear my wife and mother would be so thrilled they wouldn’t be able to sleep!”

“Uh... Hargis, nice to meet you.”

A bit stunned by the flood of words, Milo pondered for a moment before replying, “I think... I can fulfill your request for a signature. As for the Lord’s gospel, it’s something every devout believer may one day hear. You, me, Mr. McGoldrick—we’re all the Lord’s sheep, and it’s possible for all of us.”

“Really? Thank you so much! I had my doubts before, but now that you’ve said this, I’m sure you’re truly favored by the Lord!”

Duval’s excitement was evident as he gushed, gesturing wildly.

Milo could only smile politely. After all, during a phone call with his grandfather, he’d been advised about how to handle such situations.

Grandfather had said, “If anyone talks to you about this, just maintain this stance: Whether or not I’ve heard the Lord’s gospel isn’t the point. The gospel is there for everyone—provided they’re devout enough.”

If someone hadn’t heard it? Well, clearly, they weren’t devout enough.

If they claimed they had? Then what did they hear? Could they write a bestseller like The Da Vinci Code?

No? How dare they sully the sanctity of the gospel!

Few could make evangelical leaders like Bishop Benjamin Butcher publicly vouch for someone—especially after recent events.

“Enough, Hargis! Don’t forget what you promised me!” Eddie interrupted with an exasperated shout as Duval showed no signs of stopping.

“Uh... alright, sorry.”

Duval finally remembered their purpose for being there, though he still insisted Milo sign something for him after the visit.

“My apologies, Milo,” Eddie said, preemptively apologizing for his assistant.

“No problem. It’s completely understandable,” Milo replied with an understanding smile.

Since Benjamin Butcher had declared Milo to be favored by the Lord, countless people had acted like Duval in front of him.

“Hey, did you hear that, Eddie? Milo didn’t mind at all,” Duval chimed in, whistling.

“Alright, shut it, Hargis. Another word, and you’re out,” Eddie shot him a glare before turning back to Milo.

“Shall we begin our exclusive interview, Mr. Blackburn?”

“Of course. This way, please.”

The three of them moved to a quieter corner of the set and sat down.

“Everyone knows you only started writing in July of this year. What inspired you to create such remarkable work?”

Milo smiled and delivered his rehearsed response. “Honestly, I wasn’t exactly a good kid growing up, and I—”

Why had so many journalists, hosts, and experts failed to secure an exclusive interview with Milo?

Yet Eddie McGoldrick from The New York Times managed to?

Simple—Eddie was one of their own.

The Blackburn family’s advisors had planned everything. They’d decided what Eddie would ask and how Milo would respond.

The interview went smoothly, leaving everyone satisfied.

Milo, however, was becoming busier by the day as public interest in him grew. He had to juggle filming, fend off paparazzi, and navigate the relentless attention. Thankfully, most scenes were shot on indoor sets.

Though tiring, Milo didn’t mind. He’d chosen to become a public figure and rise as a key figure in the family, so he was prepared to shoulder the accompanying pressure.

Fortunately, there were silver linings amid the challenges.

For instance, Milo’s presence seemed to energize people like Tommy Lee Jones, accelerating the filming process.

Or, there was the flurry of calls from acquaintances—Joseph, Robin, his grandfather, and old friends.

Surprisingly, even Haley began reaching out to him.

Haley asked if he’d truly heard the Lord’s gospel.

With Haley, Milo didn’t use his grandfather’s script.

Instead, he told her he’d dreamed of Paladin.

In the dream, Paladin had spoken at length, instructing him to take good care of Haley and to write novels and make movies—all under divine guidance.

Additionally, whether it was Milo’s perceived divine favor or his burgeoning fame, both Catherine Zeta-Jones and Monica, who had finished filming, became even more infatuated with him.

Take today, for example.

Monica couldn’t resist sneaking over to Milo’s trailer while Zeta-Jones was shooting her dialogue and lab scenes.

When Milo handed over directing duties to Wally, Monica seized the moment to whisk him away for some intimate time in his trailer.

After all, Milo had spent the previous night at Zeta-Jones’s place on the mountain.

And so, in the middle of the day, Milo’s trailer began to shake—for over an hour.

When the activity finally ceased, Milo and Monica lay entwined, catching their breath.

Milo wrapped his arms around the woman, holding her closer as he pressed tender kisses to her neck, his hands lightly tracing her flawless figure.

“Milo…” Monica murmured, closing her eyes as she relished his touch.

She took his hand resting on her hips, turned to kiss him on the lips, and gazed at him with soft brown eyes filled with affection.

“Did you enjoy my surprise?” she asked in a sultry tone, her voice tinged with satisfaction. “Your girlfriend is just a hundred feet away, still filming.”

“I loved it,” Milo whispered against her smooth shoulder. “And you’re my girlfriend too, dear Monica. I was planning to stay with you tonight anyway.”

“I couldn’t wait,” Monica replied, pouting playfully and tracing circles on his chest with her fingers. “I’ve realized I just can’t live without you.”

At home, bored and watching TV, Monica found Milo’s name everywhere—on news channels, interviews, and entertainment shows. His soaring fame only heightened her passion, compelling her to risk everything to visit him.

“I can’t live without you either, Monica. You’re utterly captivating. I think about you day and night,” Milo laughed, his words blending sweetness with a touch of roughness befitting their intimate connection.

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

He said the same to Zeta-Jones.

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 25: Big Sis Comes to Visit*

Eddie McGoodrick’s exclusive interview with The New York Times was published.

That evening, on the set, Milo looked at the interview with himself in the paper.

Eddie McGoodrick’s writing was excellent, no wonder he was one of The New York Times’ best columnists.

Of course, Milo was also very aware that the piece had been thoroughly reviewed and polished.

After reading it, Milo shrugged.

He thought it was just so professional—

In just two thousand words, it covered:

A clean-up of his dark past, the shaping of a new image, promotion of his new book, his media debut, and even a mention of his work in movies.

And it turned out he was still working on a prequel to The Da Vinci Code, which still sold twenty to thirty thousand copies a month.

The article didn’t mention the public scandal with the gospel at all.

But reading it, you’d think this rogue had truly turned a new leaf.

And such a dramatic transformation—must be a sign of divine intervention.

A hired pen is powerful.

But of course, this is all predicated on the buildup.

Without the prior groundwork, no matter how good Eddie McGoodrick’s writing was, it wouldn’t have mattered.

Though it did make Milo wonder what resources the family had put into it.

But then again, considering that Paladin had become a state attorney general at thirty—

Aside from Paladin’s own talents, the family’s influence was essential.

Especially since he’d married a good wife, and the Harrison family’s power couldn’t be underestimated either.

So, would this interview achieve its goal?

Drinking water, Milo silently mulled it over in his mind.

Americans are very forgiving of successful people.

Just look at Steve Jobs—his history was even worse, and Americans had more trouble forgiving him.

But what happened later? Grandpa Jobs, God Jobs—who still cared about his past cruelty, stinginess, deviousness, and cold-bloodedness?

The Da Vinci Code was the first step, Angels and Demons was the second.

He wouldn’t stop there; he would continue to layer more and more halos onto himself.

And when the time came, these halos would turn him into an American icon.

The phone rang, interrupting Milo’s thoughts.

"Hello? Work's done for the day. I was about to head home. Hmm, back to Crest Avenue, since I stayed down the hill last night. What’s up?"

It was Wendy on the other end, and before Milo could hang up, Wendy didn’t give him a chance.

"What do you mean? I don’t quite understand."

"Hailie’s here." Wendy’s voice sounded a bit tense. "She’s come over. You’d better not go back to Crest Avenue, 9406!"

Milo fell silent, understanding immediately.

The house on Crest Avenue 9406 still had Zeta-Jones and the others living there.

Why "the others"?

That day, Monica had sneaked over at noon to have an affair with him.

Later, bodyguard David told Milo that when he and Monica were in the RV, Zeta-Jones had finished filming and wanted to find Milo inside.

But David and the others stopped her, claiming Milo was on a break.

David said Zeta-Jones didn’t say anything.

She just stood outside for a while and then left.

It was clear that this British rose had probably discovered something.

The next day when Milo returned to Crest Avenue, Zeta-Jones had invited two of her beautiful friends over to the villa.

That evening, she used the excuse of being drunk to have them stay over at the villa.

Naturally, it was Cate Blanchett and Julie Delpy.

In other words, there were now three women up on the hill.

If Hailie showed up and saw them, it wouldn’t be good.

So… should he send them away?

There wasn’t enough time, and it wouldn’t seem very considerate.

Zeta-Jones had been staying in the villa for a while, so there were traces of her there.

If discovered, it would be awkward.

"Just stay on set, don’t leave. I’ll tell Hailie you’re still filming and need to work overtime tonight. Make sure your British and Italian girls leave early." Wendy gave him advice.

After a moment of silence, Milo realized that might be the only way.

He asked, "Zeta-Jones and Bellucci aren’t here, don’t worry about that. But… why is Hailie coming over?"

A few days ago, he’d spoken with his sister-in-law on the phone.

She hadn’t mentioned coming over.

From what Milo knew, ever since Paladin’s passing, Hailie had become a workaholic, busy with work all the time.

So why was she suddenly free to come out to the West Coast and visit her little brother-in-law?

Wendy replied, "I’m curious too. But I thought I should let you know. I’ll call back and check in with the family to see what’s going on."

That was all they could do.

Americans rarely work overtime, except for those in finance—there’s not much of an overtime culture.

But Hollywood was an exception, as sometimes films needed to be rushed.

When there's a rush, there’s overtime, and the most you get is a bit more pay.

Sometimes, night shoots also require overtime.

As the director and producer, Milo decided to bring a night shoot scheduled for a few days later forward.

No reason, just the fact that he was the director, producer, and investor all in one.

So the crew, which was about to wrap up, kept working.

But everyone noticed that Milo seemed a bit distracted, not as focused as usual.

"Cut, Tommy, great job. Take a break, we’ll continue in ten minutes."

The phone rang again, and Milo had Wally go prepare while he picked up the call.

It was Wendy again.

"I asked around," Wendy said. "Hailie’s not coming alone. She’s brought someone with her to find you."

"Hmm? Who?"

"I don’t know, just that it’s a woman."

"Alright, I got it. Thanks, Wendy."

"Want me to keep looking into it…?"

"No need." Milo shrugged, because in the faint moonlight ahead, he saw his bodyguard Jones leading Hailie and a few others toward him.

David was a bit faster. He walked up to Milo and whispered, "Mrs. Hailie’s here. I was going to inform you, but she said it was fine to come directly, and I couldn’t stop her. Jones brought her over."

Milo nodded to David, then said into the phone, "Hailie’s here, so that’s it for now."

He hung up the phone and greeted them with a smile.

"Hey, good evening, Hailie."

Milo walked over, greeted his sister-in-law with a kiss on the cheek.

Hailie, now 28, was in the prime of her beauty, exuding charm.

She smiled back at her little brother-in-law.

Looking at Milo, who had spent the whole day filming and looked a bit disheveled, she felt that he now had a new energy and insight that hadn’t been there before.

And the way he smiled so gently, combined with his resemblance to Paladin, made Hailie feel like he was even more like Paladin now.

"Hope I’m not disturbing you?"

After the cheek kiss, Hailie smiled and said, "I came to LA for a bit of a vacation with a friend. We heard you were filming nearby, and we were curious, so we decided to come take a look. We’ve never seen a movie set before, hope you don’t mind."

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