296-300

*Chapter 296: Is This a Battleground?*

“Surprise?”

Luca looked curiously toward the center stage.

Ding ding dong~  

Suddenly, familiar music began playing on stage.

“This is…”

"I've seen the world

Done it all, had my cake now

Diamonds, brilliant, and Bel-Air now."

As Luca heard the singing, he froze. Was that Britney's voice?

“Britney's here?”

“Haha, yes!”

Britney made her entrance.

Wearing a long, colorful dress encrusted with countless gems, she gracefully walked onto the dazzling crystal stage.

With a sweet smile on her face, she was singing “Young and Beautiful,” the theme song from The Great Gatsby.

Clap clap clap~  

As she appeared, the audience erupted into thunderous applause.

“Luca, surprised?” Ed asked, clapping.

“Yes, kind of…”

Just as Luca was responding, a thought hit him—Britney was here, but so was Lima.

Whoosh!  

Cold sweat broke out instantly.

This wasn’t a surprise; it was a shock!

He wiped his forehead. “Ed, why is Britney here?”

“Haha, relax,” Ed patted his shoulder and explained, “To elevate a brand’s image, the launch event has to be top-tier. This is a common strategy for luxury brands.

At Paris Fashion Week, Gucci invited tons of celebrities, and it worked wonders.

Now that we’re in New York, the standards can’t be any lower. Look around; it’s all celebrities and big names. So, of course, the performer has to be top-notch too.”

“So you invited Britney?”

Luca asked with a strange expression.

“Of course, Britney’s a global superstar,” Ed chuckled, patting his shoulder. “I know what you’re worried about. Don’t worry, Kate suggested it, and Lima agreed. They even rehearsed together for three days. They seem to get along well.”

“Really?”

Luca frowned, feeling uneasy.

He’d been in frequent contact with Kate, Lima, and Britney recently, but none of them had mentioned this to him. It was way too risky.

Witnessing the world, lights on stage

Appear in splendor, eras passing by

In the summer sun, music and dance resound

I adorn myself just to sing for you.

Britney slowly walked across the stage. Under the lighting, the gems on her dress sparkled brilliantly, making her appear vibrant, beautiful, and dreamy.

As she approached the front, she suddenly noticed someone in the crowd. A sweet smile appeared on her face, and she winked, as if to say, “You’re here.”

Luca smiled and waved.

Once.

Twice.

He was about to wave a third time when he abruptly put his hand down.

At the entrance, a striking figure appeared. She walked confidently, her colorful dress flowing, every step radiating powerful energy.

“Lima’s presence seems even stronger!” Ed exclaimed.

Indeed.

Luca thought the same because, at this moment, he could sense something from Lima—an aura of danger.

*Father, tell me if you can

All that grace, all that body.*

As the song continued, Lima strutted to the front with her sexy steps.

Britney turned around.

The two met, exchanged slight smiles, and passed each other.

Lima confidently walked to the front of the stage. Her brown eyes sparkled as she spotted someone.

“You’re dead.”

“….”

Luca’s lips twitched as cold sweat reappeared.

“Haha, Britney and Lima on the same stage—this show is definitely going to make headlines!” Ed said, rubbing his chin with a smile.

Luca ignored him, focusing on how to survive this ordeal. A beating was inevitable; maybe he should reserve a hospital room in advance?

“Kate really set me up this time.”

After Lima’s opening walk, Britney also exited the stage.

Other models began appearing one by one, all supermodels—Audrey Marnay, Monica Mitro, Daniela Pestova, Rie Rasmussen, and Miranda Kerr.

They were showcasing the Sun-Gucci collection, featuring four distinct styles and over fifty outfits.

The designs were vibrant, sexy, and bold.

However, the styles differed significantly from those at the Paris Fashion Week.

In Paris, fashion could be revealing, as long as it wasn’t too sheer.

For this collection, the fabric choices were more flexible—silk, chiffon, lace, organza—delicate yet alluring. The clothes were beautiful and seductive.

The use of colors was bold and daring, with bright yellows, deep blues, vibrant greens, and striking reds. The influence of Lima’s Salvadoran heritage was subtly visible in the designs.

After the first round, the second followed.

Lima led the way again, this time in a white gown. As she reached the front of the stage, a sudden flash of light hit her, instantly transforming the white gown into a dazzling array of colors, like magic.

Clap clap clap~  

The audience, intrigued, burst into applause.

Luca smiled softly. He had once mentioned the idea of 3D virtual clothing to Kate, and she’d used it here. It was high-tech and futuristic.

Following Lima, other models appeared. As the lights hit them, their outfits transformed into different designs, drawing gasps of awe from the audience.

“Wow, this is stunning!”

“The designer for this series is very imaginative!”

“Yes, the creativity is amazing!”

The crowd buzzed with chatter.

“It’s a success!”

Luca smiled, feeling happy for Kate and Lima.

“What’s a success?”

Suddenly, a soft voice asked beside him, sweet with a familiar fragrance.

“Britney!”

He turned and saw Britney standing next to him, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders, her blue eyes fixed on him with a bright, almost scorching gaze.

“Surprised to see me?”

Britney’s lips curved into a sweet smile.

“No, it’s a pleasant surprise!” Luca smiled, taking her hand under the table. “Why are you here as a guest?”

Britney playfully nudged his arm, laughing. “I’m good friends with Kate. How could I not support a friend’s fashion show?”

“You and Kate are friends? Since when?”

Luca was surprised.

“We’ve been friends for a while! Don’t forget, I’m a Rainbow Girl!”

Britney raised her chin proudly.

“Yes, my Rainbow Girl!” Luca wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her lightly.

“Sweetie, I missed you,” Britney said softly, gazing into his eyes.

“I missed you too!”

Luca squeezed her hand. If they weren’t in public, he would’ve hugged her tightly.

Britney smiled and nodded.

“The single for Remember Me, the song we wrote together, is being recorded. Want to come listen?”

“Of course!” Luca agreed, and they set a time.

Meanwhile, the fashion show continued. The entire event featured four series and lasted over two hours, full of excitement.

At the end, the lead designer, Kate Kelly, finally made her appearance.

Her golden-brown hair flowed freely, and she wore a floor-length off-the-shoulder gown as she walked onto the stage. With her tall figure, delicate features, and elegant demeanor, she made quite an impression.

Clap clap clap~  

The audience erupted into enthusiastic applause.

“Thank you!”

Kate stood on stage with a microphone, Lima by her side, and all the models and design assistants behind them as they took their final bow.

With a gentle smile, Kate thanked the staff and guests and shared her thoughts on the collection, exchanging ideas with industry peers.

On stage, she was poised and graceful, exuding elegance and confidence.

“Kate is so cool!” Britney admired.

Luca nodded. Kate on stage was indeed stunning and strong, like a true angel. But offstage, she was a violent queen who often bullied her brother.

Sigh, no one’s perfect.

Clap clap clap~  

The Sun-Gucci fashion show concluded successfully.

Kate and Lima walked out together, laughing happily.

Luca smiled softly, preparing to join them when he noticed Lima holding a sparkling, dangerous-looking object.

The cold sweat returned.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 297: I Was Feeling a Bit Cocky*

"Luca, why are you sweating again?" Kate teased, blinking at him.

"It's nothing!" Luca forced a smile, hugged both of them, and asked, "Dear, what are you holding?"

"You mean this?" Lima held up the "weapon" in her hand. "This is the trophy awarded to Kate and me by the Designers' Association. We won Best New Designers of 2003."

"Best New Designers? Wow, that's amazing!"

Luca let out a sigh of relief as he took the trophy and examined it. It was a more than one-foot-tall quadrangular pillar, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, with a sparkling and finely crafted design.

There were a few lines of gold text engraved on the trophy: "The 2003 Best New Designers Award presented to Ms. Kate Kelly & Ms. Adriana Lima by the New York Fashion Designers Association."

The New York Fashion Designers Association, much like the Screen Actors Guild in America, annually recognizes the most creative designers, best works, best newcomers, and more from the previous year.

The standards for selection were extremely high and very strict. For Kate and Lima to win this award was no small feat, on par with winning Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival.

"Well, are we impressive or what?" Kate raised her chin and smiled smugly.

"Yes, you're both absolutely amazing!" Luca couldn't help but hug them again. "As your family, I feel honored and proud!"

"Haha, you played a part in this, and so did Britney. Where is Britney, by the way?" Kate glanced around and asked.

"Britney had to leave early for something," Luca cautiously glanced at Lima. "She also asked me to congratulate you both on her behalf!"

Lima snorted softly and turned her head to the side.

Kate laughed and put an arm around Luca's shoulder. "Dear, did you intentionally send Britney away?"

"Me? How could I?"

"Why not? Aren't you worried that Britney and Lima might fight?"

Kate teased.

"I heard you two get along just fine!"

"Heh, it’s different when you're around."

Kate curled her lips and suddenly leaned in to whisper, "Find some time to reward Britney. She’s been a great help to us."

"A great help?"

Luca raised an eyebrow. It was true.

Without Britney, Twilight wouldn’t have become a bestseller so quickly, the Sun series wouldn’t be as famous, and Kate and Lima wouldn't have risen to fame as designers so fast. Today's fashion show wouldn’t have been so high-end either. Plus, someone got pretty close to Britney in the process.

But why use the word "reward"?

Was she treating her brother like some kind of servant? Luca gave her a resentful look.

Kate laughed, ruffled his hair, and disappeared into the crowd.

The fashion show was over, but the party continued.

The socialites kept mingling, enjoying wine, gourmet food, and the models walking around. The fashion show was just a beautiful interlude in the middle of the party.

Luca accompanied Kate and Lima as they navigated through the event, meeting many elites in the fashion industry.

There were esteemed guests invited by Gucci, powerful women from Kate’s book club, and top designers, high-end media figures, and financiers.

After a few rounds, Luca felt like he had learned a lot.

But being beside a famous author like Kate and a renowned designer like Lima, he felt like a trophy husband.

Sometimes he wanted to remind everyone that the person standing before them was the most handsome man in Brazil and the youngest Best Actor in Berlin.

But then he noticed people like Julia Roberts, Al Pacino, and Sandra Bullock nearby and decided to keep his mouth shut.

"Sigh, I need to work harder!"

By 7 PM, the party had ended.

Kate left gracefully with Miranda on her arm.

Luca let out a sigh and got into Lima's car, feeling like a kept man.

"Dear, why do you look so troubled?" Lima asked as she started the car.

"I've realized you're too incredible. I’m lucky to have you."

"Pfft~" Lima burst out laughing. "You’ve come to that realization? I heard the media back home have been praising you non-stop lately, calling you Brazil's most handsome man, top model, sexiest man alive, and Berlin's Best Actor. I thought you'd be full of yourself by now."

Luca shrugged. "I was getting cocky, but in the U.S., I don't have much reason to be. Especially around you, I wouldn’t dare."

"Why?"

"Because I'm afraid you'll kick me!"

"Hehe, are you feeling guilty?" Lima asked with a mischievous smile.

"Guilty? Haha, what would I be guilty of?"

"You tell me!" Lima suddenly stopped the car, grabbed the trophy, and lunged at him.

"Dear Lima, what are you doing?" Luca asked, alarmed.

"Beating you up!" Lima pinned him down, fuming. "You jerk! Who told you to cozy up to Britney, write songs for her, especially that kind of song? Do you know how I felt during rehearsals these past few days?

I was planning to wait until we got home to beat you, but I can't hold back anymore. I’m going to kill you right here, right now!"

Lima shouted as she hit him.

"Dear, didn’t you agree to invite Britney? Aren’t you two friends?"

"Yes, we’re friends, but I’m still mad. I have to beat you. If it weren't for you, I’d still idolize Britney as my role model. But now, I just can’t!"

"Ow! Stop hitting me, or I'll fight back. I’m a Brazilian man, and when I get mad, it’s serious!"

"Hmph, go ahead! You think I’m scared?"

The fight escalated inside the car, which rocked wildly in the dark corner of the street.

Squeak, squeak~

What started as chaotic gradually fell into a steady rhythm, full of intensity.

Night had fallen. The neon lights along the street reflected on the car windows, casting a mesmerizing glow that added a sultry tone and rhythm to this district of desire.

It wasn't until the moon was high in the sky that the car restarted, slowly pulling away from the dark corner and merging like a streak of radiant light into the bustling main street.

"Darling, why are you dressed in formal attire today?"

At a small café that morning, Lima walked over carrying two cups of hot milk.

The comforting scent of warm milk mixed with her own fragrance. Another beautiful day had begun.

"I need to drop by the office later. I haven't been there in months, and there's a lot of work waiting for me."

Luca, now in his shirt, walked over and kissed her before starting breakfast.

Lima had insisted on making breakfast: toast, hot milk, a few slices of ham, and some fruit—a simple meal prepared by a beginner, but edible nonetheless.

"Do you want to read the newspaper today?"

Lima picked up a few newspapers, waving them with a pleased smile.

"Anything good?"

"Take a look!"

Luca took the papers and glanced through them. There were four in total, with The New York Times on top, followed by the New York Post, Tribune, and others.

He started with The New York Times, flipping through the pages until he found a small article in the society section.

The article was about the Sun-Gucci fashion show held yesterday at the Gucci Exhibition Center.

The writer objectively described the event, highlighting four different fashion collections and quoting comments from notable figures like Gucci’s regional president, Wendi Deng Murdoch, and i-D magazine’s editor-in-chief Hadis.

The feedback from these prominent figures was overwhelmingly positive—stunning, memorable, and outstanding.

At the end, the article mentioned two designers, Kate and Lima, providing a brief introduction to their careers.

Kate transitioned from model to writer and then designer, excelling in all roles.

Lima also made a successful leap from modeling to design.

The writer concluded with a quote from Claude Monet, president of the New York Design Association, describing them as "two promising up-and-coming designers."

Luca skimmed through the other news articles. The larger newspapers offered balanced coverage, some praise mixed with criticism.

"Darling, these are just objective reports; they didn’t exactly shower you with praise. So why do you look so incredibly happy?"

Luca put down the paper, puzzled.

"Hah~ What do you know?"

Lima leaned over, tapping the paper. "Look closely. How does The Times refer to me?"

"Designer Lima!"

"Exactly!"

Lima snapped her fingers, smiling. "Before, I only made it into smaller papers with gossip about runway shows or endorsements. But now, I’m in The New York Times—and in the society section, no less.

"Before, they just called me Lima. But now? Ha! 'Designer Lima.' Do you see the difference? Oh, you definitely wouldn't get it. In the news, you’re still just 'Luca,' not 'Mr. Kelly.' How could someone like you understand the joy we feel?"

Luca looked at her smug smile and slowly understood.

"You’re bragging to me, aren't you, chubby?"

"Yes, I am! Is that a problem?"

Lima lifted her chin with a triumphant grin.

"No, of course not!"

Luca reached over and wrapped his arms around her waist, tickling her.

"Hahaha, stop it, let go! Don’t—hahaha~"

Lima was extremely ticklish, and as soon as he started, she went limp, collapsing on the sofa like a soft, sweet marshmallow.

"Still want to brag, chubby?"

"Haha, yes! I declare that from now on, you will be a nameless person! Whenever the papers mention you, they’ll just say you're the boyfriend of Ms. Designer Lima, Kate’s brother, and Britney’s rumored fling.

Ah, stop, I’m sorry! Hahaha, I won’t say it anymore, okay?"

"Hmph, too late!"

"Mmph, you're bullying me again! I’m going to fight you!"

(End of chapter)

Chapter 298: "Me, the Best Actor!"

After finishing a delicious and lively breakfast, Luca kissed a still-sleeping Lima goodbye and drove to the Ford Models agency.

In Ed's office, sunlight streamed through the window, faintly illuminating the small particles floating in the air. The rich aroma of coffee filled the room as another page on the desk flipped over.

"Luca, you're here!" Ed greeted him as he put down his work.

"You keep nagging me to come to work. How could I not?" Luca replied, sitting down with a yawn.

"Luca, young men need to learn moderation," Ed said, pouring him a cup of coffee.

"I know," Luca chuckled softly and took the cup. "How many scripts have you collected lately? Let's have a look."

"Sure!" Ed ducked under the desk, rummaged around, and placed a cardboard box on the table. "They're all here. Take a look!"

"Only eight scripts?" Luca counted, unimpressed. "I thought it would be a big pile. You scared me for nothing."

"These are the ones I already filtered for you. There's a bigger pile if you want to see the rest," Ed grinned.

"I'll start with what you picked," Luca said, waving his hand. He opened the scripts and began reading, quickly going through titles like Stealth from Columbia Pictures, The Devil's Rejects from Lionsgate, The Grudge from Dimension Films, and a few smaller indie films.

It took him less than two hours to finish them all.

None were impressive.

Either they were box-office flops, or he had never heard of them. Ed clearly lacked a good eye for picking scripts.

Luca then grabbed the remaining dozen or so scripts. After going through them, his disappointment deepened.

"Well?" Ed asked as he re-entered the office.

"Not great," Luca replied, tossing the script aside and shaking his head.

"How could that be?" Ed pointed to the scripts. "Stealth is a big-budget film, $130 million. The lead is this year's Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actor, Jamie Foxx. You'd be the third lead."

"The Devil's Rejects is a sequel to a decent box-office hit. The second one should do well too."

"The Grudge is a horror movie from Dimension Films. The script is interesting."

"And the rest are indie films, the type you love—some are art films, some are thrillers. Out of all these scripts, there has to be one that fits you. Take another look!"

"None of them appeal to me," Luca insisted.

"Not one? Out of eight scripts?" Ed frowned, his dark face growing even darker.

"Ed, I'm a screenwriter. I can tell if a script is good or not just by reading it." Stealth was a classic flop—$100 million budget but less than $60 million in box office earnings. The Devil's Rejects had potential, but Luca had no interest in sequels. As for the smaller projects, he hadn't even heard of the production companies, which seemed to be trying to capitalize on his recent win. Low pay, no awards—no value in participating.

"Luca, you can't judge a film by the script alone. Some movies have mediocre scripts but turn out to be great. Others have no script and still do well," Ed countered.

"I get that, but I'm more experienced at choosing scripts, right?" Luca said with a raised brow and a smile.

Ed had no comeback.

"So, what do you want to do?"

"Ed, I knew the agency wouldn't have good scripts, so I came prepared." Luca pulled a newspaper from his pocket and circled something with a red pen.

Ed took the newspaper and saw that Luca had circled two news items in red.

The first was about the greenlighting of a movie adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, produced by Focus Features. The project had been in development for two to three years and was finally set to move forward.

"I've read Pride and Prejudice many times and love it. I'd really like to be part of the movie. Does the agency have any connections to land me the lead role?"

"The lead role?" Ed smirked. "Isn't that a bit ambitious? This project has a budget of over $30 million."

Luca adjusted his clothes and said with a soft snort, "I’m the Best Actor of the Berlin Film Festival."

". . ."

Ed wiped away some cold sweat. "Do you know how many 'Best Actors' there are in the world? Do you know how many are named each year? Do you know how many of them are starving?"

"I’m the youngest 'Best Actor' from an A-list international festival like the Berlin Film Festival," Luca responded calmly.

". . . but the news says they’re looking for a British actor, and you’re Brazilian," Ed pointed out.

"That’s not a problem!" Luca smiled. "Look at me—I have the face and manner of a perfect British gentleman. I've got it down. Don’t worry about it."

"No matter your looks or mannerisms, if they want a British actor, why not just cast a real Brit? What advantage is there in casting you, a fake Brit?" Ed questioned.

"Ed, it's precisely because there are challenges that I need your help as my agent. If there weren’t any hurdles, why would I need you?" Luca said, shaking his head.

Ed clenched his fists. He had to admit, Luca's argument was solid. He had no rebuttal.

"Fine, I’ll contact the producers. But what about these other scripts? I worked hard to pick them. You should at least keep one or two as a backup," Ed suggested.

Luca thought about it. That made sense—an actor can’t always star in hits without occasionally doing some flops. The ups and downs are part of life.

But none of these projects seemed worthwhile. Even among the mediocre options, there wasn’t a standout.

"Ed, I have a lot of work this year. Two films in Brazil and two here—Step Up and The Blind Side. I don’t have time for more. Plus, although I won the Silver Bear, it wasn’t in the U.S., so the impact isn’t as big. I still need a great film to prove my ability, so I have to be cautious about my next choice," Luca explained earnestly.

"Fair enough," Ed nodded, backing off.

In the past six months, Luca had been away from the U.S., but that didn’t stop him from making money for the agency. Now, he was the face of Ford Models, the top earner. Their boss, Katie Ford, had made it clear that Luca was a star they needed to keep happy—no letting him jump ship.

"Take a look, Best Actor. These are all offers waiting to throw money at you," Ed said, pulling out another folder filled with modeling gigs.

This year, Luca topped the male model earnings list and became the Berlin Best Actor. Business was booming, and he had over twenty endorsement offers. Plus, New York Fashion Week was approaching, and invitations for him to model were piling up.

But Luca wasn’t interested in modeling anymore.

Last year, he modeled and made a few million dollars.

This year, he starred in a small film and earned over $3 million in profit.

Modeling just couldn’t compare. Even as the top-earning model, there was no real sense of accomplishment.

Ed didn’t try to argue with him about this.

From the beginning, Luca had planned to focus on acting, especially in Hollywood. Modeling had been an unexpected detour, where he’d accidentally become a supermodel.

Once he became a supermodel, the money followed.

Blinded by the financial rewards, the two of them had spent a year caught up in the fashion world.

Now that Luca was a Berlin Best Actor with unlimited potential, there was no reason to stick with modeling. After all, being a model never sounded as prestigious as being an actor.

However, Luca still had three endorsement deals left—Armani, CK, and Helmut Lang suits, all with two-year contracts.

Until those expired, he was obligated to continue with photoshoots, ads, and promotional work.

"No problem. You set the schedule," Luca said.

After finishing up work discussions, the two chatted about other matters and enjoyed a coffee with their boss, Katie Ford.

Around five in the afternoon, Kate texted him that she was off work.

Luca left the office and returned to his apartment on 76th Street, only to be startled as soon as he walked through the door.

"Luca, there’s a subpoena from the local court for you. You have to respond to the court documents this week. If you ignore it, the court will assume you’re waiving your right to a defense and grant the other party’s request. You could end up in jail."

Luca stared at the subpoena, dumbfounded.

"How did this happen?"

"Haha, honey, you broke the law!"

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 299: How Can an Older Sister Let Her Brother Continue Being a Pervert?*

*[Summons from the New York Manhattan Copyright Court]*

"Miss Demon (pen name), hello. Due to your work, Fifty Shades of Grey, published on the website 'Reading House,' infringing upon the copyright of the original Twilight series, the legal department of Greenwood Publishing has filed a lawsuit with the local court, requesting you immediately cease the infringement on the Twilight series."

On the couch, Luca held the light pink court summons, his lips twitching nonstop. What the heck was going on?

“Did I just sue myself?”

“Darling, isn’t it funny?”

Kate was leaning on his shoulder, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

Luca shook his head. Fifty Shades of Grey was originally a fanfiction of Twilight, with a lot of similarities in character names and relationships. While copying it, he thought he’d give Twilight some promotion and didn’t bother to change much. He never imagined that the publisher would take him to court over copyright infringement.

“Darling, you infringed on my rights. How about we have a legal battle?” Kate teased, waving the summons.

“You want to sue me?”

“Yes, we’re both famous. If we go to court, it’ll definitely make headlines—'Famous siblings at odds in court!' Then we’ll be all over the media. Our novels will sell like crazy—Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey will both be huge hits, and we’ll make loads of money!”

“Heh,” Luca rolled his eyes. “How could my brilliant, beautiful, intelligent, and noble sister come up with such a dumb idea?”

“What’s so dumb about it?” Kate raised an eyebrow.

"Fifty Shades of Grey is written from a female perspective with a style that appeals more to women. If this thing gets out, people will think you wrote it. Do you really want to be known as the author of Fifty Shades of Grey? If so, I’ll call Felix right now and publish the novel under your name.”

Luca smirked.

“Forget it, it’s too explicit. Only a pervert would write something like that.”

Kate looked disgusted.

“Exactly.”

Luca shrugged.

“Hmph, I forgot to ask you—how did you write all that stuff?” Kate, still leaning on his shoulder, asked in a cold, teasing tone.

“Do you really want to know?”

Luca’s face turned a little red.

“Hurry up and spill, or I’ll make you regret it!”

Kate’s lips curled into a dangerous smile.

“Alright, alright. I didn’t mean to hide it from you, it’s just that you never asked,” Luca began recounting his time with Julie, from their first meeting at the supermarket to that morning jog.

“Julie?” Kate paused, “Annalina… You hooked up with her? Was that last year? I knew something was up when she suddenly visited. I suspected something but was too busy with work to ask. Now, I want you to tell me everything, from the beginning to the end, got it?”

Kate threatened him, pinching his ear.

“Alright, alright. But I want to make it clear, I only played those games to find inspiration for writing.”

“Stop talking and get on with it!”

Kate waved her hand dismissively. “Continue, I want every detail of the game!”

Luca, helpless, started recounting everything—from the first party invitation to being locked in the backyard, what happened in the back garden, the second game in Julie’s bedroom, and then the third on the private beach. He didn’t leave out a single detail.

“Hmm, definitely perverted,” Kate rubbed her chin, nodding expressionlessly.

“Kate, I only did that to write Fifty Shades of Grey, I’m not actually a pervert.”

“Really? So, do you enjoy that kind of game?”

“I—”

“Don’t lie to me!”

Kate fixed her blue eyes on him, staring intently.

“... I like it!” Luca finally admitted.

“Good! Very good! My brother actually likes this!” Kate slowly stood up, cracking her knuckles and rolling her shoulders. She took off her stockings and wrapped them around her hand.

“Kate, what are you doing?” Luca felt a sudden sense of dread.

“What do you think?”

Kate tied her long hair up with a scarf and took off her loose coat. “My brother’s turned into a pervert, liking those kinds of games. As your older sister, how could I just let you continue? I have to save you!”

“Kate, I’m not a pervert! I just told you, I only did those things for the novel. Deep down, I’m perfectly normal. I’m not a pervert at all!”

“Is that so? So, are you going to write Fifty Shades of Grey first, or play those perverted games first?”

“…”

“No words left?” Kate twisted his ear and pressed him down onto the couch. “I saw your manuscript even before you played those games. So, that means you were mentally perverted first, and then you played those games. And now, you even admitted you enjoy it. That clearly means you’ve got a problem.”

“No, no! I only like it a little!”

Luca quickly tried to defend himself.

“‘Only a little’? Well, that still means there’s a problem. Now, I’m going to cure you!” Kate sat on his back, twisted his arm, and pinned him down.

“Kate, Kate! I was wrong, I was really wrong!”

“Too late! Triangle chokehold!!”

Crack!

“Aah! My neck! I was wrong!”

“Endure it, I’m curing you!”

“I’m not sick! Aaaah!”

Bang! Crash! Thud!

Half an hour later, Luca was lying limp on the carpet, his limbs weak and his entire body aching, as if all his bones had been taken apart. Yet… it felt so good!

He lay there dazed, watching as Queen Kate wiped the sweat off, stripped off her tight clothes, and walked into the bathroom. A little while later, she emerged, freshly showered and smelling sweet.

Queen Kate came over with a fruit platter.

“Ugh, beating you up has made me hungry!”

“…”

Luca’s mouth twitched. Was that something a person should say?

“Darling, do you want some?” Kate squatted down, waving a strawberry in front of his face.

Luca opened his mouth.

“Never mind, you’re a pervert now. You shouldn’t be hungry.”

Kate pulled the strawberry back, then lay down on the couch, putting her long legs up on the table, looking very pleased with herself.

Seeing this, Luca quickly got up and began massaging her legs.

“Mmm, not bad!” Kate nodded in satisfaction. “Darling, even though I beat you up, it was for your own good.”

“Yes, yes!” Luca nodded repeatedly.

“In the past, you just slept with women. Now you’re starting to enjoy torturing them. That’s not good. If I don’t save you, you’ll keep getting worse and fall deeper into darkness. As your sister, how could I let that happen?”

“Yes, yes!” Luca nodded again, quickly eating the strawberry Kate handed him.

Kate smiled slightly, patting his cheek. “Good boy. Be more obedient in the future. If something happens, tell me early. The longer you keep it from me, the more painful it’ll be for you. Understand?”

“Understood!”

“Good.”

Kate bit into a watermelon, then suddenly stopped, her eyes flashing with thought.

“Darling, that time in Toronto—who

were you with when you were eating watermelon in the melon field? You haven’t told me what happened that night.”

Luca’s body tensed. If he told her the truth, he was doomed, but he couldn’t lie either. What should he do? He was stuck!

Ding-dong! Ding-dong!

“Miranda’s here. We’ll talk about this later.”

Kate stood up and nudged him with her foot. “Why are you still sitting there? Get out of here! If she sees you like this, she’ll think I’ve been bullying you.”

“But... my whole body hurts, I can’t get up!”

“Really? Do you need help?”

Kate flexed her fists.

“No, no, I’m fine!” Luca scrambled to his feet, wobbling toward the stairs with his aching body.

“Miranda, you’re here! Let’s play a game!”

“Sure! Where’s Luca?”

“Him? Forget about him. Let him stay in his room and write.”

o(╥﹏╥)o

*(End of Chapter)*

*Chapter 300: You Wrote Such an Unorthodox Novel?*

Hearing the laughter coming from downstairs, Luca sighed lightly.

"Time to write."

The issue with Fifty Shades of Grey had been discovered, and he was preparing to revise it.

The original Fifty Shades of Grey was first published on a novel website, using Twilight fan fiction as a selling point to attract attention.

When it was time to publish, the author changed the main characters' names to avoid copyright disputes.

It was the same now—he had planned to make the changes before publishing.

However, the book became so popular that Greenwood Publishing House noticed it and sent him a legal notice.

He had no choice but to revise the book ahead of time.

After logging into the website, he posted an announcement on the homepage: “Due to copyright issues, this book will be unavailable for three days while revisions are made. It will be republished once the changes are complete. Thank you for your understanding!”

He manually blocked Fifty Shades of Grey and began editing.

Beep beep~

Just after blocking the book, over 99 comments appeared instantly on the homepage.

Most of them were from readers asking about the reason for the block, and some even claimed to be lawyers offering help.

More than ten comments were from editors at publishing houses, asking to chat privately.

Luca skimmed through the messages and picked a few to reply to.

Just as he was about to close the comments, a message popped up from Greenwood Publishing, where an editor asked to chat privately about copyright issues, leaving an email address.

Luca glanced at the email—it looked familiar. It seemed like it was Han Li’s email.

He thought for a moment and decided to call Han Li.

"Hey, Luca! Good evening. What's up?" Han Li asked over the phone.

"Yes, Emily. I just saw your message and thought I'd call to discuss."

Luca smiled.

"A message? Did I leave you a message today?"

"Yes, you said you wanted to talk about copyright infringement."

"I did?"

"Alright, I’ll come clean—I’m the original author of Fifty Shades of Grey, Miss Demon!"

"Wait…Luca, are you saying you’re Miss Demon?"

Emily was stunned for a moment.

"Yes, today I received a summons from the Publishing Court. The plaintiff is Greenwood Publishing. I was going to reveal this later, but I guess it’s time to come clean. You guys can drop the lawsuit, and I won’t have to rush the edits."

"Luca, did you really write Fifty Shades of Grey?"

This time, Felix's voice came through, still somewhat in disbelief.

Luca shook his head, reopened the comments, and replied "Yes" under Han Li’s comment.

"You wrote such an unorthodox novel?"

"Is there a problem with that?" Luca asked, a little annoyed.

"No, no! Haha!"

A loud snorting laugh came through the phone.

Luca’s face darkened. "What are you laughing at? Is there anything else? If not, I’m hanging up!"

"Wait!" Felix finally stopped laughing. "Luca, since you're Miss Demon, let’s talk business. How about letting our publishing house handle Fifty Shades of Grey? We can negotiate the terms."

Luca smirked. "Sorry, Felix. Random House already contacted me. They gave me an offer I can’t refuse."

Random House is the world's largest English-language commercial publisher, a subsidiary of the massive media conglomerate Bertelsmann.

"Random? What kind of offer did they give you?"

"18% royalties, plus I retain the film rights."

"Impossible! You’re a new author."

"I’m a celebrity!"

Berlin’s Best Actor, Brazil’s most handsome man, everyone's favorite guy—Luca silently chanted in his head.

"Luca, we’ve worked together for so long, and our collaboration has always been pleasant. Why not continue? An 18% royalty share is outrageous. No publisher would offer that."

"If they did, they’d be a scam. But I guarantee that our terms will be just as good as any other publishing house’s."

"Luca, are you free tomorrow? We can sit down and talk."

Luca rubbed his chin. He hadn’t planned on giving Fifty Shades of Grey to another publisher anyway—it wouldn’t help him keep his identity hidden. But Felix’s snorting laugh had disgusted him.

He declined Felix’s invitation, claiming he was busy tomorrow and didn’t have time for a chat.

But, unexpectedly…

The next morning, as Luca was working out, Felix showed up at his door.

“Haha! Good morning, Luca!”

Felix stood at the entrance, impeccably dressed in a suit.

Luca was speechless.

“Felix, you’re a bit too eager!”

He invited the uninvited guest in and poured him a cup of coffee.

“I have to be! Fifty Shades of Grey is incredible. Many publishers are after this book, but the author has been so mysterious—no one has heard anything back.”

Felix took a sip of coffee and smiled.

Luca chuckled softly. “Didn’t you say the book was unorthodox yesterday?”

“Did I say that?” Felix shook his head. “Impossible! Fifty Shades of Grey is a serious literary work. Its depth is comparable to The Lady of the Camellias. Anyone who says otherwise is a heretic.”

As he spoke, Felix opened his briefcase and pulled out a folder.

“Luca, I came with the utmost sincerity today. Look over the terms I’ve proposed, and if there’s anything you’re not satisfied with, feel free to let me know.”

“You drafted a contract overnight?” Luca asked in surprise.

“Yes, after learning you’re ‘Miss Demon,’ I was so excited that I didn’t sleep. I stayed up all night drafting this contract,” Felix said with a tired but proud smile.

Luca shook his head. A millionaire who worked this hard—truly impressive.

He opened the contract and glanced over it. 16% royalties for the author.

In the publishing world, royalties for new authors typically range from 5% to 10%. For well-known authors, it’s above 10%. Felix offering 16% was nearly the best possible deal.

"Luca, you mentioned film rights yesterday—I’ve included those for you. If there’s anything else you want, just say the word."

Felix sat upright as he spoke.

Luca nodded and continued reading the other terms.

After a while, he slowly began to speak.

“Felix, this contract is sincere, but I have one condition. Before publishing, we need to sign a confidentiality agreement. Only my pen name will be used. My identity must not be revealed.”

“Only your pen name?” Felix frowned.

The reason he was offering such a large royalty was due to Luca’s fame. The book was engaging, Luca was a public figure, and the novel was controversial.

Once the book hit the shelves, a simple promotion—"Based on the real-life experiences of Luca Kelly"—would cause a sensation.

But if Luca’s identity wasn’t revealed, the publishing house would have to invest extra in marketing.

“Luca, aside from some of the erotic content, Fifty Shades of Grey is essentially a serious urban love story. Many modern romance novels include erotic elements. You don’t have to worry too much about this.

“If the novel sells well, you’ll become a famous author—it’ll benefit your personal brand, too.”

Felix tried to convince him.

Luca shook his head. "Felix, I’m a public figure, and I’m a man. If people found out I wrote Fifty Shades of Grey, it would lead to a lot of unnecessary misunderstandings and trouble.

“So, during promotion, my identity must remain hidden. You can’t use my name for marketing. If you disagree, we’ll have to pause the deal.”

Luca put down the contract.

Felix hesitated for a moment. “If we only use your pen name, the royalty percentage must be adjusted. Would you be okay with that?”

“That’s fine.”

“Alright then.”

Felix nodded.

Without Luca’s fame to boost sales, the novel’s short-term success wouldn’t be as explosive. However, the quality of Fifty Shades of Grey was solid, and securing the publishing rights would still be a win for the publisher.

The two continued negotiating the royalty share.

Half an hour later, Felix left, satisfied.

Luca exhaled and resumed his workout.

“Ugh… did we have guests?”

Kate yawned as she walked downstairs, her long blonde hair flowing freely. She was only wearing a silky cream-colored slip dress that highlighted her long, fair legs and stunning figure.

"Yeah, Felix came by."

Luca filled her in on the Fifty Shades of Grey publishing deal.

Kate nodded, then suddenly narrowed her blue eyes at him. "Someone was peeking into my bedroom last night. Was that you?"

"Uh... no, not me!"

"Not you?"

Kate’s icy expression betrayed a flash of anger.

“…Okay, it was me!"

Luca admitted in defeat.

"Hmph! If you're going to look, do it boldly. Why sneak around? You're nothing like my perverted brother!"

Kate pinched his cheek, wearing a teasing smile as she walked into the kitchen.

"Look boldly?"

Luca shook his head. Looking boldly would get him killed faster. He wasn’t going to fall for that.

He headed into the gym and continued lifting weights.

After more than a year of consistent training, his physique had become more and more perfect, with his muscles looking better and better.

Every muscle was firm, full, and resilient—hard as iron, yet brimming with power.

"I can take on ten people!"

Luca struck a bodybuilding pose in front of the floor-length mirror.

He was very satisfied with the changes in his body. Nothing felt more fulfilling than growing stronger.

He decided to keep at it—having a strong body made him more resistant to beatings!

One, two, three, four... Huff, puff~

After breakfast that morning, Kate and Miranda went to work, while Luca spent some time editing Fifty Shades of Grey before driving to the recording studio at JIVE Records.

Britney was recording there today, and he planned to stop by and check things out.

(End of chapter)