Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.
All eyes focused on Lucas, and Eve and Edgar's eyes lit up.
Clearly, Lucas' idea was quite good.
However, Edgar was still a bit worried about Anson's opinion and remained silent.
Eve, on the other hand, had no such concerns. "I think this is feasible."
The atmosphere in the room grew slightly tense.
Lucas noticed Anson's gaze.
Anson didn't want Lucas to get too involved, and neither did the Woods. They had their own lives, and once exposed under the Hollywood spotlight, their world could be turned upside down.
But Lucas' gaze was firm—this time was different. He couldn't just stand by.
Anson sighed in mild frustration.
He knew that even if he objected, Lucas would still persist.
Nonetheless, Anson needed to try. "Luke, even if you don't get involved, we still have backup, right? Eve?"
Eve glanced between the Wood brothers. Even though Anson's gaze was sharp, Lucas' stare could pierce through anything—
Jesus Christ, did they even know how thick her skin was? If Lucas' stare could break through it, it must be extremely sharp.
In a flash, Eve decided on her strategy. "Yes, we have backup."
"But," Eve turned her gaze to Anson, shifting the conversation, "we've done everything we can, but I can't guarantee the outcome. Remember what you said? You can't ask James and Kristen to risk their careers for you, and the same goes for the other actors."
"So, we can only guide things, but nothing is certain. We don't know how things will develop."
"Otherwise, Anson, how about this? You let me convince James and Kristen to publicly support you, and then we won't need to..."
Bother Lucas.
The rest of her sentence was swallowed naturally, as Eve looked at Anson with a sweet, innocent expression.
Anson glanced at her, "Eve, if Lucas is threatening you, just say something."
Eve: "…Meow?"
They exchanged glances, especially with Eve's eyes darting around, her expression amusing.
It was obvious Eve was using this moment to subtly push back against Anson.
Clearly, Eve and Anson had different opinions.
Lucas, calm and composed, looked at Anson: "See?"
Anson couldn't hold back and closed his eyes, thinking deeply for a moment. When he reopened them, he looked at Lucas, still unwilling to accept the situation.
Although Anson knew that if the paparazzi were interested, exposing his family wouldn't be difficult; in Hollywood, there's an unspoken rule to try and separate the lives of artists from their families.
Yet now, Lucas was voluntarily stepping into the spotlight, and the aftermath was unpredictable.
Anson made one last attempt. "Luke, you showing up like this might scare the kids."
Lucas didn't budge. "That's exactly the effect we're going for."
Anson sighed. "Is there anything I can do to stop you?"
Lucas: "Rest well, focus on your rehab, and play Spider-Man perfectly."
Anson was speechless and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Lucas nodded slightly. "Good boy, listen up."
Anson lay back on the hospital bed, pretending to be a dead fish, looking utterly defeated.
Meanwhile, Edgar was barely holding in his laughter, and Eve gave up any pretense, laughing wildly until her face muscles stiffened.
...
550 Madison Avenue was packed with people.
A cacophony of noise.
In fact, a small group of people had already started leaving.
After Sony Columbia's statement, some decided to believe it over conspiracy theories. They had come to protest because they thought Sony had mistreated Anson, but now that the misunderstanding seemed cleared up, they saw no reason to stay.
A group of fans tried their best to convince them otherwise, but they couldn't stop them. They watched as people trickled away, three or four at a time.
Like a sandcastle, it was inevitable.
Even so, the majority of the fans remained, and the crowd was still considerable. However, there was no denying that about a third of the crowd had dispersed.
Maybe not that many, perhaps just a fifth or a quarter; but visually, the gaps and spaces in the crowd gave the impression that the loss was far more severe than it actually was.
The atmosphere was still lively, but there was now an undercurrent of unease.
It seemed that Sony Columbia's official statement had indeed had an effect, and the situation was gradually shifting back in their favor.
But then, without much delay, the situation took another turn.
A man entered the scene. He didn't speak to anyone or make any moves. He simply joined the crowd and looked up at the Sony Columbia building.
Dressed entirely in black—a black hoodie, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black baseball cap—his figure stood out. His long legs, broad shoulders, and well-proportioned body easily caught attention.
Within three to five minutes, whispers began to spread, and soon someone recognized him—
Lucas Wood. Anson's brother.
He had made a name for himself after his firm response at the hospital entrance, a story that spread like wildfire among the fan base.
Now, many knew that Anson had a handsome brother; and this low-key figure had finally stepped into the public eye.
Here he was again, standing before them.
After a brief flurry of excitement and confusion, speculation began to ripple through the crowd.
Lucas was right in front of them, so why not just ask him directly? But Lucas' cold, distant demeanor kept people at bay. No one dared to approach him, afraid they'd get caught in a storm, so they stayed back, watching and whispering.
Eventually, some brave fans cautiously approached, asking him questions.
Lucas remained aloof, responding with a question of his own, "You're here to support Anson, right?"
After receiving an affirmative response, Lucas turned away, not answering any more questions. Despite repeated attempts, this iceberg of a man remained unmoved.
The group of girls, frustrated by his coldness, turned and left.
Rumors began to swirl through the whispers until it became clear: they didn't need answers. Lucas' actions spoke louder than words—
He supported Anson.
It was obvious that Lucas wasn't satisfied with Sony Columbia's response; their seemingly perfect statement had dodged the real issues. Clearly, Sony was trying to deflect the focus, and Lucas' presence here was his form of protest.
As the rumors spread, the crowd grew restless again.
Earlier, the atmosphere had felt uncertain, uneasy, as if the gathering could collapse at any moment. With people leaving, those who stayed began to wonder if they should too.
Was it worth it?
But now, with Lucas' appearance, their spirits were steadied once again.