ch 21 - 25

*Chapter 21: Kate and Bündchen*

"Chop, chop~"

After Ed left the hospital room, Kate frowned and paced back and forth, cursing that despicable John, the unethical newspapers, and the enemies hiding behind the scenes.

Luca shook his head and shouted, “Kate!”

“What’s wrong?”

Kate turned around, confused.

“Kate, you need to calm down,” Luca said slowly. “This isn’t as bad as you think. At worst, I won’t be able to model anymore, but acting is my main career. Modeling is just a side gig. Losing it isn’t really a big deal.”

“But...”

“No buts.”

Luca cut her off firmly.

Kate was too emotional to think clearly now.

Luca didn’t have major aspirations in the fashion world, and his expectations for his modeling career were low. Because of that, he could easily step back and see the bigger picture. From that perspective, it was just a minor setback, one he could handle.

He pulled Kate down to sit by the bed, speaking gently. “Kate, you’ve got your own work. You don’t need to waste too much time and energy on my issues. I’m already twenty; I can handle things on my own. Now you and Lima should get back to your jobs.”

Kate frowned, thinking about the car accident Luca had gone through, the one that ended his athletic career. Compared to that, this really wasn’t much.

“Oh, my poor Luca. Why is your fate so tough?”

She hugged Luca tightly, trying to comfort him with her warmth.

“No, Kate, I feel lucky because I have an angelic sister,” Luca said with a smile.

Kate laughed, glancing at Lima. “Luca, you don’t just have an angelic sister; you’ve got an angelic girlfriend, too.”

“True!” Luca held both of their hands and said, “Thank you, my two angels, for always being with me!”

Lima smiled gently. “Luca, with two angels by your side, why do you still have such bad luck?”

Luca shrugged. “I guess God’s jealous of me and messing with me.”

“Luca, don’t joke about God.”

The two devout women scolded him in unison.

“Alright, alright,” Luca said, grabbing a thick book from the bedside table. “Go on, angels, get back to work before God, that cranky old man, gets more jealous of me.”

“You faithless guy!” Kate tapped his forehead before grabbing her handbag and saying, “Come on, Lima, we’re supermodels. We have important work to do. Let’s not waste time with this little male model. He’s not worth it.”

“Haha, Luca, get better soon. I’m waiting for our date,” Lima said, hugging him.

“Lima, I won’t keep you waiting long,” Luca replied, waving gently as he watched the two angels leave.

Sunlight streamed onto the bed. The sky-blue curtains swayed in the wind, and a white tulip on the windowsill filled the room with its delicate fragrance. With a rustle, the thick encyclopedia turned to the next page.

“Katie, Luca has changed a lot,” Lima said as they walked down the hospital corridor, shoulder to shoulder. Both women were tall and fashionable, drawing many admiring gazes as they passed, but they were used to it and didn’t pay any attention.

“Yes, he has. He’s become so brave, strong, optimistic, and positive. Nothing seems to break him now. This version of Luca is really cool. He’s definitely my little brother,” Kate said, stepping lightly in her white shoes, her mood visibly lifting.

“Katie, praising your own brother like that—isn’t that a bit immodest?” Lima teased.

Kate gave her a sideways glance. “Aren’t I also praising your boyfriend?”

“Oh, my dear Kate, thank you for the compliment!” Lima replied, playfully winking.

“Hmph, you little charmer!” Kate smacked Lima’s hip, surprised by the firm bounce. She suddenly thought Luca was right to be concerned. He definitely couldn’t handle any intense physical activity.

With a chuckle, Lima got into her Maserati sports car and left the hospital.

Kate took out her phone and answered a call.

“Nina, you’re at Studio 3 in the Paul Building? I’ll be there soon!”

She quickly started her Ferrari and headed toward the ad studio in the heart of Manhattan.

Luca was right—she was a model, and she needed to focus on her work.

There were only so many opportunities in the fashion world, and the competition was fierce. Every season, new faces emerged—new top models and supermodels.

If a model couldn’t keep up, they’d be discarded like a used toothpick. Supermodels were no exception.

The new year had arrived, and so had the winter fashion weeks in January and February. It was a busy time, and she had to stay busy too, or risk being forgotten.

Before long, her car arrived at Times Square.

The square was bustling with people. The noise was like the sizzling of oil in a pan, and walking through the crowd, the chances of bumping into someone were nearly 100%.

Around the square, the billboards flashed with brilliant lights.

This was the most cutthroat battlefield in the fashion world.

Whoever could land more billboards was the number one in fashion.

Right now, those billboards were playing fashion ads featuring various celebrities and supermodels.

Julia Roberts’ Cartier jewelry ad.

Jennifer Aniston’s Tiffany bag ad.

Lima’s Victoria’s Secret lingerie ad.

Kate’s Chanel No. 5 perfume ad.

But the most prominent model was Gisele Bündchen. She had taken over three billboards.

Kate threw a sharp middle finger at one of them, a Dior lipstick ad.

That Dior campaign had been hers. But after she broke up with Leonardo, Dior had handed the contract to Bündchen.

Bündchen’s status had risen again, making her one of the highest-paid models in the industry. Not only had she become the top model in the Brazilian modeling group, but she had also taken the number one spot at Kate’s modeling agency, IMG Models.

Kate raised her eyebrows, tossed her golden hair, and strode into the Paul Building with determination.

“Hi, Kate!”

As soon as she entered the studio area, she ran into the last person she wanted to see—Gisele Bündchen.

Wrapped in a fur coat, Gisele habitually raised her chin, swaying her hips as she exited the studio. She was followed by a large entourage: her agent, three assistants, brand representatives, a photographer, a makeup artist, and more.

By comparison, Kate felt a bit outnumbered.

“Hi, Gisele!” Kate waved her fingers in greeting, adding an extra flick of her middle finger for good measure. She greeted her coolly.

Though the two were rivals, they still kept up appearances as friendly colleagues from the same hometown.

“Kate, I heard you landed the new Lanvin Oxygen perfume campaign. Congrats!” Gisele said, walking up with a friendly tone.

Kate cursed inwardly.

Oxygen perfume was the worst of the campaigns she had recently booked, a tier below brands like Dior and Chanel, the elite "blue-blood" contracts.

In the supermodel world, top models only accepted high-end endorsements, exclusive runway shows, and invitations to VIP parties. The higher the profile of the job, the higher their value.

Accepting a mid-tier contract was like a Hollywood star wearing a cheap, off-the-rack dress to a red-carpet event—totally embarrassing.

Gisele’s words might have sounded like praise, but they were really a dig at Kate for being desperate enough to take whatever job came her way.

Sure enough, the smirks on the faces of Gisele’s agent and assistants showed their disdain.

Kate bit her lip, wanting to lash out, but Gisele’s position was just too strong, with top-tier contracts across the board—nothing she could criticize.

“Gisele, I heard you’re dating Leo now. Congrats!” Kate shot back.

“Thanks!” Gisele replied with a slightly stiff smile.

She and Leo had agreed to start dating publicly after he and Kate had broken up amicably. But Luca’s unexpected interference had turned everything upside down.

Now, because of Luca’s public outburst, she was seen as the third party, the one who had stolen her friend’s boyfriend. Leo, in turn, was criticized for being unfaithful.

All thanks to that wretched Luca.

Gisele smirked, her lips curling up, “Kate, I heard Luca’s career is taking off. He’s on his way to becoming a top model, right? Congrats again!”

Kate raised an eyebrow. Why was this witch bringing up Luca? Had she seen today’s news? Or worse, was she behind it?

This witch!

Kate pressed down on her heel, resisting the urge to stomp a three-inch-deep hole into Gisele’s face.

“Kate, your photographer’s ready,” Nina said, arriving with two new assistants. The group was starting to clog up the hallway outside the studio.

“Gisele, thanks for asking about Luca. I’m sure he won’t disappoint you,” Kate said, flashing a brilliant smile before following Nina into the studio.

“Nina, did you see today’s New York Post? Do you think Gisele was behind those stories?” Kate asked as she got her makeup done.

Nina shook her head. Kate was great in so many ways, but when it came to Luca, she always lost her cool. Anytime it involved him, she’d get flustered.

“Kate, Luca’s situation is what it is. No matter what you do, you can’t undo

 the damage from the negative press. Right now, you should focus on your work,” Nina advised, waving a hand for the assistants to help Kate change her clothes and shoes.

Kate frowned at her reflection in the mirror.

Was it really hopeless?

No!

There was still a way.

As long as Ed got hold of the security footage that showed Luca saving that person, there was still a chance to turn things around. What was happening with Ed right now?

(End of chapter)

Chapter 22: Admit Mistakes and Stand Your Ground

Unfortunately, Kate’s hopes were about to be dashed.

After leaving the hospital, Ed first made a trip to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in New York’s West Side to check the surveillance footage from Lincoln Center’s streets.

Sadly, the department head told him that the cameras on that street had been damaged a long time ago, and due to lack of funding, they hadn't been replaced. The department was sorry for the inconvenience.

"Fuck~"

Ed cursed the transportation official’s mother under his breath and left the office, frustrated.

Without any surveillance video, there were no witnesses from that day other than Lima and Kate. Finding anyone else was nearly impossible.

But what use was it if only Lima and Kate testified that Luca had saved someone?

This was a tricky situation! Ed sighed, got into his car, and headed back to Ford Models, hoping to leverage the company’s connections to solve this crisis.

Luca had great potential, and Ed wasn’t ready to give up on him just yet.

Ford Models was near Fifth Avenue, only a few hundred meters from the Empire State Building.

Currently, the company’s general manager and chief agent was Katie Ford, the youngest daughter of the company’s founder, Eileen Ford. Katie was a highly professional woman, sometimes stern in her demeanor.

Ed adjusted his suit in front of the mirror and knocked on the chief agent’s office door.

“Come in!”

Ed opened the door and walked inside.

“Ed, what have you been up to lately? Haven’t seen you come by to report in a while.”

Katie Ford, in her fifties, wore silver-framed glasses and looked up from a pile of documents.

Ed was an old-timer at the company and was relatively familiar with the general manager. He shrugged, “I’ve found a very promising new talent.”

“Oh? It wouldn’t happen to be Luca, would it?”

Katie pulled out a newspaper and tossed it onto the table.

Ed glanced at it and silently cursed, “Shit~.”

Katie was usually too busy to read anything other than The New York Times or the latest fashion magazines. She never paid attention to smaller tabloids like The New Yorker, so how had this one landed on her desk today?

“Andrew brought it over. He thought I should take a look.”

Katie said directly.

Ed’s face darkened even more. Andrew Fagan was his longtime rival.

They had been friends when they were younger and had both fallen for the same woman, Nina.

In the end, Ed, being African-American, won Nina Syst over and married her, which caused their friendship to sour, turning them into enemies.

At work, Andrew frequently set traps and competed for resources. In his personal life, Andrew would go out of his way to inform Nina whenever Ed got close to any women at the company.

What a jerk!

Ed helplessly shrugged, “Katie, it’s not what it looks like. Luca isn’t using. His back injury flared up.”

He sat down across from Katie’s desk and began to recount Luca’s history—how he had been a former Brazilian national soccer player, a genius on the field, before a car accident derailed his career and led him into a two-year slump.

Ed sighed at Luca’s misfortunes, then explained the Armani fashion show, Luca’s dedication, how he saved someone before the show began, and how, despite the pain, he delivered a stunning performance that impressed the likes of Frank Martin.

Katie listened quietly, hands folded. Once Ed finished, she said, “So, our hero has been misunderstood?”

“Yes!”

Ed breathed a sigh of relief. “Luca saved someone, which aggravated his old spinal injury. That’s why he was in so much pain and had to be taken to the hospital. He wasn’t using drugs.”

“Then why did you come to me?”

Katie took off her glasses and wiped them. “The newspaper got it wrong. You could take them to court. Do you need me to recommend some good lawyers?”

Ed shook his head. “Katie, suing a newspaper takes too long. That’s not the priority right now. Armani is in the process of selecting models for their upcoming campaign. Joseph Frank was really impressed with Luca and even called me. But because of this false report, Mr. Frank has started doubting Luca.”

“You want me to call Joseph and explain?”

“Katie, this is a huge opportunity. It’d be a shame to miss it.”

Ed flashed a toothy grin, trying to charm her.

Katie chuckled, “It won’t help, Ed. So what if Luca saved someone? As far as public opinion is concerned, he’s a problematic model. Armani has plenty of options. Why would they choose someone with a potential issue?”

Ed frowned. Katie was right. Armani, an international brand, had no shortage of models—especially male ones.

In the fashion world, male models were the lowest rung, the cheapest, and faced the toughest competition. Movie stars, athletes, or even just a handsome guy could land a modeling gig. Armani wasn’t going to wait for a new model to clear his name.

Katie shook her head and picked up the phone.

“Katie, what are you…”

“Hello, Joseph? It’s Katie.”

Katie got through to Joseph Frank and explained the situation with Luca.

Just as she predicted, Joseph was sympathetic to Luca’s circumstances but wasn’t willing to risk giving him the campaign. He politely expressed interest in working with Luca in the future, should the opportunity arise.

Katie hung up the phone. “Ed, do you know what the real problem is?” Without waiting for Ed to answer, she softly said, “It’s not Luca, it’s not the newspaper—it’s you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You’re Luca’s agent. All this hype around him was your doing. Don’t you think you rushed things?”

Ed paused, then suddenly understood. It was indeed his mistake.

After Luca’s stunning performance at the fashion show, the fashion world had taken notice.

He and Kate had quickly launched a PR campaign, hoping to use the opportunity to turn Luca into a star model.

But the fashion industry was full of competition and limited resources. The rise of a new star inevitably encroached on others' territory, causing tensions.

Someone, perhaps a competitor, had likely spread the false rumors in the tabloids, aiming to tarnish Luca’s reputation before he could gain traction. By the time the truth came out, Luca would have already been forgotten.

“Katie, you’re right. I was too impatient.”

Ed acknowledged his mistake sincerely.

Katie smiled, lit a Lady’s cigarette, and asked, “Ed, I heard you were planning to get your new talent into the entertainment industry. Was it Luca?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are you investing so much into fashion if you’ve chosen the entertainment path?”

“I…”

Ed realized he had been short-sighted.

After seeing Luca’s impressive performance on the runway, he had instinctively fallen back into his old habits of creating hype, like when he had groomed top models in the past. But even if Luca became a top model, what good would that do?

In Hollywood, a top model was just another extra with good looks.

Male models had low status; their fame rarely extended beyond the fashion world. Hollywood even held a certain disdain for male models.

So, using the strategy of becoming a famous model first before transitioning to acting didn’t make sense.

“I only planned to make some quick money with Luca on the side. I didn’t expect things to get so complicated.”

Ed sighed and scratched his head.

Katie chuckled, took another puff from her cigarette, and pulled a business card out of her drawer.

“A producer gave me this at the company’s last cocktail party. Their crew might need a handsome guy. Give it a try.”

“Katie, thank you!”

Katie waved it off and resumed her cigarette.

“Goodbye, Katie!”

Ed pocketed the card and left the office.

“Hey, Ed! I heard Mr. Frank was impressed with your new talent, and he’s about to become the face of Armani’s new collection, isn’t he?”

As soon as Ed stepped out, he ran into his "old friend" Andrew—a short, chubby man in his forties who always wore a suit and tie, looking like a gentleman but, in reality, was far from it.

Ed ignored him and strode toward his office.

“Don’t walk away, Ed.”

Andrew hurriedly followed with his short legs, calling after him.

“Ed, I heard you used a lot of resources to promote this new talent. You must be making a fortune this time, huh? Nina’s pulling in two or three grand a month. Your income must have surpassed hers by now, right? Haha! Ed, now that you’re back in the game as a top agent, when will you take me out for drinks?”

Bam!

Ed entered his office and slammed the door.

Andrew rubbed his nose, startled.

“Ha! Ed, your model is finished. No brand will touch him now. All those resources you invested? Down the drain. I bet you’re feeling pretty disappointed, huh?”

“Get lost!!”

“Hahaha~”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 23: The Little Girl and the Handsome Guy*

"The little girl was as pretty as a picture, truly loved by everyone who saw her. She was radiant and beautiful. Her skin was as white and smooth as snow, with a rosy glow like blood beneath it. Her hair was as golden as the sun. The Queen gave her a lovely name, calling her Snow White."

On the sunny lawn of Mount Sinai Hospital, Luca sat in his wheelchair, gently reading aloud from a fairytale book.

A wool blanket was spread on the grass next to him, scattered with fruits—apples, bananas, cookies—and plush toys: a brown teddy bear and a blue reindeer.

In the middle of the plush toys lay a little girl, about ten years old, with copper-colored hair, sapphire blue eyes, and a few playful freckles dotting her pale cheeks.

Her name was Eve Hester, the precious daughter of Nina and Ed.

Luca had met the little girl before, but back then, he was a troubled kid, and Ms. Nina didn’t allow him to interact with Eve.

Now, he was better—looking good, even.

Whenever Nina and Ed came to the hospital, they often brought Eve along.

Today was the weekend, and the little girl was back.

“Wow~ Snow White again,” Eve said with a hint of discontent, patting the teddy bear. "Luca, I’m ten years old now, not a little kid. I don’t want to hear Snow White anymore.”

Luca put down the book and smiled. “What do you want to hear then?”

“Emmm~”

Eve pressed her hands against her cheeks, thinking hard for a while. “How about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone?”

“That story’s not in this book.”

“Well, I still don’t want to hear Snow White. She’s silly and not cute at all.” Eve waved her hand dismissively, her eyebrows scrunching up like two little worms, and even her freckles seemed to express annoyance.

Luca chuckled softly and suggested, “Eve, how about I tell you a vampire story?”

“Vampires?”

The little girl’s eyes lit up as she gestured, asking, “Like bats with fangs?”

“No, the vampires in my story are beautiful girls like you, and handsome guys too.”

“Well, alright then, hurry up and start!”

Eve lay back on the blanket, her blue eyes sparkling like diamonds, filled with excitement.

“Eve, this story takes place in a small town called Forks, in the northwestern part of Washington State. The town is nestled in the Olympic Mountains, and it’s shrouded in mist all year round. The amount of rain they get is unbelievable.”

“Is there really a town like that? No sun all year? Won’t their hair get moldy?” the little girl asked curiously, wrinkling her pale eyebrows.

“Of course, Eve. The world is a vast and mysterious place, full of wonders we can’t always perceive. But just because we can’t see something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Vampires, for example, can’t be in the sun, so they live in places constantly covered in mist. Vampires are like wizards—they have magic, so no need to worry about moldy hair.”

“Oh, magic! Like Harry Potter?”

“Yes, vampires are all like superheroes with magical powers.”

“Wow~ sounds interesting! Go on, Luca!”

Eve wiggled her little feet as she lay comfortably on the blanket, ready for the story.

Luca smiled and continued reading, “I escaped from that town when I was just a few months old. I was forced to go there every summer for a month until I turned fourteen. That year, I finally made it clear that I didn’t want to go, and a few months later, my father, Charlie, took me to California for a two-week vacation instead.”

Luca read the opening lines from Twilight.

In the past, when analyzing the movie, he had read the original Twilight novel. Now, after his rebirth, he had a sharp memory.

He roughly copied Twilight, making some changes. The original author, a very imaginative housewife, described the male vampire in overly detailed and dreamy language—his "radiant chest," "silky smooth skin," "angelic face," and so on, all very much a female fantasy.

Of course, he didn’t copy it word for word.

If a male writer used that kind of language, he’d be seen as strange.

He made the style more masculine and added some action scenes, drawing inspiration from Underworld, Van Helsing, and The Vampire Diaries, mixing in classic scenes from those stories.

Whether the rewritten novel would sell well, he didn’t know, but he was staking his claim on it first.

“Edward was extraordinary. After hunting, his skin gleamed with a crimson glow, as if thousands of tiny rubies were embedded within it,” Luca read.

“Luca?”

Someone called out to him from a nearby path. Luca shielded his eyes from the sun and glanced over to see a handsome guy standing there.

“Wow~ it’s Leonardo!” Eve shouted excitedly.

“Hey, Leon!” Luca waved.

“Luca, it really is you!”

Leonardo said something to the person next to him, then strolled casually onto the lawn, hands in his pockets.

As soon as Eve saw him, she jumped up from the blanket, tidied her messy red hair, and straightened her white princess dress. She held the corners of her skirt like a proper little lady.

“Eve, do you like Leon? You can ask him for an autograph,” Luca said, handing her a pen and the storybook.

“Oh, that’s awesome!” The little girl eagerly took them.

Luca smiled and watched as Leonardo approached.

Recently, Leonardo’s movie Catch Me If You Can, co-starring Tom Hanks, had been released in North America. In two weeks, it had grossed over $75.7 million, and global box office projections were set to break $300 million.

With another hit movie, Leonardo had become one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars.

“Luca, I heard you’re a hero now?” Leonardo glanced at his wheelchair, teasing with a grin.

Luca smiled wryly. A few days ago, The New Yorker had published a smear piece about him. Ed had fought back, reporting on how Luca had saved someone in the street, but without surveillance footage or witnesses, few believed the story. Yesterday, another paper accused him of seeking fame.

Leonardo was clearly poking fun.

Luca shrugged it off with a smile. “Congrats on your movie topping the box office again.”

“Uh, thanks!”

Leonardo was momentarily stunned. He had expected Luca to be jealous and bitter, but Luca’s calm and friendly tone, without a hint of envy, surprised him.

“Hi~ Leon, I’m Eve. Can I get your autograph?” Eve asked, her eyes sparkling.

“Haha, of course!”

Leonardo squatted down and signed his name inside the cover, adding a little message.

“Thanks, Leon!” Eve’s face flushed with excitement.

Luca chuckled. Leonardo certainly knew how to charm.

“Leon, tell me, how did you become such a heartthrob?”

Leonardo raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Luca, you’ll never learn my methods.”

With that, he waved to Eve and left the lawn as swiftly as he had arrived, seemingly forgetting his original purpose or simply not caring anymore.

“Leonardo is so cool!” Eve exclaimed, watching him leave.

“Eve, who’s cooler—me or Leon?”

“Leon, obviously,” she replied without hesitation.

“Eve, good kids don’t lie.” Luca waved his notebook teasingly.

Eve pouted, her eyebrows scrunching again like little worms. “Fine, Luca, you’re cooler.”

“Haha, Eve, you’re such an honest kid.”

“Luca, don’t be so smug! Get back to the story!”

“Alright, alright. The vampire adventure continues. Edward stretched out his hand, and with a deafening crack, he effortlessly tore a two-foot-thick branch from the spruce tree…”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 24: Why Not Keep Going?*

“Luca, was Eve on her best behavior today?”

Around 4 p.m., Ed walked into the hospital room and smiled when he saw Eve peacefully napping.

Sitting at the desk, Luca put down his pen, flexed his stiff wrist, and replied with a smile, “Ed, Eve was great today. We had a wonderful time.”

“Haha, she’s not always such a good girl,” Ed said, gently stroking her hair with affection.

“Dad, I heard you talking about me!”

Suddenly, Eve opened her eyes and stared directly at Ed with her bright, sky-blue eyes, pure and clear, making him feel a little guilty.

“Haha, Eve, Dad was wrong. You’re the sweetest and most beautiful girl in the world.”

“Hmph, that’s more like it!”

Eve raised her delicate chin, looking proud.

Ed laughed heartily, “Time to get up, Eve. We’re heading home.”

“No, I want to stay here and listen to Luca tell vampire stories,” Eve replied stubbornly. She had been listening to stories all morning and was totally absorbed. She had even dreamed of a group of handsome vampires and wasn’t ready to leave before finishing the story.

“Vampires?” Ed asked curiously, looking at Luca. “Are you writing a novel?”

Luca chuckled. “After watching a few vampire movies with Kate last time, I got some inspiration and started writing a little something.” He then turned to Eve. “The story isn’t finished yet. Next weekend, I’ll be out of the hospital, and you can come to my place to hear the rest.”

“Emmm~ fine!” Eve blinked obediently and pulled the blanket back over herself, deciding to nap a bit longer.

Ed smiled, taking a newspaper out of his bag.

“Luca, it seems like someone’s targeting you, bringing up your past.”

“Oh?”

Luca took the newspaper and looked at it.

Since The New Yorker ran a big story two days ago about a model overdosing, Luca’s reputation in the modeling world had skyrocketed—but for all the wrong reasons. Today’s paper continued to drag him through the mud.

This time, they weren’t making things up but stating facts.

In the entertainment section, The New Yorker claimed that while assisting Kate, Luca often harassed other female models. Several retired models testified, and two women in the escort business said he didn’t pay after sleeping with them.

Luca’s face burned with embarrassment. Those two women were likely from the night of the Victoria’s Secret show—he had left in a rush and really hadn’t paid them.

Fuck~ 

This report was even more brutal than the last.

It was like nailing the coffin shut.

Staying in the fashion industry was now impossible, and this might even ruin his chances in entertainment.

“Ed, with things like this, I might need to leave the industry. You should probably find another artist.” Luca said softly.

Since signing the contract, Ed hadn’t made any money and had lost a lot in resources and time. With this scandal, Luca’s career seemed over, and he didn’t want to hold Ed back anymore.

Ed shook his head. “Luca, this is partly my fault. I pushed too hard and made enemies.”

“No, Ed, it’s not your fault. You’ve been a great manager. It’s my own issues—my health, my reckless past…” Luca cursed inwardly. Damn, am I destined to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair? 

“Luca!”

Ed walked over and gently patted him on the shoulder. “Luca, are you really ready to quit like this?”

“What else can I do? Things aren’t looking good for me.”

“No, the fashion world and the entertainment world are different. This scandal won’t affect your entertainment career. As long as you don’t give up and still want to become a star, we still have a chance.”

Ed said firmly.

“Go, Dad! Go, Luca!”

Suddenly, little Eve raised her small fist from the bed.

“Haha, Luca, Eve’s cheering for us,” Ed said, patting his shoulder with a smile.

Luca smiled softly. Even though the road ahead seemed difficult, with people rooting for him, why not keep going? Who knows, maybe a miracle could happen.

“Alright, Ed. Let’s give it one more shot,” he said, smiling at Eve. “Thank you, Eve. We’ll do our best.”

“Yay, Luca! You’ll definitely become a big star!”

Eve giggled happily.

A big star? 

Can a foreign actor with a tarnished reputation really become a big star?

Luca shook his head.

Ring ring~ 

Suddenly, Ed’s phone rang.

Ed answered and after listening for a few moments, his body stiffened, and his face flushed red with excitement. “Really? Are you serious? Okay, I’ll check right now!”

“Ed, what’s going on?”

Luca asked curiously.

“Dad, what’s wrong? Your face is red,” Eve asked, sitting up in bed with wide eyes.

“Wait, let me turn on the TV,” Ed said, his hands shaking as he fumbled with the remote. He quickly switched to the CBS news channel.

A social investigative show was airing.

Host Charlie Rose’s deep voice narrated, “He was 90 meters from the scene. From starting to the point of impact, the entire process took less than seven seconds. Experts have calculated that the speed reached 41.25 km/h, faster than Olympic sprint champion Maurice Greene. It’s a miracle. Let’s watch the replay…”

The camera cut to a busy street where a female reporter was interviewing a passerby about New York’s traffic issues.

In recent years, New York’s growing population had put immense pressure on the city’s transportation system, with cracked roads, missing signs, and broken traffic cameras becoming more common.

The report was filmed near Lincoln Center, one of the busiest areas in the city.

But even in the footage, it was clear the streets were in poor condition.

“Ugh, Dad, I hate watching the news,” Eve yawned, rubbing her eyes with tiny fists.

“Eve, hold on…”

“Help~! Somebody help me~!”

Just as Ed was about to explain, a shout rang out from the TV.

Luca’s eyes widened—he recognized that voice. It was the same woman from the street in front of Lincoln Center.

“Quick, go check!”

The female reporter shouted, and the cameraman rushed forward, capturing footage of a baby stroller speeding downhill as an Asian woman lay on the ground.

Honk honk! 

A bus was speeding down the street. The bus and the stroller were on a collision course.

“Oh God, someone save that baby!”

The reporter exclaimed.

But no one was close enough to help.

Just as the audience thought tragedy was inevitable, a gray figure dashed into view, sprinting toward the stroller.

“Oh my God, is he trying to save the baby? It’s impossible! He’s not Superman; he can’t do it,” the reporter doubted.

“No, get back! You fool, the bus is coming!”

In the shot, the bus, the stroller, and the running figure were about to collide.

The reporter screamed.

Among the three, the bus couldn’t see the stroller, and the stroller couldn’t stop itself. Only the person running toward them could retreat—but he didn’t.

“Is he suicidal?”

Boom! 

The three collided.

The stroller was smashed, debris flying everywhere, and the figure was thrown into the air.

“Oh my God, he’s done for,” the reporter gasped, narrating from the scene. “Let’s go check. Maybe there’s still hope.”

But before they could reach the spot, the man suddenly stood up.

“Oh my God, he’s alive! This is a miracle!”

“Woohoo~”

The man stood, raising a baby triumphantly in his arms. “I got him! I caught him!”

“No way, he couldn’t have caught that baby,” the reporter was stunned, unable to believe her eyes. She stared at the tall figure holding the baby like a trophy.

“Is he a magician? Or… Superman?”

The reporter muttered.

“Wow, is that Luca? Dad, is that Luca?” Eve shouted excitedly.

“Yes, it’s Luca! Your Luca is a hero!”

Ed nodded, eyes red with emotion.

“Wow, Luca! You’re cooler than Leonardo!”

Eve jumped off the bed and leaped into his arms.

“Haha, Eve, you’re getting heavier,” Luca teased.

“Hey~! Luca, that’s mean! I’m not heavy at all!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 25: The Woman Who Tugged Superman’s Ear*

"I'm really sorry, Ms. Hister. After I reported Kate's information to headquarters, they rejected my proposal. They believe Kate is too inexperienced to be the spokesperson for our new handbag collection."

That afternoon, on New York's 57th Avenue, in the Louis Vuitton Tower's director's office, a well-groomed middle-aged man stood with one hand holding a cigarette between his middle and ring fingers. His bright red nail polish was striking.

This was Marc Jacobs, the North American brand director for Louis Vuitton and an openly gay man.

"Marc, we already had an agreement. How can you change things at the last minute?" Nina frowned, clearly unhappy.

"Nina, this decision came from headquarters. I'm truly sorry."

"Marc, can you at least tell us who you chose instead?" Kate chimed in.

Marc glanced at her and smiled, "Miss Bündchen."

"As expected." Kate frowned slightly, clenching her fists on her lap.

Suddenly, Nina's phone rang. She excused herself to take the call in a quiet corner and returned shortly after.

"Marc, would it be alright if we watched TV for a minute?" Nina smiled as she asked.

"What?" Marc widened his eyes in surprise. No one had ever asked to watch TV in his office before.

Kate also looked at Nina with confusion. Was this a new PR tactic?

Nina smiled, "Marc, may we? It’ll only take a minute."

"Okay, go ahead!" Marc, curious about what she was up to, agreed. Was she going to threaten him with a spoiler to make him change his mind? He had to admit that would be a clever tactic.

But Marc, who had been in the fashion industry for over 20 years, wasn’t so easily threatened.

Hmph, Nina, you may be known as one of the toughest agents in the industry, but this time you're bound to be disappointed.

Nina quickly switched the TV to CBS News.

"Nina, are you about to tell me the US military is going to invade Iraq?" Marc joked.

"Oh, Luca!" Kate suddenly gasped.

Curious, Marc looked at the screen and saw a stroller about to be crushed by a speeding bus. Then, out of nowhere, a young man dashed forward at an incredible speed, positioning himself in front of the bus.

Boom!

The impact was intense.

Instinctively, Marc squinted his eyes and leaned back, as if worried the bus might crash right through the screen.

"Oh, Luca, you’re amazing! Hahaha!" Kate suddenly burst into laughter, clapping her hands enthusiastically, far from her usual icy demeanor.

Marc, squinting at the TV, had assumed the baby and the young man were done for. But to his surprise, the young man stood up like a giant, lifting the baby in triumph and shouting excitedly, "I got him! I got him!"

Without even realizing it, Marc found himself clapping along. How could he not?

"Oh, how unbelievable! How did he do that?" The female news anchor exclaimed.

Everyone watching felt the same sense of wonder—both at the young man’s extraordinary speed and his fearless, heroic actions.

"Marc, let’s go interview that superhero!" the anchor said to the cameraman.

For a moment, Marc froze. Wait, was she talking to me?

He quickly sat back down, watching as the reporter and cameraman headed to the scene. But before they could reach the young hero, he handed the baby to an Asian woman and darted across the street.

"Superman, wait!" the reporter called after him, but the hero didn’t hear. He walked straight toward two tall women, and one of them tugged on his ear.

"Oh my God, she’s pulling Superman’s ear!" Not only the reporter but everyone watching, including Marc, was wide-eyed with disbelief. Superman was begging a woman for mercy.

"Kate, is that crazy woman you?" Marc asked in surprise, looking at Kate. The image was a bit distant and blurry, but the three women on screen all had long legs. The one tugging Superman’s ear had particularly stunning legs, and in the modeling world, no one had better legs than supermodel Kate Kelly.

Kate covered her flushed face, clearly unaware that this moment had been caught on camera.

"So what if it’s me?" Kate flipped her hair, trying to hide her reddening ears.

"Hahaha, well done, Kate! So, is Superman your boyfriend?" Marc teased, tapping his nails. Women were just too fierce, he thought, no wonder he was gay.

Kate shook her head, glancing back at the TV.

On the screen, the reporter was now interviewing the Asian woman, who was holding an incredibly cute baby. She asked if the woman knew the hero’s name, but the woman shook her head, explaining that he hadn’t said a word, handed her the baby, and then left.

The reporter sighed with admiration. "He’s a true hero. Who knows his name?"

The broadcast then returned to the studio, where host Charlie Rose humorously revisited the ear-tugging moment.

He remarked how the scene played out like a movie: a thrilling build-up, a heart-stopping collision, a moment of despair, followed by an unbelievable twist, and then a hilariously unexpected ending.

Charlie Rose even showed a blurry photo of Luca. "Has anyone seen this Superman? I’d love to ask him why he got his ear pulled. Haha, sorry, I can’t help laughing. I’ve never seen such a wimpy Superman!"

"Hahaha!" Marc couldn’t help but laugh out loud, covering his mouth.

Kate bit her lip, but even she couldn’t stop her mouth from curving into a smile.

"So, Kate, you really were the one who tugged Superman’s ear?" Marc teased again.

"Yes!" Kate lifted her chin proudly. "Superman is my brother, Luca Kasev Dominguez Kelly."

"Your brother? You mean the model who collapsed backstage from a drug overdose?"

"No, Luca fractured his spine saving someone. He endured the pain and walked in three shows before finally collapsing and being rushed to the hospital," Kate said seriously.

"Oh, forgive me, Kate. Your brother is a true hero, a man worthy of respect," Marc said, sincerely.

"Marc, sorry to bother you, but we need to go," Nina said as she turned off the TV, preparing to leave.

"Wait, Nina!" Marc hurried to block them at the door.

"Nina, is there something else?" Nina, looking confused, stopped in her tracks.

"Oh, Nina, I think we need to reconsider the endorsement deal," Marc said earnestly.

"Sorry, Marc, we’ve got an appointment to see an opera with Daisy from Dior," Nina said, glancing at her watch and stepping toward the door.

"Oh, Nina, please, for the sake of our friendship, give me five minutes. I’ll make you both an offer you’ll be happy with."

"Five minutes?" Nina looked at Kate, who shrugged. "Well, alright then, for the sake of our friendship."

(End of Chapter)