Chapter 564: Chapter 564: A True Deadbeat!
At 8 o'clock at Charlize's dining table, bathed in the soft morning light as the clock struck eight.
Martin was seated at a well-dressed dining table, savoring the breakfast crafted with care by Charlize herself.
She, in contrast, was engrossed in the pages of the Los Angeles Times, her newspaper neatly folded by her side. After swallowing a mouthful of food, she couldn't help but remark, "Hundreds of victims have come forward to report the crimes."
Martin, his gaze thoughtful, responded, "Hollywood is likely to undergo significant changes because of this."
Charlize, intrigued, inquired further, "I wonder who orchestrated all of this behind the scenes. Every actor in Hollywood, and even those in other professions, should be grateful to them."
Martin probed, "What makes you say that?"
"Although this incident may not fundamentally alter the industry's trajectory, it will certainly contribute to a slight improvement in its overall environment," Charlize, who had risen from humble beginnings to stardom, expressed her deep sentiment, "A slightly better environment might mean fewer victims."
Martin nodded appreciatively, acknowledging her point. "You have a valid perspective."
Charlize checked her watch and asked, "Do you have some free time this morning?"
With a hint of a smile, Martin replied, "I'm at your disposal. Any special plans?"
Charlize rose from her seat, her demeanor hinting at something intriguing. "Come with me; I want to show you something."
The duo swiftly departed Beverly Hills, their journey leading them to the vicinity of the Los Angeles Forensic Center.
At the center's entrance, a small gathering of media reporters had congregated. Though their numbers were modest, most were entertainment journalists.
To avoid being recognized, Charlize parked the car at a distance.
Having visited this place before, Martin inquired, "Are Toni Fairman and Stuart Townsend here for a paternity test?"
Charlize replied, "Have you not been keeping up lately?"
Martin's recent focus had been entirely on the Harvey incident, leaving little room for other news. "I assumed the results would have been out by now."
Charlize gazed toward the building through the car's windshield and elaborated, "If the child isn't Stuart's, I intend to give it to him as part of their separation settlement."
Martin gently rested his hand on hers, a silent gesture of understanding.
Charlize took out her phone, dialed a number, and inquired, "Silver, has the testing begun?"
The voice on the other end reassured her, "The results will be available soon."
Charlize added, "Once they're ready, ensure you inform me."
This marked the final chapter of her involvement with Stuart Townsend.
Having escaped that emotional quagmire, Charlize had made up her mind to embrace the pleasures of life, indulging in the luxuries and entertainment befitting a Hollywood star.
Inside the forensic center.
When Stuart laid eyes on the test results, despite mentally preparing himself, he was completely taken aback.
The DNA match was incredibly high, hovering at an astonishing 99.9999%!
Stuart carefully set the report down, his gaze shifting to the other side of the room.
Toni Fairman, holding their child, had just perused the results.
She slowly approached Stuart, her eagerness apparent as she lifted the child in her arms, silently urging Stuart to take a look.
Stuart sat there, utterly dumbfounded. A son, seemingly out of nowhere? In such an unusual twist of fate!
Toni affirmed, "This child is undoubtedly yours, medically and biologically."
Stuart was in a quandary. Should he acknowledge it or not?
Toni approached and asserted, "See, this is your son—the child of both of us!"
Stuart's face contorted into a grimace.
Toni persisted, "We're parents to our child and belong to a family. Stewart, take us home!"
In her eyes, Stewart was also a Hollywood star, albeit not on the scale of Martin Davis. He was still affluent.
Stuart regained his composure and inquired, "Go home? Return to where?"
"Back to your home!" Toni declared matter-of-factly. "Back to our home!"
Stuart disclosed, "I don't have a home. Currently, I'm residing at the Hilton Hotel..."
Toni was taken aback and queried, "Aren't you living in Beverly Hills? Even a standalone villa in Sherman Oaks would suffice. My son and I have modest requirements, and these are all acceptable."
Stuart himself yearned for such a life, but the problem was that he didn't have the means.
"The Beverly Hills mansion belongs to my ex-fiancée; it's not tied to me," Stuart confessed openly. "I don't possess any personal assets. I typically rely on my ex-fiancée's credit card..."
Toni's eyes widened in disbelief as she uttered, "It doesn't matter. You're famous and can work. My son and I fully support you."
Upon hearing this, Stuart saw an opportunity and seized it. "It's not impossible for me to take you back, but you must go out and earn money."
Toni wondered why she needed to work. Wasn't her pursuit all about securing a long-term source of wealth in US dollars? She inquired, "Why should I earn money?"
Stuart matter-of-factly stated, "You'll earn money for me to spend! Consider this: the situation could become quite sensational. You can find a publisher to release a book and expose our story in the newspapers. It could generate substantial income..."
Toni clutched her child and gradually retreated, taken aback by the mercenary turn of events. Why did her son have such an opportunistic father?
Stuart added, "I can look after the children while you work."
Toni hesitated, fearing that the once spineless man before her would exploit her son for money.
"That's settled," Toni relinquished her plan. "I'll continue pursuing legal action, and you will be required to pay child support!"
Stuart, financially destitute, asserted candidly, "I advise against wasting your time. I'm a destitute man who can't afford child support. Pursuing it would only incur legal fees."
However, Toni couldn't simply concede. Lawyers seeking legal precedents wouldn't let her abandon the fight.
Outside the testing center, Charlize received a call from Silver, conveying the paternity test results.
Seeing her end the call, Martin inquired, "The results are in?"
"He's the father, no doubt," Charlize beamed. In this moment, she had completely shed the image of a pushover and declared, "I can save quite a bit of money, a substantial amount. How about I treat you to a lavish lunch, Martin?"
Martin replied, "I won't say no to that."
Charlize stretched her long legs and proposed, "Let's find a place to celebrate. To a fresh start."
Martin had a meeting scheduled with Léa Seydoux in the afternoon, but in this moment, he couldn't back down and needed to cheer for Charlize.
The applause should be resounding, and the celebration should be extravagant.
...
Italy, Rome, Leonardo da Vinci International Airport.
Lily and Elizabeth Olsen settled into the VIP lounge, occupying adjacent seats.
They were preparing to return to Los Angeles.
Lily flipped through an English newspaper, which featured news about Harvey Weinstein.
The U.S. Department of Justice had announced its continued scrutiny of the Harvey Weinstein case, and both
In a hushed tone, Elizabeth leaned in and inquired, "Do you think Martin is behind all of this?"
Lily, who possessed a deeper understanding of Martin, replied with conviction, "It's undoubtedly him. Look, the billionaire causing the commotion is Mel, and, unless I'm mistaken, it's Martin. Why else would Malia's father and the two opinion leaders leading the charge with Me Too movement be so active?"
With a calm expression, she continued, "This Erica, I've known her since our days in Atlanta. She shares a close bond with Kay Leigh-Grey. The rose-colored kettle created by Martin allowed Erica to amass considerable wealth. And don't forget, Harvey's been apprehended by the LAPD. Martin holds the title of an honorary citizen of Los Angeles, and his ties with McClain have deepened over the years. Many view McClain as the future LAPD chief."
Elizabeth, as if feigning ignorance, brushed aside those names. "According to your account, it does seem plausible that Martin is the unseen hand behind all this. However, I've rarely seen this side of him."
In front of her friend, Lily seemed like a candid and caring elder sister. "That's because Martin has always shown you his sunniest and kindest side."
Elizabeth responded with a sweet smile. "It appears so."
Extending her hand, Elizabeth shook Lily's and added, "In this way, Martin is protecting us, upholding a peaceful sky above us."
Lily reflected on her own journey over the past few years; it had been remarkably smooth. She acknowledged, "You're absolutely right. Without everything he's done, I wouldn't be where I am today. I might still be struggling in the slums."
Lily had witnessed the harsh fates that often befell beautiful girls in the slums, a reality too dreadful to fathom.
Elizabeth maintained her gentle smile, engaging in wordless chatter with Lily.
Over the past year, while efficiently managing Martin's household, Elizabeth had used her time in Italy to glean insights into Martin's past from Lily. She had a particular interest in Martin's past relationships, especially his ex-girlfriends.
Elizabeth discerned certain patterns and drew a few conclusions. Unlike Leonardo, Martin rarely initiated breakups with his partners, and he rarely made promises to them.
Additionally, she learned from Lily about Martin's adherence to Atlanta's "Three No's Principles."
From these revelations, Elizabeth grew confident that, as long as she didn't resort to tears, tantrums, or initiating a breakup, Martin would never leave of his own volition.
She was young and had time on her side.
Those reveling in external affairs, those with superior skills, and those more experienced did not warrant her interference; time would naturally take its course.
Elizabeth had her own set of "Three No's Principles."
Furthermore, she had secured a powerful ally in Lily.
When the boarding announcement chimed, Elizabeth helped Lily to her feet and declared, "Let's board the plane and return to Los Angeles. There's much to do once we're back."
Lily remarked, "It's award season and the New Year is approaching. Martin will likely host numerous parties."
Elizabeth gestured towards her bag. "I spoke with Martin yesterday and drafted a preliminary list. We can discuss it onboard. After all, it's your home as well."
With a smile, Lily replied, "I've never organized a party before, so I'm looking forward to learning from you."
Together, they boarded the plane, entering the first-class cabin. With a long journey ahead, discussing these matters was an enjoyable way to pass the time.
Lily perused Elizabeth's initial list and pointed to what piqued her interest. "Brad Pitt and Affleck's trials are approaching? Cassie once tricked me; I must witness it firsthand."
Elizabeth confirmed, "Considering Martin's involvement, he intends to attend."
Harvey's remarks in the opening chapters and the latter half of this chapter were inspired by the insights of our group's members. Real-life experiences are a wellspring of creative inspiration.
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