Chapitre 330: Trying something different

The next few days passed in a blur of family activities and local sightseeing. Lucas and Jennifer, along with her family, made a conscious effort to ignore the media buzz surrounding their visit. They focused instead on enjoying their time together and showing Lucas around Jennifer's hometown.

During a tour of Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, Jennifer's brother Ben couldn't resist snapping a group photo. Without much thought, he posted it on his Instagram with the caption: "Family day out with our new honorary Kentuckian! #WelcomeToTheBluegrassState"

The photo quickly went viral, inadvertently confirming TMZ's report about Lucas meeting Jennifer's family. Fans of the couple were thrilled:

@LuciFerFanClub tweeted: "They look so happy together! Lucas fits right in with the Lawrence clan."

However, the photo also reignited discussions about Lucas's own family situation. While many newer fans speculated about when Jennifer might meet Lucas's family, those who remembered the diary scandal from nearly a year ago had a different perspective:

"Great to see Lucas with a loving family, but let's not forget his own family issues. Remember that diary leak? Poor guy deserves this happiness."

On a popular celebrity gossip forum, one user wrote: "It's bittersweet seeing Lucas with Jennifer's family. After what his own put him through (according to that leaked diary), I hope he's finally found the family love he deserves."

***

Meanwhile, as Vince and Myla Knight approached their favorite high-end restaurant, they were suddenly surrounded by a group of reporters, microphones thrust in their faces.

"Mr. Knight! Any thoughts on Lucas meeting Jennifer Lawrence's family?" one reporter shouted.

Myla's face immediately soured, but Vince placed a calming hand on her arm and stepped forward with a practiced smile.

"It's great for him," Vince replied smoothly. "Lucas deserves happiness."

Another reporter piped up, "Are you looking forward to meeting Jennifer yourself?"

Vince chuckled softly, his media-trained charm on full display. "Of course. I'd be happy to meet my potential future daughter-in-law," he said with a wink.

The mood shifted as a bolder reporter asked, "How would you describe your relationship with Lucas over the years, especially considering the diary controversy?"

Vince's smile faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered. "Look, every family has its ups and downs. I hope Lucas can find it in his heart to forgive any past misunderstandings." He paused, then added with a hint of humor, "Though I must say, TMZ should be careful. If Lucas can beat Harvey Weinstein in court, he might have a shot at them for invasion of privacy."

As Vince fielded the questions with practiced ease, Myla stood silently by his side, her irritation barely concealed behind a tight-lipped smile.

Once the reporters seemed satisfied, Vince smoothly excused himself and Myla, guiding her towards the restaurant entrance. As soon as they were out of earshot, Myla hissed, "I can't believe they're still bringing up that diary nonsense."

Vince sighed, "Just ignore it, dear. It'll blow over eventually. Now, let's enjoy our dinner."

They disappeared into the restaurant, as the reporters quickly began filing their stories.

As Vince and Myla settled into their seats at the restaurant, Myla's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You invited those journalists, didn't you?" she accused in a low voice.

Vince's lips curled into a small smile as he unfolded his napkin. "Guilty as charged," he admitted without a hint of remorse.

"Why would you do that?" Myla hissed, leaning across the table.

Vince sighed, his expression turning serious. "Lucas hasn't contacted us in years, Myla. He's forgetting about us. I thought... well, I thought this might remind him that he still has a family."

Myla snorted derisively. "A family? After that diary nonsense? You shouldn't have invited reporters who would bring that up again."

Vince chuckled softly, reaching for his wine glass. "Let it be, dear. Sometimes, any publicity is good publicity."

Myla still looked unconvinced. "Why bother reminding that son of yours about us anyway?" she asked, her voice laced with disdain.

Vince leaned in, lowering his voice. "I've got inside information. Lucas has been invited to several talk shows."

"So what?" Myla shrugged, taking a sip of her wine.

"They want to talk to him about his family - about us," Vince explained, his expression serious.

Myla snorted. "Let him talk then. What do we care?"

Vince shook his head. "It's not that simple anymore. Before, I wouldn't have cared what Lucas said about us. But now? His image has been elevated significantly since he put Harvey behind bars. People listen to him now, they believe him."

"And?" Myla pressed, still not grasping Vince's concern.

"And," Vince continued, "if Lucas decides to air our dirty laundry on national television, it could be disastrous for our reputation, our business deals, everything."

Myla's eyes widened as realization dawned. "You think he'd do that?"

Vince sighed heavily. "I don't know. But I'd rather not take that chance. By putting ourselves out there first, we're controlling the narrative. We're reminding Lucas - and the public - that we're still his family, for better or worse."

Myla sat back, processing this information. "I see," she said slowly. "So this little media circus outside..."

"Was a preemptive strike," Vince finished. "Better to have our version out there first."

***

After a few more days with Jennifer's family, Lucas and Jennifer bid farewell to the Lawrences, promising to visit again soon. They then spent some quiet time together, away from the public eye and their busy schedules.

They found themselves relaxing at a secluded beach house in Malibu. The couple enjoyed long walks on the beach, intimate dinners, and simply being in each other's company without the pressures of work or public scrutiny.

As their time together drew to a close, they made their way back to Los Angeles. At Jennifer's house, the reality of their impending separation set in. Jennifer had a packed schedule ahead, with film projects lined up.

Lucas pulled Jennifer close, kissing her deeply. As they parted, both feeling the weight of their upcoming time apart, Lucas cupped Jennifer's face gently.

"I'm going to miss you," he said softly.

Jennifer smiled, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I'll miss you too. But hey, we've done this before, right?"

Lucas nodded. "Doesn't make it any easier though."

"No, it doesn't," Jennifer agreed. She then smirked, lightening the mood. "Just don't go falling for any co-stars while I'm gone, okay?"

Lucas chuckled. "As if anyone could compare to you."

They shared one last kiss before Jennifer had to leave. As she walked away, she turned back, "Call me when you can?"

"Every chance I get," Lucas promised.

Watching Jennifer drive away, Lucas felt a mixture of pride for her success and a longing for more time together. He knew their careers often kept them apart, but moments like these made their reunions all the sweeter.

As Lucas settled into Jennifer's house, his mind wandered to the upcoming events in his life. August was fast approaching, bringing with it the Venice Film Festival where his first major commercial film, "Gravity," would be premiering. Despite his rising fame, this sci-fi spectacle marked his debut in the world of big-budget blockbusters.

However, before he could focus on the excitement of the festival, Lucas knew he had to address the multiple talk show invitations piling up. He couldn't ignore them forever, especially with the recent media circus surrounding his family visit with Jennifer.

Sighing, Lucas pulled out his phone and scrolled through the news, coming across the interviews his father and stepmother had given a few days ago. He couldn't help but shake his head, recognizing Vince's calculated move for what it was - an attempt to remind Lucas that he still had a family, despite years of no contact.

The complexity of his emotions surprised him. It had been years since he'd spoken to them, but the memories - both his own and those inherited from the original Lucas - were still vivid and painful. The wrongdoings he'd suffered at their hands weren't easy to forgive or forget.

"They can't just waltz back into my life like nothing happened," Lucas muttered to himself.

Lucas picked up his phone, hovering over Neil's number. He knew he needed to make a decision about these talk shows, but he also knew that whatever he said would have far-reaching consequences.

Lucas took a deep breath and dialed Neil's number. After a few rings, his manager picked up.

"Hey, Neil. I've been thinking about those talk show invitations," Lucas started, his voice steady.

"Oh?" Neil sounded intrigued. "And what have you decided?"

"I'll do one..." Lucas said firmly.

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Neil asked cautiously, "Are you planning to talk about your family situation?"

Lucas sighed. "Maybe. But I don't want to dwell on it. Life's too short for all that drama..."

Neil chuckled softly. "That's a mature way of looking at it. But you know they're going to ask, right?"

"Yeah, I know," Lucas admitted. "I'll address it briefly if it comes up, but I want to focus on my work, my upcoming projects."

"Alright, kid. I think that's a smart approach," Neil said, approval evident in his voice. "I'll start looking into which show might be the best fit. Any preferences?"

Lucas paused for a moment, considering his options. "You know, I've been thinking about branching out a bit. I've done Ellen and Jimmy Kimmel, which were great, but maybe it's time to try something different."

He drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair, recalling a show he'd been watching lately. "What about Stephen Colbert? I've been enjoying his take on things since he took over for Letterman a couple years back."

Neil made a thoughtful noise. "Colbert, huh? He's been doing well since he stepped into Letterman's shoes in 2011. His style is a bit different from what you've done before - more satirical, sometimes political. You sure you're up for that?"

Lucas nodded, then remembered Neil couldn't see him. "Yeah, I think so. It'll be a change of pace, and I like how he handles interviews. He can be funny without being mean. And he's not afraid to touch on serious topics when needed."

"Alright," Neil said, the sound of typing coming through the phone. "I'll reach out to Colbert's people and see what we can set up. It could be a good fit, especially with 'Gravity' coming up. Colbert's a bit of a space nerd, so he'd probably love to talk about that."

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Chapitre 331: Colbert and Networth

A week later, Lucas found himself in the bustling backstage area of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." The energy was palpable as crew members rushed about, making last-minute preparations.

Lucas sat in his dressing room, going over some talking points with his publicist. He could hear the muffled sounds of the audience filling the studio, their excited chatter adding to his nervous anticipation.

A production assistant knocked on the door. "Mr. Knight? You're on in ten minutes."

Lucas nodded, taking a deep breath. He stood up, straightening his jacket and checking his reflection one last time. As he made his way to the wings of the stage, he could hear Stephen's opening monologue, the audience's laughter punctuating each joke.

The floor manager approached, attaching a small microphone to Lucas's lapel.

Lucas offered a grateful smile. He bounced lightly on his toes, shaking out his arms to release some tension.

"And now," he heard Stephen's voice announce, "please welcome our guest, the talented actor who recently took on Hollywood's biggest bully and won, star of the upcoming film 'Gravity' - Lucas Knight!"

Taking one final deep breath, Lucas stepped out onto the stage, the bright lights and cheering audience greeting him.

He walked towards Stephen, waving at the crowd.

As Lucas walked towards Stephen, waving at the crowd, a young woman's shrill voice cut through the applause: "Lucas, have my babies!"

The unexpected outburst caused Stephen to pause, his eyebrows shooting up in amusement. "Well, that's one way to introduce yourself," he quipped. "Ma'am, I'm afraid we don't offer that particular service here at the Late Show."

The audience laughed and Lucas couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head good-naturedly.

Stephen turned to the camera with a mischievous grin. "Folks at home, let's just pretend that was a very enthusiastic 'Welcome to the show, Lucas!'"

As Lucas reached him, Stephen extended his hand for a warm handshake. "Lucas, I gotta say, you look even more handsome in person. It's honestly a little annoying."

Lucas grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Thanks, Stephen. I guess that's one way of saying the camera doesn't do me justice. It's a curse, really."

The audience erupted in laughter, clearly charmed by Lucas's self-deprecating humor.

Stephen leaned back, feigning exasperation. "Oh, a curse, he says. You hear that, folks? Being devastatingly handsome is a curse. I wouldn't know anything about that, of course." He turned to the camera with a comically serious expression. "And neither would any of you at home, I'm sure."

The audience erupted in laughter, and even Lucas couldn't help but chuckle at Stephen's self-deprecating humor.

Before Stephen gestured for Lucas to take a seat on the plush guest chair.

Lucas settled into his seat as Stephen leaned forward, a glint in his eye.

"So, Lucas," Stephen began, his tone light, "I hear you've been busy lately. Taking down Hollywood bigwigs, meeting the in-laws... just another day in the life of Lucas Knight, huh?"

Lucas chuckled, matching Stephen's casual tone. "Oh, you know, just trying to keep things interesting. Can't let life get too boring, right?"

"Boring? You?" Stephen raised an eyebrow dramatically. "The man who put Harvey Weinstein behind bars and then casually went to meet his girlfriend's family? I think 'boring' left your vocabulary a long time ago."

The audience laughed, and Lucas grinned. "Well, when you put it that way, it does sound a bit more exciting than it felt at the time."

The interview progressed smoothly, touching on various aspects of Lucas's career. When they got to the topic of his music, Stephen smoothly transitioned to Lucas's upcoming film, "Gravity."

"So, Lucas," Stephen leaned in, his eyes gleaming with excitement, "tell us about 'Gravity'. I hear it's going to be out of this world." He winked at the audience, who groaned good-naturedly at the pun.

Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, Stephen, I don't want to oversell it, but let's just say it might make you believe a man can float."

Stephen's eyes widened comically. "As a certified space nerd, I have to warn you - my expectations are higher than the International Space Station right now." He fixed Lucas with a mock-serious stare. "This film better not disappoint, Knight. If it does, I'll have no choice but to launch you into actual space myself."

The audience burst into laughter, and Lucas grinned, playing along. "Is that a promise, Stephen? Because I've got to say, after all that zero-gravity training, actual space sounds pretty tempting."

"Oh ho!" Stephen exclaimed. "Look at Mr. Astronaut over here. Just don't forget, in space, no one can hear you scream... or deliver your lines."

Lucas and the audience laughed at the playful exchange, the interview maintaining its light-hearted tone while still generating excitement for the upcoming film.

As the conversation about "Gravity" wound down, Stephen smoothly shifted gears. "Now, Lucas, I've got to ask about something that's been puzzling me. According to Forbes, you've got a net worth of about 81 million dollars."

The audience murmured in surprise.

Stephen leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Is that true? Because I've done some math, and your acting and music careers combined don't quite add up to that. And from what I hear, you're not exactly splurging on mansions or racing cars. So, what's the deal? Are you secretly printing money in your basement?"

The audience laughed, clearly enjoying Stephen's playful interrogation.

Lucas smiled, feigning confusion. "You know, Stephen, I'm not sure how Forbes gets their information. But I have to say, they might have slightly miscalculated."

Stephen's eyebrows shot up. "'Slightly' miscalculated? So you're saying it's not far off?"

Lucas nodded, still smiling.

Stephen gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a secret millionaire in our midst!"

The audience laughed, but there was an undercurrent of genuine surprise. Many leaned forward in their seats, eager to hear more about this unexpected revelation about the young actor.

Stephen turned to Lucas again, his expression suddenly more serious. "Seriously?"

Lucas nodded, maintaining his composure.

Stephen leaned in conspiratorially, pretending to whisper but still clearly audible to the audience. "Lucas, if you're serious and really that rich, what's your secret? Don't worry, I'm whispering so they can't hear us. If you're involved in some elaborate Ponzi scheme, I want in. I can keep a secret... mostly."

Lucas chuckled at Stephen's joke before responding earnestly, "My secret isn't really a secret, Stephen. I've invested in some businesses that have been incredibly profitable lately - Uber, Vine, and a newer one called Airbnb that's gaining traction. The seed money came from my earnings as an actor and musician."

Stephen's jaw dropped in an exaggerated expression of shock. "Oh my... What is this? An actor who doesn't blow his money on sports cars, mansions, and private jets, but instead invests in businesses that make even more money? Are you sure you're in the right industry, Lucas?"

The audience laughed, clearly impressed by Lucas's business acumen.

Stephen continued, his tone playfully suspicious, "If I hadn't seen your movies and witnessed your acting firsthand, I'd think you were a secret Wall Street tycoon masquerading as an actor."

This elicited more laughter from the audience, with Lucas joining in, appreciating Stephen's ability to keep the conversation light while still delving into substantial topics.

Stephen leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Now that we know you're swimming in cash, Lucas, I have to ask - did Forbes slightly underestimate or overestimate your wealth?"

The audience chuckled, intrigued by this line of questioning.

Lucas smiled enigmatically. "Well, I'd say they slightly underestimated."

Stephen's eyebrows shot up. "Oho! The plot thickens. Just how much richer are we talking here?"

Lucas paused thoughtfully. "Well, it's hard to calculate net worth precisely, but according to my financial advisor, if we factor in my cryptocurrency investments and the accurate earnings from my businesses, I'm about 7 million richer than Forbes estimated."

A collective gasp rippled through the audience.

Stephen's jaw dropped comically. "So you're telling me your actual net worth is around 88 million dollars?"

Lucas just smiled in response.

Stephen shook his head in disbelief. "Well, folks, it looks like our guest is on track to join the hundred-million club. And that's without even factoring in his rising acting career or that juicy 'Hunger Games' paycheck. Lucas, I've got to ask - what's your plan for all this money? Are you going to buy a small country? Perhaps fund a mission to Mars?"

The audience laughed, eagerly awaiting Lucas's response to this playful interrogation about his wealth and future plans.

Lucas adopted a thoughtful expression, then said with a hint of playfulness, "Well, Stephen, I don't want to sound like I'm bragging or trying to be a saint, but I'm putting some of my money into charities. You know, giving back to the community... and maybe buying a small moon as a weekend getaway."

Stephen nodded appreciatively, "Wow, what a stand-up guy. Let's give him a round of applause, everybody!" The audience clapped enthusiastically.

Then Stephen turned back to Lucas, a mischievous glint in his eye. "But let's be real here, Lucas. Are you sure you're not just doing the whole charity thing to dodge taxes like all those other millionaires and billionaires? I mean, it's okay, you can tell us. We're all friends here."

The crowd erupted in laughter, and Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "Nope, I can assure you I'm just an ordinary, law-abiding citizen... who happens to have a really good accountant."

Stephen leaned in conspiratorially, "A good accountant, you say? Care to share their number? Asking for a friend, of course."

This elicited more laughter from the audience, appreciating the playful banter between the host and his guest.

Stephen suddenly snapped his fingers, as if remembering something. "Oh! I almost forgot to ask because I was too busy picking my jaw up off the floor. What's this Cry-o-therapy thing you mentioned?" He exaggeratedly mispronounced the word, looking at Lucas with mock confusion. "Cry... what is it? Some sort of rich people therapy where you cry into hundred dollar bills?"

Lucas chuckled, "It's cryptocurrency, Stephen."

"Ah, yes!" Stephen nodded vigorously. "Cryptocurrency. You said if we factor that in, you're even richer. What exactly is it?"

The audience laughed, many of them looking just as curious about the answer.

---

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