Chapter 146

Another week passed. Instead of rushing back to New Zealand to continue filming The Lord of the Rings, Martin decided to spend some time with the girls in his circle.

To be clear, this wasn't going to be some awkward, dramatic meeting, nor a chaotic "Shura field" confrontation. However, Martin had recently reached a new level of magical power after consistent cultivation.

This new mastery allowed him to cast fresh spells, including one called "Charming Love". Martin felt it was the perfect time to put it to use.

The spell allowed him to condense a "love seed" using magic and plant it within someone's body. Once planted, the recipient would develop a deep, unwavering love for him and remain loyal forever.

This spell was commonly used by succubi in the mystical Continent of Gods and Demons. Given their numerous partners, succubi found it impossible to invest time and energy into nurturing each relationship. Thus, the "Charming Love" spell became a practical solution and one of the most widely used in their repertoire.

With the number of women around him steadily growing, Martin decided it was best to take early precautions to avoid future complications.

As for why he gathered them all at once? Simple: it saved time and effort.

Meanwhile, Martin's latest movie, Hide and Seek, continued its strong performance at the North American box office, raking in $22 million in its second week. With a cumulative $49 million gross, its success was clear.

The group met at Venice Beach, one of the five best beaches in Los Angeles, renowned for its rich cultural atmosphere.

There's a saying in California: "If you want to experience the West Coast's culture, go to Venice Beach."

Compared to the more upscale Santa Monica, which was just a ten-minute drive away, Venice Beach had a unique, vibrant, and eclectic character. It was a hub for creators and artists, celebrated as one of the most diverse places in Los Angeles.

Here, you'd find skaters pushing the boundaries of their craft, shirtless bodybuilders showing off their physiques, hip-hop singers rapping in groups, and street performers blasting music from boomboxes. Alongside the action, blocks near the beach were dotted with quaint cafés, artisan shops, and galleries where it wasn't uncommon to bump into celebrities.

Mary Olson and her younger sister Elizabeth arrived at the agreed-upon meeting place, a boutique hotel near the beach, which Martin had booked entirely.

When Mary stepped into the lobby, she was momentarily stunned. A group of girls, all strikingly beautiful and elegantly dressed, filled the space.

"What kind of party is this? Is Martin planning to pick a princess?" Mary thought to herself, bemused.

Fortunately, two familiar male faces stood out among the crowd: John Williams, Martin's old friend and self-proclaimed follower, and Mark Zuckerberg, who looked equally thrilled to be there.

"Hello, Elizabeth," Mark greeted with a wave.

"Hello, Martin," Mary said.

Martin introduced everyone, including Mary and Elizabeth, to the group. Mary quickly noticed that the attendees had naturally formed into smaller cliques.

Jessica, Dorothy, Lindsay, and Britney seemed to share a bond. Among them, Jessica and Britney were the oldest at seventeen.

Paris Hilton, ever the picture of aloof arrogance, stood apart from the others, refusing to engage in small talk.

Scarlett and Miranda paired up as another interesting duo. One was tall and willowy, the other petite yet equally stunning. Despite their ages—just fifteen or sixteen—they carried themselves with confidence, their striking appearances hinting at maturity beyond their years.

As for the boys, John and Mark made up the only male presence apart from Martin. Mary couldn't help but feel their partnership was an odd contrast—John's boldness seemed likely to overshadow Mark's quieter demeanor.

What Mary didn't realize, however, was that she appeared just as out of place to everyone else. Despite being a teenager herself, she exuded an air of maturity that felt more like a chaperone than a peer.

"Where are we going, Martin? I don't have time to waste with these little kids," Paris said, her chin held high in disdain.

"How old do you think you are?" Jessica shot back.

Scarlett, not one to back down, smirked and straightened her posture. "Well, I think I'm still older," she quipped with a subtle but pointed gesture.

Scarlett, in truth, felt uneasy. The dynamic between Martin and the other girls didn't escape her notice. She cast a glance at Jessica, Dorothy, and Lindsay, only to realize they were all looking back at her—with markedly different expressions.

Jessica seemed to eye her figure with faint discontent.

Dorothy scrutinized her height, which only amplified Scarlett's self-consciousness. Are my legs too short? she wondered bitterly.

Lindsay's gaze was the oddest of all—friendly, almost approving. Scarlett misinterpreted it as patronizing, thinking Lindsay might not see her as a rival.

In reality, Lindsay, the youngest among them besides Elizabeth, viewed everyone present as potential future "sisters." Her surprising maturity in embracing the situation as it unfolded was unmatched by the others.

"I borrowed a yacht," Martin announced. "Let's go out to sea for a while."

Excitement rippled through the group as they set off for the harbor.

The events that unfolded at sea remain unwritten here, but suffice it to say, Martin returned satisfied, and every girl left the experience with something deeply significant to their bond.

When Britney Spears returned home that evening, she was humming happily as she walked through the door. Her father, Jamie Spears, noticed her cheerful demeanor and smiled.

"Looks like you had a good time this weekend," Jamie remarked.

"I did," Britney replied, beaming. "I didn't expect Martin to be so easygoing. I really like him."

"That's wonderful," Jamie said with a nod. "He's incredibly talented in music. Who knows? Maybe the two of you could collaborate someday."

The conversation shifted when Jamie added, "Oh, by the way, Justin called for you yesterday. Are you planning to return his call?"

Britney's cheerful expression darkened. "No, I don't think so," she said firmly. "That guy's been telling everyone he's chasing me, like I'm already his girlfriend. I can't stand that kind of behavior."

In another timeline, Britney and Justin Timberlake would have started dating in 1999, only to face a dramatic and painful breakup in 2002. Justin's public comments and insinuations about their relationship, as well as his controversial "Cry Me a River" music video, would have deeply hurt Britney, marking the start of her personal struggles.

But in this timeline, fate had taken a detour.

When Martin cast his "Charming Love" spell, he had accidentally planted a "love seed" in Britney. While the spell required the recipient to have some prior affection or admiration for it to succeed, Britney's latent feelings for Martin made her an ideal candidate.

This small, unintended shift might just rewrite history.

[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧