Chapter 540: Hope Is Born

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm amber glow over the scene, Ben Affleck emerged from his apartment's doorway. He approached Toni with utmost care, displaying a level of attentiveness that even surpassed his care for Jennifer Garner during her pregnancy.

He held Toni's hand tenderly, urging, "Take it slow, don't rush."

Toni, with one hand clasping Ben's and the other resting on her swollen belly, expressed, "I think it might be labor pains; my stomach aches a bit."

Ben reassured her, "Hang in there. We'll reach the hospital in less than ten minutes." He guided her into the back seat of the car, settled behind the wheel, and swiftly drove toward the nearby maternity hospital.

While waiting at a traffic light, he dialed Casey Affleck's number, instructing him to bring the delivery bag to the hospital.

Over half an hour later, they arrived at the hospital, and Ben completed all the necessary procedures, breathing a sigh of relief.

Casey rushed inside.

Ben accepted the maternity bag from him and proceeded into the ward, only to be promptly ushered out by the nurse.

Toni was in the midst of giving birth.

Outside, Casey sat on a bench and asked, "What's the next step?"

Ben realized that he couldn't handle this alone and replied, "I've contacted Brad Pitt and Harvey. Harvey is currently in London with a trustee, dealing with some copyright agency disputes. They'll be back in a few days."

Aware of Toni's condition, Cassie couldn't bear the wait, saying, "We'll have to wait a while longer."

Ben's phone rang, and he saw that Harvey was calling. He walked to the end of the deserted corridor and answered, "Harvey, I've brought the woman carrying Martin's child to the hospital. She might give birth today."

In London, Harvey Weinstein, who had just finished a heated negotiation with the Tolkien Copyright Agency, finally received some positive news. He responded, "Ben, you've done a fantastic job. Ensure the child is born safely and discharged."

Ben assured him, "Harvey, don't worry. I'll stay at the hospital throughout."

Harvey reflected on the recent release of "Inglourious Basterds," a film that had brought both fame and setbacks. It had been a significant investment for him, lacking the critical acclaim of Cannes and falling short in commercial success, with just over $20 million in box office earnings during its first week in North America.

In the end, they had to resort to traditional methods, recovering costs through DVD and TV copyrights, with hopes that time would eventually yield profits.

Harvey had not initially envisioned this outcome. "Inglourious Basterds" had received substantial investment, and he had even secured an A-list star like Martin to lead the film, all in an effort to make a splash at the box office.

Harvey couldn't help but feel disheartened. Unplanned setbacks in the project had cost him tens of millions of dollars.

Ultimately, it was all Martin Davis' fault.

Harvey's assessment was clear: Martin's involvement with Pitt had caused the initial setback. Then Martin's refusal of Harvey's invitation had dealt a further blow. Finally, Martin's victory at the Cannes Film Festival, snatching the best actor award, had diminished the film's appeal to audiences.

It was evident that Martin's actions had disrupted the project at every turn.

Harvey knew he had made a considerable miscalculation. Perhaps his insistence on bringing Martin into the project had been the root of all these setbacks. Moreover, poaching Wes Craven had caused his Dimension Pictures to lose its primary support in the horror genre.

Harvey acted swiftly, his voice resolute as he spoke into the phone, "Ben, wait until the woman and child are discharged from the hospital. Find the perfect opportunity, preferably in a public place with as much media presence as possible. Make sure they meet Martin Davis, live, and confirm your marriage."

Ben chuckled, thoroughly entertained by the plan, "What a brilliant idea! Whether Martin admits it or not, it'll tarnish his reputation!"

Harvey pondered further, "No, an illegitimate child may dent his reputation but won't deliver a fatal blow to Martin. Based on what I know about that scoundrel Martin and taking a cue from Nicholson, the trio's leader, Martin won't acknowledge this child."

He inquired, "Do we have any videos or recordings of their relationship?"

Regrettably, Ben confessed, "I've tried several times, but she was simply enjoying herself and didn't think about it."

Harvey sighed, "What a missed opportunity. Martin will likely refuse this, and you have a close relationship with that woman, understand?"

Ben reassured him, "I know what to do."

Harvey promptly hung up the phone.

Just as he was about to head down for dinner, his wife, Georgina Chapman, initiated a video call. The screen flickered to life, revealing Georgina removing her makeup.

Harvey greeted her with a wave, "Hello, dear, are you still in New York?"

Georgina tied up her long hair and replied, "I'm heading back to Los Angeles today. Some friends in the fashion industry want to join me for another fashion party."

Harvey understood, "You can charge it directly to the account, and I'll settle the bill when I get to Los Angeles."

Georgina beamed, "Thank you, my love, you're the best husband in the world."

Spending her husband's money for an affair with another man excited Georgina. She couldn't wait to return to Los Angeles.

Harvey concluded, "Alright, let's end it here. I'll be back in Los Angeles in a few days."

The video call ended, and an assistant approached, holding a mobile phone. "Boss, Warner Bros. just called and wants to discuss The Hobbit's copyright issues. They're offering $5 million to buy it."

Harvey scoffed, "5 million? Warner Bros. must be dreaming!" He knew the series' market value could yield billions in revenue.

With a firm stance, he declared, "Call Warner back and tell them there's no negotiation on the copyright."

The assistant hurriedly made the call, leaving Harvey to ponder his frustrations. Despite thirty years of hard work, their film company's scale didn't even compare to DreamWorks, let alone the Big Six. But Harvey knew how to secure Oscars and wield influence.

As he sat on the couch, his thoughts turned to Martin. Taking on Martin wasn't just about venting his anger; it promised tangible benefits. Martin's subsidiary, Davis Film and Television Studio, held adaptation rights to several valuable literary works. If he could oust Martin and gain control of these projects...

Even Harvey couldn't suppress a cheshire-like grin from spreading across his round face.

...

Under the Los Angeles night sky, numerous people bustled about. Judy, a seasoned entertainment reporter, received a stack of documents, meticulously checking details on various individuals. She made a phone call, booked a red-eye flight, and set off on an overnight journey to reach her target city. Having reported on scandals involving Brad Pitt's nanny and Ben Affleck's controversies, Judy was well-versed in orchestrating such affairs.

Few reporters in the country could rival Judy's experience and expertise.

Judy was acutely aware that she'd be in dire straits if she couldn't shake off Harvey Weinstein.

In a burst of motion, a car zoomed into Burbank's hospital grounds. Brad Pitt, sporting a beanie hat, emerged and dashed towards the ward building. He barely reached the entrance before spotting Cassie, who was puffing away on a cigarette. It was Affleck.

With hurried steps, he approached Cassie and inquired, "What's happening?"

Cassie replied, "She's giving birth. Ben's keeping watch at the door. She asked me to wait here for you."

Brad Pitt nervously licked his dry lips and mumbled, "I hope it's finally time!"

Leading the way, Cassie said, "This way."

The two men ascended the stairs together, turned into a corridor, and discovered Ben pacing anxiously, more agitated than his wife during labor.

Brad Pitt, who had no children of his own and had never experienced this before, attempted to console Ben, saying, "Calm down."

Ben nodded, glanced around to ensure they were alone, and confided, "I just spoke with Harvey. He'll be arriving in Los Angeles soon. He wants us to press ahead and find public places where Martin frequents, especially those swarming with media reporters..."

Upon hearing this, Brad Pitt suggested, "I still have some connections in the industry. You should also keep an eye on the relevant media. Martin Davis' 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' is about to be released..."

As he mentioned the movie, Pitt felt an inexplicable discomfort, suffocating him. He was the lead in that film.

After a brief pause, he continued, "He's bound to attend some promotional events, and that's when we'll strike!"

Ben also discussed what to do if Martin refuses to acknowledge the child.

Pitt nodded, saying, "Let him taste what we've been through." Drawing from his own experience as a bastard child, he added, "If there's one, there'll be a second and a third. Once the third one emerges, the rest will follow suit."

Ben, who had experienced it firsthand, concurred, "I don't believe for a second that Martin won't have a second one!"

Suddenly, the adjacent door swung open, and a nurse emerged, asking, "Who are Toni Fairman's family members?"

Ben and the others rushed over.

The nurse smiled and said, "Both mother and son are safe!"

Peter crossed himself, whispering, "Thank God!"

...

The Davis Manor was eerily quiet at night.

In the villa's living room, after concluding a video call with Elizabeth Olsen, Martin was informed by Bruce, "Judy left overnight."

Martin remarked, "She's experienced in this field, and she's our best choice."

Bruce scratched his head, joking, "I'm just skin and bones, not much to me."

Martin raised an eyebrow, asking, "How do you know so well?"

Bruce avoided the topic, handing an invitation letter to Martin, and sighed, "It's getting weirder. We planned to deal with Harvey Weinstein, but his wife has teamed up with many of your supermodel mistresses..."

Martin corrected, "Not really, it's more like collecting stamps from each other."

Bruce decided not to dwell on it, stating, "Georgina Chapman has invited you to a fashion party in Malibu."

Martin accepted the invitation, noting that Angela Lindvall and Big KK had also signed it.

Both Martin and Bruce couldn't help but wonder why things were taking such an unusual turn. Martin decided to reach out to Angela, Georgina, and the others, taking charge of the party's decor and venue arrangements.