Chapter 548: The Real Culprits

Following the conclusion of the press conference, Martin and his entourage boarded the same commercial vehicle and departed ahead of the others.

Inside the car, Leonardo shook his head with a tinge of regret, remarking, "We came to witness your spectacle, to see you being cornered, and this is what we get?"

With the situation essentially resolved, Nicholson, once again relegated to the role of a bystander, stood beside Martin and quipped, "Could we change it up next time and have Leo and me take the forefront?"

The last time he played a major role, it had been exhilarating, a sense of control filling every moment. This time, however, he felt like a mere spectator, the entire process a waste of his time.

People like Elizabeth and Lily had long become immune to the antics of the Face Gang.

Martin, in a serious tone, stated, "The individuals behind Toni are Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, and Brad Pitt."

Nicholson pushed up his sunglasses and quipped, "So, it's an alliance of underachievers."

Leonardo chimed in, "They're the core members of the Foot Gang."

Martin nodded in agreement, adding, "You mentioned earlier that many media outlets today were invited by Harvey Weinstein."

He continued, "Next, I intend to engage in a direct conflict with the Foot Gang, with Harvey as our target."

Nicholson's greatest fear was having nothing to do. He interjected, "Others might be concerned about the consequences on their future, but I've never been afraid. In the worst-case scenario, I'll just retire."

For him, retirement wouldn't be much different.

Leonardo echoed his sentiments, saying, "Harvey is no ordinary opponent, and the three of us are no ordinary individuals."

Martin kept it concise, concluding, "And it's not just the three of us. This extortion case provides us with the opportunity to start with Ben, Brad Pitt, and Cassie."

...

The press conference had taken a peculiar turn, making it a hot topic in the news. Reporters hurriedly returned to their workstations to file their reports.

Others rushed to Beverly Hills in a bid to interview the famous potboy, Stuart Townsend.

Some reporters who had contacts within Charlize Theron's circle immediately began reaching out to their sources.

Toni, clutching her child, found herself relatively overlooked amidst the commotion.

Meanwhile, Aisha and her companions basked in newfound fame in the eyes of the media.

Toni stood in the hall, cradling her child, and waited patiently.

Shortly thereafter, several detectives from the Police Detective Bureau approached her, displaying the necessary paperwork, and informed her, "Ms. Toni Fairman, you are under suspicion of attempting to blackmail Martin Davis. Please come with us..."

Upon hearing the routine words, Toni replied calmly, "I'll go with you."

Two policewomen flanked her as they left the hall, and camera shutters clicked among the reporters who had yet to depart.

The group soon arrived at the Police Detective Bureau, and it became evident that the paternity test results didn't align with Martin at all. Even if Toni wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, she could sense that her demand for $10 million had spiraled into a massive predicament.

Just as Lily had warned, she was entangled in a criminal matter.

In this pivotal moment, Toni seemed only to care about herself, showing little regard for the consequences her actions had on others.

Without hesitation, she shifted the blame onto the Affleck brothers and Brad Pitt.

Numerous phone and video recordings were at their disposal.

Toni had secretly recorded the lessons provided by Ben and others, originally intending to use them as a guideline for her encounters with Martin. Now, these recordings were proving their worth.

In the past, the Police Detective Bureau might have been somewhat cautious when dealing with the Affleck brothers and Brad Pitt. However, they now faced nothing more than a coalition of has-beens. Consequently, the person in charge of the case promptly filed for an emergency arrest warrant from the district attorney.

The victim of this $10 million extortion case happened to be an honorary citizen of Los Angeles and a national hero of the United States. This was an influential credential that couldn't be ignored.

...

Inside a hotel room, Ben, Cassie, and Pitt were busy packing their belongings.

Pitt grumbled, "Is this what you call a masterstroke? Damn it, Ben, you couldn't even determine the child's biological father!"

Ben ruffled his hair in frustration, replying, "How could I have known she'd claim to be pregnant? What kind of woman fabricates such a lie? Jennifer Garner was clueless when she was pregnant; her IQ dropped at least 50 points! I asked Toni multiple times, and she gave me the same story each time. She described what happened between her and Martin in that room."

Pitt erupted in anger, shouting, "You're utterly useless and foolish! You've squandered my time and money!"

Ben retorted, "Is that what you think I wanted? Did you not listen to her and contribute to her suggestions? Did you not notice?"

Brad Pitt fired back, "Because I trusted you!"

Cassie quickly interjected, attempting to mediate the situation, "Let's stop arguing. I think overzealous fans like Toni may have become entangled in delusions, mistaking them for reality. She genuinely believed it, and that's why we didn't catch on."

Ben, not known for his patience, growled, "Where's that imbecile? I'm going to make her regret..."

Brad Pitt suddenly recalled something. Martin Davis had called the police, citing Toni's blackmail.

If the paternity test proved a DNA match, the claim of calling the police would seem ludicrous.

The issue lay in the fact that there was no DNA match whatsoever between Little John and Martin, and Toni's former comrade had just exposed the truth!

Initially uneasy, Brad Pitt now sensed impending trouble. He no longer cared to bicker with the Affleck brothers, hastily gathered his belongings, and announced, "I've got things to take care of. I'm leaving now. I'll be in touch."

Exiting the room, he strode along the corridor, turned a corner toward the elevator, only to be met by a group of plainclothes officers and police personnel.

Brad Pitt spun around and rushed back into the room, discarding his bag and reaching for his cellphone, desperately trying to contact someone for assistance.

"LAPD! Show us your hands!" A commanding voice echoed from behind, followed by more authoritative orders: "Stop! Show us your hands!"

Brad Pitt glanced back and noticed several of them reaching for their holstered weapons. He promptly halted, raised his hands, and complied, saying, "Don't do anything rash, I'll cooperate!"

Two officers swiftly moved in, one of them forcefully twisting Pitt's hands behind his back and securing handcuffs.

Simultaneously, a waiter who accompanied them knocked on the adjacent room where Ben and Cassie were staying.

Upon sighting unfamiliar faces, Cassie instinctively reached for the baseball bat discreetly positioned behind the door.

"Don't move! LAPD, hands where we can see them!" A burly officer surged forward, swiftly subduing Cassie.

Another hulking officer, weighing over 200 pounds, approached Ben with the precision of a professional football running back, pinning him to the ground. His colossal knees and calves pressed firmly against Ben's back and neck.

Ben attempted to speak, but as he opened his mouth, he struggled to breathe and erupted into fits of coughing.

Before he could utter a word, his hands were roughly contorted behind his back, and silver handcuffs were swiftly applied.

Soon enough, additional LAPD officers entered the room, conducting a thorough search and confiscating all possessions belonging to Ben, Cassie, and Pete.

The three individuals were then escorted into the elevator.

Ivan had stationed himself at the hotel's entrance, even making "courteous" calls to inform many colleagues in the industry to gather.

"What other news could possibly compete with the illegitimate child incident?" remarked someone. "Many reporters have gone to Beverly Hills to interview Stuart Townsend."

Another chimed in, "We couldn't even get into the North District of Sunset Boulevard."

Ivan pointed towards the hotel's entrance, declaring, "Look, someone's coming out."

Several people swiftly raised their cameras and camcorders, encircling the emerging figures.

At that very moment, three police cars rolled up, their sirens blaring.

Two imposing LAPD officers in uniform led the way, emerging from the hotel doors and opening the path.

Following closely behind, three individuals, handcuffed one after the other, were escorted out.

Flashes erupted from the cameras, and a reporter operating the shutter exclaimed in surprise, "Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, and Brad Pitt?"

"Yes, it's them!" confirmed another.

Someone inquired, "Ivan, why have the LAPD arrested them?"

Ivan replied while continuing to record, "How should I know?"

The trio passed before the camera lens.

Pitt was faring slightly better, though his hands remained twisted behind his back.

Ben and Cassie, on the other hand, bore evident signs of embarrassment, sporting swollen noses and faces.

A reporter behind the camera inquired loudly, "Officer, why are you arresting them?"

The leading police officer halted and responded, "The three suspects are believed to be involved in a serious extortion case valued at up to $10 million!"

The reporter blinked repeatedly, a sense of déjà vu washing over them at the mention of the sum of $10 million.

The team leader among the police officers waved his hand, directing the suspects into a police car before promptly leaving the scene.

The realization struck the reporter, who exclaimed, "Was Toni Fairman blackmailing Martin for $10 million?"

Another reporter, piecing it together, concurred, "Indeed, it's $10 million!"

Regarding the speculations surrounding Martin and Pitt, those familiar with the entertainment industry and insiders had heard rumors. One reporter pondered, "Could the Affleck brothers and Brad Pitt be the masterminds behind the Toni incident?"

Another reporter rushed towards their motorcycle; this was big news that could fetch a hefty sum.

Others too reacted promptly, hurrying into their vehicles and speeding away.

Ivan entered his car, driving a short distance before finding a spot to park. He dialed Bruce's number and informed, "Those three rascals were just arrested by the LAPD. I recorded it all. Whenever you're ready, I'll bring it over to you."

"Give it a moment; there's no rush," Bruce responded before ending the call and addressing Martin.

Martin stood on the third-floor terrace, which afforded the highest vantage point in the house. He peered in the direction of the neighboring house, questioning, "Why is there no activity?"

Elizabeth couldn't help but chide him, "Your thoughts are perpetually veering toward the negative, always gravitating towards trouble."

Martin defended himself, saying, "I witnessed Stuart ruthlessly kicking our trash can until it was deformed!"

"You can monitor it from here," Elizabeth responded, heading downstairs. "I'll prepare dinner. Leo and Jack should be here. Stay for dinner."

At that moment, Thomas ascended the stairs and shared, "Brioni, Cadillac, Nokia, and Cartier men's watches have all called to express their support for you."

Bruce smiled and remarked, "Let's see if they maintain their support once the results are confirmed."

"It's to be expected," Martin replied nonchalantly. "After all, it's merely a business partnership, not as deeply connected to us as Coca-Cola."

Coca-Cola had been openly supportive of him from the start.

Thomas added, "Ari also called, stating that the agency will offer full support."

These sentiments had been kept under wraps until now, but with matters resolved, Martin found himself surrounded by supportive figures.

As Martin observed for a while longer, his cellphone suddenly rang, and the caller was none other than Charlize Theron!