Busy actor

Lucas smiled and began to explain to the audience, "Cryptocurrency, or Bitcoin in this case, is a digital currency that uses cryptography for security. It's decentralized, meaning it's not controlled by any bank or government."

Stephen leaned back in his chair, a look of exaggerated confusion on his face. "So, let me get this straight. It's money that doesn't exist physically, isn't controlled by anyone, and somehow makes you richer? Sounds like my childhood imaginary friend's piggy bank."

The audience laughed, and Lucas chuckled along.

Stephen continued, "But seriously, folks, are we sure Lucas isn't from the future? First, he takes down Harvey Weinstein, then he invests in companies that become hugely successful, and now he's got magic internet money. I'm starting to think we should be asking him for next week's lottery numbers."

Lucas grinned, playing along. "Sorry, Stephen, I left my time machine in my other pants."

Stephen chuckled, "Other pants? I thought you rich folks just had money teleported directly into your accounts. Learn something new every day!"

As the laughter died down, Stephen's expression shifted slightly, a mischievous glint in his eye. "So, Lucas, I've got to ask - what do you think your family, especially Vince and Myla, think about their son being a secret millionaire? I mean, not that they seem to care much about you anyway, if the tabloids are to be believed. Do they send you 'Congratulations on your Bitcoin' cards?"

The audience's laughter had a nervous edge to it, aware of the sensitive nature of the topic.

Lucas's smile became a bit more reserved. He paused for a moment before responding, "Well, Stephen, to be honest, I haven't had contact with my family in years, and I don't really plan to change that."

Stephen's eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise. "Wow! So you're telling me you're living every teenager's dream - rich, famous, and not having to attend awkward family dinners? You really are from the future!"

The audience laughed, appreciating Stephen's ability to lighten the mood after touching on a sensitive subject.

Stephen's expression softened, adopting a more serious tone. "You know, Lucas, I think a lot of people are curious about your family situation. If you're comfortable talking about it, could you share a bit more?"

Lucas nodded, his demeanor becoming more somber. "Sure, Stephen. Look, family relationships can be complicated. Mine certainly is. I haven't had contact with my father or stepmother for years, and honestly, it's been better for my mental health that way."

He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I think sometimes people assume that because you're successful or in the public eye, everything in your life must be perfect. But that's not always the case. Sometimes, the healthiest thing you can do is to set boundaries, even if that means distancing yourself from family."

Stephen nodded thoughtfully. "That's a very mature perspective, Lucas. It can't be easy to talk about this publicly."

Lucas gave a small smile. "It's not, but I think it's important. There might be people out there in similar situations who feel alone or guilty about their family relationships. If sharing my experience helps even one person feel less alone, then it's worth it."

The audience was silent, many nodding in understanding or agreement.

Stephen leaned forward slightly. "Thank you for being so open about this, Lucas. I think a lot of people can relate to complicated family dynamics, even if the details are different."

Lucas nodded appreciatively, clearly grateful for Stephen's respectful handling of the sensitive topic.

***

A week after the taping, the episode finally aired. Lucas's fans tuned in eagerly, many staying up late or setting their DVRs to catch the full interview. Social media buzzed with activity as viewers shared their reactions in real-time.

The revelation about Lucas's wealth caught many by surprise:

@JustGoogleItMFs tweeted: "Wait, Lucas is worth HOW much? And he's not even 25 yet? #Impressed"

The mention of Bitcoin sparked curiosity:

@Fck1234 posted: "Just googled Bitcoin because of Lucas Knight. Mind. Blown. #CryptoNewbie"

However, it was the discussion about Lucas's family that truly resonated with viewers. Many expressed their support for Lucas and their anger towards his family, particularly Myla:

@Versus_777 wrote: "It takes strength to set boundaries, even with family. Proud of Lucas for prioritizing his mental health. #FamilyIsntEverything"

@NoToxicityAllowed commented: "Can't believe how Myla treated Lucas. He deserves better."

On various fan forums, discussions erupted about family dynamics and the pressure of public life. Many shared their own experiences with difficult family relationships, finding solace in Lucas's openness about his situation.

The day after the episode aired, "Lucas Knight" and "Bitcoin" were trending topics on Twitter, with the interview sparking conversations about wealth, family, and the price of fame.

***

Meanwhile, in their lavish mansion, Vince and Myla Knight had just finished watching the episode. The atmosphere in the room was tense, with Myla practically seething with anger.

"How dare he?" Myla spat, her face flushed with rage. "He makes it sound like we're toxic, like being away from us saved his mental health. The ungrateful brat!"

Vince's jaw was clenched, his annoyance evident. "He's making us look like the villains."

Before Vince could say more, his phone rang. It was Rock, his social media manager.

"Vince," Rock's voice came through, sounding stressed. "We've got a situation. Your and Myla's social media accounts are being flooded with hate comments. It's... it's not good."

Vince pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on. "How bad is it?"

"Bad," Rock replied. "People are calling you terrible parents, saying Lucas is better off without you. Some are even digging up old stories and speculating about your past behavior."

Vince hung up, turning to Myla with a grim expression. "We've got a PR nightmare on our hands."

Myla scoffed, "It's all Lucas's fault. He's turned the public against us with his lies and exaggerations."

Vince placed a hand on Myla's shoulder, trying to calm her down. "Take it easy, Myla. We've weathered worse storms than this."

Myla shrugged off his hand, still fuming. "Worse? How could it be worse?"

"Think about it," Vince said, his voice level. "Lucas barely scratched the surface. He could have said a lot more, aired all our dirty laundry. The fact that he didn't means we're actually getting off easy."

Myla's eyes flashed with anger, but Vince could see a hint of realization dawning on her face. "But still, Vince, the things people are saying..."

"I know, I know," Vince soothed. "But trust me, it could have been much, much worse."

***

Meanwhile, Lucas found himself swept up in the whirlwind of the "Gravity" promotional tour. Alongside his co-stars Sandra Bullock, Katrina Law, Chris Evans, and his old friend Paul Sterling, Lucas crisscrossed the country, attending press junkets, photo shoots, and premiere events.

On the set of Good Morning America, Lucas, Sandra, Chris, and Paul sat comfortably, fielding questions about their upcoming film "Gravity."

Robin Roberts leaned forward with a warm smile. "So, tell me, what was it like working together on 'Gravity'? Who impressed you the most on set?"

Sandra, Chris, and Paul exchanged glances before Chris spoke up, grinning. "Oh, hands down, it's got to be Lucas. This guy is like a machine!"

Sandra nodded. "I agree. We're all struggling in these spacesuits, right? They're hot, heavy, uncomfortable. Most of us lasted maybe 30 minutes tops."

Paul jumped in, "And then there's Lucas, wearing his for three hours straight like it's nothing. He's casually saying he could do five hours, no problem!"

Chris laughed, shaking his head. "Meanwhile, the rest of us are practically drowning in our own sweat. I'm convinced he's secretly part robot."

Paul added with a smirk, "Or an actual astronaut in disguise. NASA, if you're watching, I think you lost one of yours!"

Robin turned to Lucas, who was trying to hide his amusement. "Lucas, any response to these accusations of being superhuman?"

Lucas chuckled, finally speaking up. "What can I say? I just really love the smell of my own sweat." He paused as the others burst into laughter. "But seriously, I think they're exaggerating a bit. I'm pretty sure I saw Paul napping in his suit between takes."

Paul gasped in mock offense. "I was method acting! Astronauts sleep in space too, you know!"

Chris grinned, leaning towards Paul. "Yeah, sure, 'method acting.' Is that what we're calling drooling in your helmet now?"

The group erupted in laughter once more before Sandra smoothly steered the conversation back to the film. "But in all seriousness," she said, her tone becoming more professional, "working on 'Gravity' was an incredible experience. The technology we used, the attention to detail in recreating the feel of space - it's unlike anything I've ever done before."

She went on to describe some of the unique challenges they faced and how they overcame them, giving credit to the entire cast and crew for their dedication.

As the interview wound down, Robin thanked them for their time. "Well, it certainly sounds like 'Gravity' is going to be a must-see film. Thank you all for being here with us today."

The cast thanked Robin in return, exchanging handshakes and smiles as they prepared to leave the set. Off-camera, they could be heard continuing their playful banter, with Chris threatening to reveal more of Paul's "method acting" secrets if he didn't behave.

Robin smiled, clearly enjoying the dynamic between the co-stars as they continued to joke and tease each other good-naturedly.

***

After the GMA interview, the cast embarked on an intensive promotional tour for "Gravity." Over the next few days, the casts crisscrossed the country, making appearances on various talk shows, attending press junkets, and participating in fan events.

They visited major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, each stop filled with interviews, photo shoots, and Q&A sessions. The cast's fellowship continued to shine through, with their playful banter and genuine respect for each other evident in every appearance.

Lucas, in particular, found himself fielding an increasing number of questions about his rapid rise to fame and his business ventures, in addition to queries about the film. He navigated these deftly, always bringing the focus back to "Gravity" and the team effort behind it.