Chapter 378: The Dispute Has Begun

---

**Night.**

**Fountain by the pool.**

Hepburn lay on the bench, pretending to be asleep. Hardy and Hepburn were rehearsing the first scene of the encounter between their characters in the film.

Hardy whispered to Hepburn, who became confused and followed him in a daze to a car. They drove to a private house, and Hepburn, still groggy, followed Hardy upstairs. As he opened the door, Hepburn stumbled, and Hardy helped her inside. He picked her up and placed her gently on the bed. The bedding, smelling of sunlight and freshness, was inviting.

One minute. Two minutes.

Hepburn opened her eyes slightly. She saw Hardy pouring wine and let out a sigh of relief.

"Care for a drink?" Hardy asked.

"Can I wake up?" Hepburn asked, still with her eyes closed.

"Of course. It's time for the next scene."

Hepburn opened her eyes at Hardy's words. He handed her a glass of wine, and they settled on opposite sides of the bed. Hardy lay down while Hepburn sat cross-legged, and they chatted while drinking.

"Mr. Hardy, do you often help actresses with auditions like this?" Hepburn asked after taking a sip of her drink.

"No, this is only the second time," Hardy replied.

"I'm curious about the first time."

"The first time was with Taylor. She was a young lady at the time, and under my guidance, she transformed into the character Matilda in the movie."

He didn't mention Monroe, although he had once taken her on a yacht for an audition and had an in-depth conversation with her.

Hepburn suddenly said, "I've read reviews saying Taylor's performance was astonishing, and now I see it's thanks to you, Mr. Hardy."

They continued discussing the details of "Roman Holiday," and as their conversation flowed, Hepburn's eyelids grew heavy. Eventually, she fell asleep beside the bed.

When she woke up, it was already morning. To her surprise, she felt peaceful and not scared, even with Hardy sleeping nearby.

Hardy opened his eyes to see Hepburn watching him.

"Awake already?" he asked.

"Yes, Mr. Hardy," Hepburn replied, feeling embarrassed.

After they washed up, they went to the rooftop to admire the early morning view of Rome.

"What shall we rehearse next?" Hepburn asked.

"It's time to say goodbye," Hardy said.

"Alright, the goodbye scene with Jon is the climax of this movie," Hepburn noted.

"Today, I'll rehearse with you one more time before I fly back to the United States this evening. I have important matters to attend to there. Meanwhile, I've arranged for the director and crew to meet with you for initial rehearsals," Hardy said.

Hepburn was surprised. She realized that Hardy's departure wasn't just a part of the film; he was actually leaving.

In the room, Princess Anne looked at Jon with reluctance and tenderness in her eyes. Despite only knowing him for two days, she had developed feelings for him. 

As Hardy described the scene, Hepburn's expression grew more somber, reflecting her true emotions. They embraced, and Hepburn's voice trembled as she said, "I'm leaving."

"...Goodbye, princess," Hardy whispered.

Their eyes met, and their lips touched in a kiss. Hepburn's lips were soft and carried a subtle fragrance. Her kissing skills were inexperienced, and when Hardy's tongue touched hers, she was initially startled but eventually surrendered.

After a long moment, they parted. Hepburn panted slightly, and Hardy's gaze became even more intense.

"Do I kiss like this with other actors?" Hepburn asked.

"No, only I can do this," Hardy replied, kissing her again.

The two spent the day exploring the city, holding hands and enjoying each other's company. They avoided tourist attractions, opting instead to wander and experience Rome together. Hardy taught Hepburn to ride a motorcycle, and although they had a minor mishap with a fruit stand, they enjoyed themselves.

They listened to a violinist play Pachelbel's Canon in D major, which Hepburn had mentioned to Hardy. Afterward, Hepburn applauded and gave him a tip.

That night, Hardy took Hepburn to the airport. They said their goodbyes, sharing an intense kiss. As Hardy left the car, Hepburn watched him through the lowered window, feeling the first pangs of love and curiosity about this new feeling.

After Hardy's plane took off, Hepburn returned home with her bodyguard.

Back in the U.S., Hardy received urgent news from Henry. Investigations into Hollywood actors and companies were underway, and the first batch of targets included Heidi Lamah. Although she had not sought American citizenship, the investigation committee suspected her due to her past associations.

Upon returning to Los Angeles, Hardy met with Henry, who provided updates on the investigation. They reviewed documents and recordings revealing McCarthy's aggressive tactics and political maneuvering.

McCarthy's approach involved accusing anyone with suspected labor sympathies, regardless of evidence. His methods included undermining companies and manipulating stock prices for personal gain.

Hardy realized he needed a strategic plan to navigate the political landscape and leverage the situation for his benefit while avoiding risks.

The next day, Hardy flew to Washington on a private jet. Instead of going directly to President Johnson, he first met with Senator Nicosson, who was now one of Hardy's key allies.

After a lengthy discussion, Hardy met with Marshall, whose reaction to the evidence was one of distress. Marshall, who would resign due to McCarthy's attacks, was deeply troubled by the investigation.

Hardy then met with Secretary of State Acheson, who criticized McCarthy's methods. Finally, Hardy spoke with President Johnson, who expressed frustration with McCarthy's overreach and his threat to Johnson's key advisors.

Johnson, a political veteran, was angered by McCarthy's excessive tactics and the threat to his administration.

---