Chapter 550: It’s Hard Being a Good Person!

In the heart of Los Angeles, headquarters of the Martin fan club, Phoebe diligently counted the promotional materials recently delivered by Jessica.

Rachel ushered in a throng of eager fans who had gathered for the afternoon event, keen to collect their memorabilia.

The cast of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" had organized a promotional event to show their support.

Phoebe distributed posters and banners with enthusiasm, side by side.

A male fan couldn't help but inquire, "There have been reports in the media suggesting that Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, and Brad Pitt incited Toni Fairman in framing Martin in the illegitimate child incident. Is it true?"

Rachel affirmed, "Yes, the newspaper reports are accurate. The LAPD has indeed arrested those three troublemakers!"

An outraged voice chimed in, "Their actions are beyond reprehensible!"

"I've been saying that Martin couldn't have done such a thing. There are still people on the internet who doubt his innocence. They'll stoop to anything to blackmail him, they'll fabricate anything."

"My friend works as a videographer in the fashion industry. He told me that Victoria's Secret supermodels prefer Martin over Leonardo. It's rumored that Martin is the benchmark for supermodel certification!"

"Certification? How does that work?"

As the discussions flowed among the fans, Rachel intervened to steer the conversation, proclaiming loudly, "In today's event, we are not only here to support Martin but also to demand attention from all quarters regarding this incident. We seek severe punishment for those who falsely accused Martin!"

Phoebe chimed in, "Without strict repercussions, there's no telling when someone like Bonnie or Jane might make false claims in the future, saying a baby is Martin's. Martin shouldn't have to deal with such unwarranted burdens when he should be focusing on delivering us high-quality films."

Others joined in expressing their solidarity.

"Yes, the culprits must face severe consequences!"

"They need to pay dearly for their actions!"

"Let's exert pressure on the Los Angeles judicial system!"

Rachel opened a box filled with various posters and banners already prepared for distribution among different fan groups' leaders.

Rachel and Phoebe had organized hundreds of people to participate in today's interactive event.

Meanwhile, at Los Angeles International Airport, Martin bade farewell to Elizabeth and Lily before heading to the Hollywood Bowl to prepare for a promotional event for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

The Olsen sisters' fashion promotion activities in Milan were still ongoing. After ensuring Martin's well-being, Elizabeth returned to Europe to continue her brand promotion work. After all, she was the brand's third-largest individual shareholder.

Lily, on the other hand, was bound for Rome and Florence for a visit and study program, accompanying them to Italy.

As Martin approached the Hollywood Bowl, he couldn't help but notice the bustling scene.

A sea of fans donning crimson fan club shirts practically occupied Highland Avenue in North Hollywood.

Spotting the sleek black Cadillac Escalade, the crowd erupted in a harmonious chant.

"Martin! Martin!"

The resounding cheer swept through the crowd like a tidal wave.

"Martin! Martin!"

Martin hesitated to open the window, but Bruce decided to open the sunroof instead. He stood up, waving appreciatively to the supporters on both sides, wearing a smile and nodding to express his gratitude.

The event's security personnel formed a human wall, creating a path for the Escalade to pass through the theater's back entrance.

As they approached the entrance, Martin reached for the electronic loudspeaker always kept in the car and shouted, "Thank you for your unwavering support!"

A thunderous roar erupted from outside.

Even after the Grand Theater's back door had closed, the thousands of people outside continued to chant Martin's name.

At the main entrance, groups of fans wearing red cultural shirts entered the venue one after another. The cameras of hundreds of reporters in the media area swiveled toward the auditorium.

A sea of banners and posters filled the air.

"Support Martin and demand justice for the true culprits!"

"Let the law hold wrongdoers accountable!"

"The law should protect our heroes!"

The chant echoed, growing in volume as it spread throughout the audience.

"Protect our heroes, punish the real culprits! Protect our heroes..."

The media cameras faithfully captured the scene, ensuring significant public pressure would follow.

Backstage, Thomas expressed some concern, "Do you think this might affect your relationship with the Los Angeles authorities?"

Martin smiled, "We had discussed this before taking any action."

Bruce leaned in and whispered to Thomas, "Ben also has a stake in this. McClain wanted to generate some public pressure."

Thomas nodded in understanding.

David Fincher entered at that moment, hugging Martin and expressing relief, "I was a bit worried. It's great to see you're okay."

Martin chuckled, "Just a minor hiccup."

He was determined to handle the situation firmly. Any sign of weakness could lead to recurring troubles in the future. The people working under him would be swamped just dealing with these issues.

Regarding collaborators like David Fincher, Martin didn't expect too much. It was standard to gauge the situation before expressing an opinion.

Kathleen Kennedy also approached Martin for a conversation.

The promotional event began promptly with Martin, David Fincher, Cate Blanchett, and other creative team members taking the stage. They followed the planned agenda, sharing behind-the-scenes anecdotes and responding to questions from the media and fans in attendance.

As night fell, the crew presented clips from the film.

Compared to David Fincher's other works, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" had a brighter, more optimistic tone.

At the conclusion of the event, David Fincher and Martin discussed their next collaboration, "Gone Girl."

David Fincher focused on casting, saying, "Gillian Flynn and I have reviewed all the information about the leading actress candidates. Martin, there's something I need to clarify in advance."

Martin nodded, prompting David to continue.

"Natalie Portman, the actress recommended by both you and WMA, isn't suitable for this role," David Fincher asserted bluntly, explaining, "It's not about her acting skills; it's her appearance. She doesn't fit the character of the amazing Amy. Amy is described as exceptionally beautiful with a cold and ruthless demeanor..."

He put it even more directly, "In short, Natalie Portman doesn't meet the beauty and appearance criteria for the role."

Martin concurred, acknowledging that the recommendation had been based on Ari's face, and said, "You and Gillian make the decision. I won't interfere."

David Fincher noted his lack of objection and concluded, "I'll arrange for her to participate in the third audition. If she fits the role of the mysterious Amy, we'll see how the audition goes."

Martin nodded, replying with a simple "Okay." Yet, beneath that response lay a deeper understanding. He knew that Natalie Portman's chances of landing the role were slim due to her average appearance.

If looks weren't a concern, David Fincher might have opted for his long-time friend, Reese Witherspoon.

They engaged in a casual chat about the film they were promoting. Neither of them was overly concerned about the box office or market performance of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Martin's Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Award had bestowed him with significant popularity. With Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures jointly backing the film, publicity and distribution were on solid footing.

However, they understood that such films couldn't compete head-on with purely commercial blockbusters at the box office.

As darkness blanketed the outside, Martin settled into the Escalade for the journey home.

Bruce reminded him, "Don't forget, you have an appointment with Harvey Weinstein tomorrow."

Martin replied, "I'll get the lay of the land over there first."

He reached for his mobile phone and dialed Georgina, the cunning and extravagant woman who was adept at gathering information about Harvey's recent activities. Georgina even furnished Martin with a room number and requested a rendezvous after his meeting with Harvey the following day. She seemed eager to undergo another test.

Given that the other party had effectively sold her husband, Martin found it hard to refuse. Reluctantly, he agreed.

Bruce glanced over and saw Martin ending the call. He quipped, "You're really going through a lot, selling yourself to gather information."

Martin sighed, "Brother, it's not a walk in the park for you either. Judy... how's your hip doing? Any pain?"

Bruce couldn't help but shed a tear at the memory of Judy, who had been so lively before and after: "No more pain."

The two rogues lamented their respective challenges.

As the car approached the North District of Sunset Boulevard, Martin noticed a van pulling out of Charlize Theron's neighboring house, followed closely by a black Mercedes-Benz. The two vehicles headed toward each other, illuminated by the Escalade's headlights. Martin recognized the driver of the Mercedes-Benz as Stewart Townsend.

Several bags were piled up on the passenger side, suggesting a packed vehicle.

As they neared each other, Stewart spotted Martin's Escalade, lowered his driver's side window, extended his hand, and raised his middle finger in Martin's direction.

Bruce saw it and suggested, "Want me to ram into him? I can give him a little shock."

Martin shook his head, "What good would that do? He's on his way to take a paternity test, and that's trouble enough."

Bruce posed a thought, "Does a man need to take responsibility for what Toni did?"

Martin couldn't recall any similar cases. He pondered, "Perhaps this will become a precedent in the American legal system."

Bruce gestured back, "You don't think Charlize Theron kicked him out, do you?"

Martin decided to confirm. He dialed Charlize's number, and as the call connected, he adopted a concerned tone, "Hi, Charlize, I noticed a van loaded with belongings leaving your place. Did you know about this? I was thinking of calling the police."

Charlize replied confidently, "No need to involve the police; I'm well aware of the situation. I broke up with Stewart Townsend and asked him to move out today."

Martin expressed his sympathy, "I'm sorry to hear that..."

Charlize reassured him, "It's not your fault. Everyone knows the kind of man he is; I've put up with him for far too long."

Martin offered comfort, "Things will get better."

She sighed, "Are you free this weekend? Let's grab a drink."

Martin agreed, "You pick the time and place for the weekend; feel free to call me anytime."

As Martin ended the call, Bruce teased, "Leo and Jack were right; this is right up your alley."