Free Web NovelChapter 50: Chapter 50: Good News and Bad News
Zane Lynch stewed in silence for a moment, but eventually, his curiosity got the better of him.
"Bro, why are you suddenly asking about this? Did something happen?"
"A few days ago, a friend of mine was on a business trip and saw a woman with a child who looks a lot like you. He called me specifically to ask if you had a secret child out there somewhere."
Zane Lynch froze, then suddenly grabbed Caspian Rhodes’s hand in agitation. "Where did he see them? What did the woman look like? How old was the child?"
"He didn’t go into detail. He just said the child looked to be about four or five years old."
"Four or five... four or five years old..." Zane Lynch murmured the age, his mind already reeling, completely at a loss.
On one hand, he muttered, "It’s probably just a coincidence. There are plenty of people in this world who look alike. If I jump to conclusions, wouldn’t that just make me look full of myself?"
On the other hand, he couldn’t help but bite his fingernails, agonizing, "But what if? What if? What if it really is..."
This was the first time Caspian Rhodes had seen him so completely lose his composure. He inwardly marveled at the influence this prospective sister-in-law, whom he had never met, had on his foolish little brother. He then asked nonchalantly, "Is it really your son?"
"...I don’t know for sure."
"Absurd!" Caspian Rhodes’s face fell. "You have to investigate this properly. If it turns out to be true, you need to remedy the situation as soon as possible. Otherwise, when Aunt and Uncle find out, even I won’t be able to save you."
Zane Lynch was already feeling uncertain, and hearing Caspian Rhodes’s words made him grit his teeth, determined to uncover the truth of what happened back then. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Seeing Zane look so distracted, as if his spirit had already flown the coop, Caspian Rhodes knew he had achieved his goal.
’My knowledge of this first love of Zane’s is limited, after all. Rather than fumbling around in the dark myself, it’s better to let Zane handle it.’
’Besides, judging by the kid’s reaction, he clearly still has feelings for her. Once a suspicion takes root, he’ll be driven to find out the truth.’
’Maybe, before long, I’ll have a sister-in-law and a nephew.’
"You handle this yourself. As for the company business, you need to sort that out quickly, too. Don’t wait until you’re on the losing end to feel regret."
Zane’s mind was a complete mess. Hearing Caspian Rhodes’s words, he replied automatically, "Company business? What’s wrong at the company? Weren’t all the problems Master Donovan mentioned solved today?"
The words had barely left his mouth when Zane Lynch watched his brother’s face darken in a flash, like a stormy summer sky. It was a tempest of dark clouds, thunder, and lightning!
’...’ ’H-help!!!’
Arabella Donovan was oblivious to this little episode between the Rhodes brothers. All she knew was that she had gone to bed thrilled about the two large payments from her fourth sister and Mr. Rhodes, only to wake up the next morning to another transfer—this one from her second brother.
Arabella Donovan: "???" ’Am I on a lucky streak with money lately? Why do so many people want to send me cash?’
"Hector..."
"Don’t look at me. It’s not my money."
Arabella grew even more confused. "If it’s not your money, then why did you send it to me?"
"Grant asked me to transfer it to you... It’s the Divination Money."
Arabella paused for a moment, then realized. "His problem was solved?"
She shouldn’t have brought it up. The moment she did, Hector Donovan’s eyelid twitched uncontrollably.
"Radiant Entertainment sent over another actor to replace Edward Pierce, and they also kicked in some extra investment to compensate the production for its losses. On top of that..."
Hector Donovan paused, grinding his teeth. "Mr. Rhodes also personally added to the investment."
It all clicked for Arabella.
’That’s a CEO for you. His efficiency is off the charts. Just yesterday, I was telling them about that future industry powerhouse, and today, the guy’s already been shipped off to the set to grind for experience. Tsk, tsk...’
’But this is for the best. I don’t have to worry about Hector’s show being cancelled, and the investors will make a killing. After all, this new guy is a true powerhouse who can go toe-to-toe with a "Gary Stu" protagonist! His talent is the real deal.’
Hector Donovan narrowed his eyes. ’So that’s why Radiant Entertainment and that pig Caspian Rhodes suddenly upped their investment. There was another angle to it!’
"Right now, Grant is so happy he’s practically running victory laps on set. He transferred the money to me first thing this morning. Said it was to thank you for your ’golden words’ and that your prophecy of a great benefactor appearing truly came to pass for him."
At the mention of this, Arabella grew even more embarrassed. "My words are hardly ’golden.’ It was just a fluke, pure luck."
But Hector Donovan didn’t see it that way. In his view, she was the one who had pointed out the new male lead, and she had personally secured the additional funding.
’She even considered the potential future pitfalls and basically handed the production an ace in the hole for free. He actually thought the sum Grant sent over was too small!’
Hector Donovan let out a bittersweet huff. "I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"
Everyone at the dining table looked over in unison, then exchanged glances before tentatively saying, "Let’s hear... the bad news first?"
"Because of the situation with Jacqueline Jennings and Edward Pierce, I lost a few endorsements. On top of that, the week’s worth of scenes I already filmed are all unusable now. Basically, I shot them for nothing."
Hector Donovan only had a guest role, and his character was the male lead’s master, so eighty to ninety percent of his scenes involved the main character.
Now that the role of the male lead had been recast, all the scenes he’d previously shot were naturally unusable.
Mrs. Donovan was the first to react. "So, you’re saying you won’t have any income for a while and can’t support us anymore?"
Hector Donovan choked, unsure whether to be annoyed or amused. "I’m a Triple Crown Best Actor, for crying out loud. A half-month hiatus isn’t going to leave me unable to feed you all!"
"Then what’s the good news?"
"The good news is, also because of the Jacqueline Jennings and Edward Pierce situation, I’ve got several new endorsement offers." Hector Donovan lifted his chin proudly. "They’re from bigger, more well-known brands than the ones I lost."
CLAP CLAP CLAP—
The moment he spoke, everyone at the table put down their bowls and chopsticks and tactfully began to applaud.
Arabella and Eloise Donovan, with perfect coordination, began to shower him with praise.
"You’re amazing, Hector!"
"So powerful!"
"Such a badass!"
"Hector..."
Hector Donovan was floating on cloud nine from his two younger sisters’ flattery, unable to keep the smile off his face. "Grant’s side found a new male lead, so my original scenes have to be reshot. But it’s no big deal. It was their screw-up to begin with, so they’ll pay me again for the reshoots."
Arabella Donovan chewed on her chopsticks, looking at Hector with pure envy.
’Is this the legendary "do one job, get paid twice"?’
Hector Donovan: ’...’ ’No, I’m just doing the exact same work twice!’
"Reshooting these scenes will probably take another week. In addition, Webb has screened the endorsement offers and is prioritizing ones based here in Jarden. So, plans have changed, and we might have to stay here for another two weeks, or even longer."
This was undoubtedly good news for Arabella Donovan, who had already been trying to figure out how to extend their stay.
"Does that mean I can go with Eloise to Mrs. Lynch’s banquet next week?"
