King of Hollywood-Chapter 945 - 2: Epilogue (Part 2)

Chapter 945: Chapter 2: Epilogue (Part 2)
My sisters all have their own careers, perhaps not particularly outstanding professions, but definitely the most suitable for them. There’s no need to mention Deva and Juliet, Eleanor went to study architecture, Patricia wants to be a freelance writer, and Mary, Aunt Jessica’s daughter, chose to be a chef. For a long time, Mary seemed ordinary, especially at sixteen or seventeen when she should have been setting her direction—I had already made two short films in the school club by that age—so she was lost and a bit insecure.
Dad patiently guided and advised her, and eventually, Mary found that she was quite good at cooking, so she went to culinary school, unexpectedly excelling. Now, every time there’s a festival at home, she helps make a few signature dishes. Frankly speaking, Dad was quite diligent in educating us, neither completely restricting us nor adopting a laissez-faire approach. If he wasn’t...
"Ed!" A passionate scream rang out. Turning my head, I saw Anna had left some time ago, and then a blonde girl ran over without minding the presence of others, jumping right into Dad’s arms and giving him a heavy kiss.
Seeing her, I couldn’t help but cover my forehead and let out a heavy sigh. She is Chloe Moretz, the leading actress in my film, a smart, cute and beautiful girl. Obviously, seeing her act so affectionate with Dad, one could infer their relationship; after all, Chloe was discovered by Dad, and no one he discovered managed to escape.
It’s just that Anna is somewhat understandable, as she’s at least two years older than me, but Chloe...she’s two years younger than me! Dad really has no boundaries! Oh, damn, I really don’t know what to say. Yet, Chloe just likes Dad. Normally a smart girl, she becomes utterly fanatical when it comes to Dad, idolizing him massively.
"Ed is the most charming man I’ve ever met, no one compares!" That’s what she says.
From Chloe, I truly understood what Mom meant by saying Dad was good at winning hearts, but I didn’t like it, not one bit. I admit there’s a certain reason within me at play, but Dad really went too far, seeming to have no sense of restraint. In this movie alone, besides Chloe, there are two supporting actresses: Jodie Furlan from Canada, and Saoirse Ronan from New York Town.
Both started as child stars, Jodie played major roles in many horror films, while Saoirse starred in "Atonement" with one of Dad’s women, Keira, earning a Best Supporting Actress nomination. They didn’t escape Dad’s grasp either, because... he thought Jodie’s role in the horror movie was very cute, and Saoirse’s blue eyes were beautiful.
What kind of bullshit reason is that? Aren’t you in your fifties, yet still so unrestrained? Does he want to sleep with every woman in Hollywood before he’s satisfied, is he even considering... ahem.
"Hi, Lily, hi, Deva, Juliet!" Once Chloe had enough intimate time with Dad, she noticed me and my sisters and came over with a smile and hugged us one by one.
I must say, her smile is really sweet and sunshine-like, but before I could enjoy the hug enough, she slipped away to continue her lovey-dovey time with Dad, really... I’m fed up! I couldn’t help but think of a line from "Avengers," where Dad had a cameo as Tony Stark in the "Iron Man" trilogy, naturally continuing in the Avengers.
In it, Captain America has a line to Stark, roughly saying, what are you without the suit? Stark responds, saying, Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. I think it was screenwriter Joss Whedon writing specifically for Dad, that line just fits him perfectly, especially the playboy part!
In this aspect, he’s achieved perfection. I really don’t understand why he can charm so many women. Remember Emma Watson, who I mentioned earlier, played a role in Inception? For a long time, she was my beloved Emma sister. We used to play together, prank Dad together; we were very close. So, when she proudly told me she had slept with my dad and had long wanted to be his woman, can you imagine how shocked I was?
And it was only a long time later that I learned, the only time Mom had a huge fight with Dad and moved out of the mansion in Beverly Hills, it was because of her, and the reason for not telling me earlier was concern I couldn’t handle it...
That’s not even the worst part; Emma not only slept with my dad but also pushed another Emma onto Dad’s bed—Aunt Julie’s niece, Emma Roberts! Though the other Emma, let’s just call her Rose, indeed had that intention, it still was too much... What left me utterly dumbfounded was, upon learning, Aunt Julie had a big fight with Dad too, but that very night, under Charlotte’s—the first Emma’s—instigation, gave her aunt a drink with an aphrodisiac called "Spanish Fly," and then joined Dad...
I really don’t know what to say, but what I absolutely couldn’t accept was Patricia. Even though she was young then and more impressionable, when she found out, she couldn’t keep her mouth shut for half a day. Moreover, the impact lingered, for example, a few weeks ago, Rose suddenly felt nauseous, as if she was pregnant. Patricia, who was nearby, immediately panicked and asked me repeatedly, "If the baby is born, how should I address it?"
After all, maternally, this child should be her niece, but paternally, the child would be her sister—no one dares mention brother.
Besides, Dad’s done many other messy things. The Asian girl and her mom, let’s not even talk about it, same with Selena and her mom. Now, take Annsophia Robb for example, her facial features are quite similar to Aunt Charli’s, plus the hair and eye color are very close, which gives me every reason to believe Dad chose her as the third secretary just to have fun with Aunt Charli...
It’s not impossible, he recklessly plays with it, like when I was around eleven to fourteen, I really enjoyed joining the Halloween parade, sometimes dressed as a fairy tale character; once, I was Snow White holding a basket, Aunt Charli was the Happy Prince, Aunt Sarah was a Little Mermaid, and Mom dressed as a sexy Little Red Riding Hood. So Dad became the Big Bad Wolf, because he thought Mom’s little red hood with black stockings was sexy, so that night...
Forget it, not talking about that. Another example, we have a room at home with a giant photo, made life-size, depicting Dad sitting in the middle on a chair, while Mom and all his women either standing, sitting, or lying on the ground around him like stars encircling the moon. I strongly suspect how he got them to be photographed together like that, especially since there are individual shots of them with Dad portrayed the same way.
If you think that’s all, you’re gravely mistaken. I’ve heard there’s another version of these photos, another... uh... one without clothes. Disclaimer, I haven’t seen it, but I heard that Dad has a private collection room filled with unspeakable things, and who else would be the main characters if not them. If there truly is another version, it certainly includes them, no doubt about it.
If you think that’s all, you’re sorely mistaken. I have heard these photos also have another version, another... um... one where they aren’t wearing clothes. I must stress, I haven’t seen it, I just know that Dad supposedly has a collection room filled with unsavory items, and who else would star in them if not those women. If there really is another version, there’s absolutely no doubt it would include them.
It’s a pity there’s nothing I can do but try to think positively, at least Dad and Mom love each other very much, at least Mom isn’t like Natalie.
The things about Natalie also give me complicated feelings about Dad. I don’t intend to comment on Natalie’s or Dad’s behavior here. I’m not some righteous brat running around with naïveté, I know what I’m supposed to do; that’s a sign of maturity. But the fact that this kind of soap-opera-like plot, where Molly Quinn, a former child star with Selena Gomez in Hannah Montana, wasn’t touched by Dad until much later, seems somehow understandable.
Furthermore, as Aunt Juliet told me the whole situation with Natalie, I’m not here to judge Natalie or Dad’s actions. That kind of melodramatic plot actually happening around me makes me all the more confused about how to describe Dad.
And let’s not even talk about what Dad did, that Asian girl and her mom don’t need mentioning, Selena and her mom too, but just to mention Annsophia Robb, her features are quite similar to Aunt Charli’s, and I’m sure Dad chose her as the third secretary just for fun together with Aunt Charli...
This is not out of the question, he plays around so wantonly in this area, such as during the time I was really into the Halloween parades from eleven to fourteen, one time dressing up as the basket-carrying Snow White, Aunt Charli as the Happy Prince, and Aunt Sarah as a Little Mermaid, and Mom dressed as a sexy Little Red Riding Hood, so that night Dad just... never mind.
Alright, not going to talk about that, another instance, there’s a room in our house with a huge photograph, life-sized, where Dad sits in the middle, on a chair, and Mom plus all of his women are standing, sitting, or lying around on the floor like stars surrounding the moon. I’m really suspicious of how he managed to get them all together for the shoot, especially when there are separate pictures of them with Dad done in the same way.
What a joke! He’s a man in his fifties and yet he’s so shameless. Is it that he has to sleep with every woman in Hollywood before he’s satisfied, even... cough cough.
Then there’s Sarah’s stories too that complicate my feelings towards Dad, Aunt Charli told me most of the story, and I don’t mean to pass judgment on Dad or Sarah’s behavior. I’m not some overly righteous naïve kid, I know what I’m supposed to do, that’s a sign of maturity. A ridiculous plot like destroying someone just because he was in love, actually happens around me, making it even more perplexing to describe my father.
So, when Molly Quinn, a former child star who appeared with Selena Gomez in Hannah Montana, hadn’t been touched by Dad until much later, it kind of makes sense.
Moreover, it is also worth noting those women who have no capacity to resist. Yes, I’m talking about the South Koreans. I remember that group, what was it called? Thigh Era? Maybe about a decade ago. Anyway, the South Korean enterprises had a request for my father’s company and not a single woman wanted to resist or even refuse him.
Though I have to note, the Korean companies were quickly put in their place by Dad shortly after, during a period where he was quite interested in gymnasts, and when he had recently got that Russian athlete Komova into bed. So, the South Koreans offered their country’s artistic material athlete, Son Yeon-jae, to Dad, seeming like they wanted to use her to catch Dad in a compromising situation because they were having a competitive issue with Samsung and Apple.
So, they ended up being outplayed by him, unable to complain even when wronged. That’s one of Dad’s strengths, no matter how much he plays with women, he’s always cautious, never blinded by urges alone.
Alright, enough of that, or I’ll just get more annoyed. Looking around, Deva and Juliet have both slipped away, Dad is gone too, off with Chloe, where they’re going is easy to guess just by using a little imagination.
Well, I was going about my business when, suddenly, another figure bumped into me.
"Hey, Lily, how are you?" Just from the tone of voice, I knew who it was.
A head of slightly curly red hair, mischievous gray-blue eyes, and a lively aura of youthful energy, seemingly fearless.
"What are you doing here, Sandy," I was somewhat surprised, "Does your mom know?"
"Where I go is my freedom," Sandy was a bit displeased but honestly answered, "Of course she knows, Dad knows too."
Then she pouted: "I originally wanted to say more, but now it seems a greeting will do."
Pulling the girl beside her into her arms: "Oh, let me introduce, this is Suri, she’s officially my girlfriend now."
"Hi, Lily." Suri shyly greeted Lily.
Even though I had anticipated this situation, I was still stunned for a moment, and then Sandy laughed and ran off quickly with Suri.
Sandy Kidman Cowell, Dad’s tenth daughter with Aunt Nicole Kidman, has been fearless since childhood, almost creating trouble wherever she went. Remember what I said? Aunt Charli definitely doesn’t know, some things girls can do too, referring to Sandy.
This matter caused quite a stir at school, Dad spent a lot of effort to settle it, and Aunt Nicole was persuaded by Aunt Naomi to completely abandon any idea of correction.
However, Sandy entering her rebellious teenage years was not to be restrained, bold and reckless as always; if the early few children were centered around me, the younger ones revolved around her, ten years younger than me. She used to control her mischief wisely but went overboard this time without punishment, becoming even more audacious, sometimes even disregarding Dad, declaring suffocation at home, intending to run away, and actually doing it. Unfortunately, Dad just went out and returned, and she followed suit, came back obediently; as for the reason.
"I was walking ahead and heard someone whistle, proudly turned around to see it was Dad! Moreover, he followed me to the nightclub, proclaiming I was his girlfriend when other men approached; finally... finally, he wanted to kiss me! Dad wanted to kiss me!" Sandy exclaimed excitedly, "I am his daughter! How could he disregard me as if I were a stranger!"
What can be said? Like father, like daughter? And with Sandy’s character, combined with Dad’s, who can say... anyhow, Sandy became relatively well-behaved afterwards, though she denied it, merely acknowledging finding a girl she could consider a long-term partner, Suri Holmes Cruise.
Honestly, at first, I didn’t take it seriously, I knew who Suri was, but her mother’s ex-husband, her father, was... Sandy’s mother’s ex-husband. Regardless of them possibly being together, it’s strange if they actually did, yet Sandy indeed succeeded, and the usually arrogant Suri surprisingly became docile and accommodating... I didn’t know what to say.
I wandered around the foyer, chatted with familiar people briefly, noticing there was time, I headed to the back wanting to be alone for a while.
Despite always feeling there was something wrong with Dad, I remembered a scene, after my 21st birthday celebration, he took all the children to Canada to the Sun Peaks Resort for skiing.
"Do you know what the proudest and happiest thing in my life is?" Watching my sisters frolic in the snow, Dad suddenly asked me standing nearby, but before I could answer, he smiled and revealed, "You and all of you, each one I witnessed your birth, held you to sleep at night, fed you, changed your diapers, bathed you, and tirelessly read stories to you even put you to sleep! With no exceptions!"
He bore a genuine smile, seemingly truly proud and happy about it... okay, he’s not a perfect father, but he’s an adequate one... yet I still felt unsatisfied!
"Lily?" Chloe’s surprised voice came to my ear.
"Chloe?" I showed my surprise too, wasn’t she supposed to... completed so quickly, and wasn’t Dad supposed to be beside her?
Chloe clearly guessed my thoughts, blushed, stammered for a while, then said somewhat displeased, "The Fanning sisters came, they spent half a month in Europe for a film location shoot previously, so..."
She shrugged then leaned against the wall beside me sulking, my brow furrowed as well. If you asked which of Dad’s women was most disliked, it would be the Fanning sisters, in fact most disliked them. Simply because these sisters are too opportunistic, Dakota Fanning as the elder sister sacrificed herself for Dad’s favor wasn’t enough, even dragged her younger sister down.
Unbelievable such a sister exists in this world! Although Britney and Jamie are sisters too, Britney always protected Jamie well, unlike Dakota. More astonishing was her sister, Mary Elle Fanning, after cluelessly ending up in Dad’s bed, was indifferent, even helped Dakota compete for favor, privately declared any sacrifice was worth achieving status.
Absolutely disgusting! Even though such women were not few around Dad, like Amanda, Leighton, Blake, they had some self-respect, the Fanning sisters however lacked even this.
Moreover, they completely ruined my plans. I initially wanted to follow Aunt Innie’s lead, compel Dad into making an agreement, allowing him to play but not harm girls younger than me. This seemed hopeful, yet Elle Fanning wrecked it all, she’s three years younger than me! Hence... how can I not loathe?
"Okay, Chloe, you know what kind of person my dad is." I gently held Chloe’s hand, a subtle emotion flowed through my heart.
"Absolutely, I’m just not happy, clearly... yet those annoying girls stole it away." Chloe pouted while leaning against the wall, making her look extremely cute.
To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) and vote for recommendations or monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)