Watching James and Chris stand there with different expressions but both gritting their teeth in unison, their disgust and rejection were clear—they still had no intention of forgiving Brad Renfro.
Anson had been hospitalized, and everything was kept under wraps because it concerned their entire plan, which was of utmost importance. Edgar had refused most visitors for this reason.
In the end, people sent their regards with flower baskets or fruit.
Honestly, when Anson saw Brad Renfro's flowers, he was a little surprised—not at Brad's gesture, but at the fact that it was flowers.
Brad had been wandering since childhood, moving from one foster home to another, without a stable place to live and struggling to get enough food to eat.
Flowers?
For Brad, that was too much of a luxury.
Brad never understood the act of expressing emotions through flowers.
Yet here he was, sending flowers. It was a breakthrough.
Anson no longer held a grudge against Brad. The apology from last time had cleared the air, and with time, all the sighs and regrets had faded away.
Anson said, "He's just realized he's lost his way and is trying to find his way back."
James, still nonchalant as ever, said, "If only it were that simple. People don't change that easily."
Anson didn't argue and turned to Chris. "You should look at the card."
Chris hesitated but obediently opened the card. "'Looks like in the end, we all turn into the person we hate the most.' What does that mean?"
Anson shrugged lightly. "It's literal. Brad's been through a lot lately."
James looked at the puzzled Chris. "Jessica doesn't mind you being like this?"
Anson quipped, "James, do you think Jessica is dating Chris for his brains?"
Back and forth they went, seamlessly bantering—
Jessica Biel, a young actress still relatively unknown, had mostly appeared on television and in a few films, though none had garnered much attention.
That would change this year. In October, she would star in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, a horror film that would go on to gross 80 million dollars in North America. More importantly, the film would become a phenomenon among horror fans and in the DVD rental market, launching Jessica into fame.
Still, Jessica's acting career would remain tied to the "eye-candy" label, and later, she'd really enter the public eye after taming bad boy Justin Timberlake, with whom she'd marry and have two children.
But now?
Jessica was dating Chris Evans.
They all thought it would be a brief summer fling, two or three months at most. But to their surprise, the relationship blossomed, and now another summer had arrived, with the two becoming more and more stable.
As his two friends teased him, Chris quickly caught on.
"Ha. Ha. I know you both envy my looks and physique. Sorry, unless you're reborn, envy will get you nowhere."
James groaned. "Ugh. That lasagna from the other night is about to come back up."
The playful atmosphere vanished as soon as Lucas walked in, his intense presence silencing the room. James and Chris quickly said their goodbyes and left obediently, leaving Anson a bit helpless.
"Lucas, you look like an old man," Anson teased.
Lucas didn't react. "You need rest."
Anson rolled his eyes. "I've been doing nothing but resting all day, every day. How much more rest do I need?"
Lucas simply replied, "Yes."
Anson: …
A soft chuckle came from the doorway. It wasn't often that people saw the sharp-tongued Anson at a loss for words, and the group at the door started laughing.
Lucas turned silently, and the group scattered immediately.
However, Kristen stayed behind, hesitating at the door with a conflicted expression.
Anson noticed. Throughout the visit, Kristen had been preoccupied, barely joining in the conversation. His usual smile seemed harder to maintain, and his glances toward Anson were full of uncertainty.
"Mary Jane?" Anson teased.
Kristen reflexively looked up, momentarily stunned by Anson's bright smile, before finally managing a smile of his own.
He let out a sigh, seeming to make a decision. Standing at the door, he said, "There's something you need to know."
Even Lucas sensed the seriousness of the moment.
Lucas invited Kristen in and whispered, "Please make it quick; the doctor says Anson needs rest."
After that, Lucas left the room, closing the door behind him.
Anson waved dismissively. "Don't worry about him; Lucas always overthinks."
Kristen walked to the foot of the bed and smiled softly. "His concerns are valid. We're all worried, waiting for you to come back to work."
Anson said, "Don't worry. I'm practically a baby now, being looked after 24/7. Recovery is just a matter of time."
Kristen's smile faltered. "But it's worse than we thought, isn't it?"
"I mean, you've been in bed the whole time we've been here, and you seem like you can't move easily. And you've kept it all a secret."
"I—I'm just worried about you."
Kristen's words were jumbled, and his gaze was evasive, clearly unsettled.
It was obvious something was wrong.
Anson didn't deny it. Though his injuries weren't severe, they required careful attention. His back muscles were sensitive, and if the recovery didn't go well, it could lead to lifelong consequences.
Anson asked, "Kristen, did you hear something?"
Suddenly, Kristen's head shot up, his face full of shock as he looked at Anson.
Anson continued, "You've been uneasy all day, and now you've stayed behind alone. Something must be going on. Don't worry, whatever rumors you've heard, I probably know them too."
Kristen muttered, "I'm just worried that you don't know. That someone's stabbing you in the back while you're left in the dark."
Finally, Kristen spoke up.
"Sony Columbia is looking for an actor to replace you."
At last!
Though it was difficult, though he hesitated, Kristen had finally said it.
He had been worried that the news would devastate Anson. After all, Anson had done nothing wrong and had paid such a high price for the movie. But Sony Columbia's response was to look for a replacement, making backup plans. It was… shameless.
Even though Kristen knew how ruthless corporate Hollywood could be, he was still chilled by Sony Columbia's cold-heartedness.
But Anson was calm, with a slight smile on his face, confident and composed as if he had everything under control.
Kristen was stunned. Realization dawned. "You already knew?"
Anson nodded slightly. "But I still appreciate you worrying about me and coming to tell me yourself. I feel guilty for keeping all of you in the dark."
Kristen let out a long breath, relaxing a little. "So, you're preparing to fight back, right? You're going to fight for the role, aren't you?"