"You need to take a step back. I don't think you should continue with the promotional tour right now."
"No, no—this is a rare opportunity. With Transformers gaining momentum, I have to push through. How often do you get a simultaneous U.S.-U.K. release like this?"
Megan Fox's manager sighed, dark circles under her eyes. "The public narrative isn't favoring you. Maybe lay off the tabloids for a while. And let's be honest—in that situation, none of it was your fault."
The black Buick sedan soon pulled away from London's Harley Medical Centre. Megan, her face drawn with exhaustion, stepped out in an unassuming gray coat and hurried toward the inpatient wing.
Every time she passed a crowded area, she ducked her head or tugged her cap lower. It was the only way. Since that 45-minute video had leaked, she'd become the most criticized member of the Transformers cast—the collateral damage of a PR wildfire.
At first, the whispers about her fiancé, Brian Austin Green, were contained to gossip rags—"faked unconsciousness," "coward in the face of danger." Harmless, really. And since they were all part of the same film, no one in Hollywood would dare sabotage the project by dragging her through the mud. Not when Paramount's Sherry Lansing was about to retire.
But then a YouTube account named "Claire's #1 Fan" condensed the footage into an 8-minute edit—narrated with razor-sharp commentary, painting Claire as the lone hero and Brian as the spineless bystander.
Overnight, Claire became a 4-million-follower internet sensation in the U.S., fueled by America's obsession with underdog triumphs.
And as the law of cosmic balance dictates: One man's rise is another's ruin.
Brian's entire life was dredged up online. His agency, CAA, dropped him like a hot coal. But the real nightmare? The internet mob turned on Megan, flooding her agency's website with demands for divorce and resurrecting every misstep of her past.
Thankfully, her agency, ICM, had a long-standing feud with CAA. Whatever CAA condemned, ICM defended. And once ICM realized Transformers' box-office potential, they doubled down on rehabilitating Megan's image—spin-doctoring the scandal into sympathy.
Outside Brian's hospital room, Megan paused, frowning at the empty bed next door.
Back when both Brian and Claire Lee were patients here, she'd been curious about the footballer. There was something familiar about him—like she'd seen him before. But between the chaos and ICM's tight leash, she never got the chance to ask.
A nurse had once casually mentioned: "Your fiancé wouldn't even be here if not for Claire Lee."
The Harley Medical Centre wasn't just any hospital. It boasted world-class rehab facilities, frequented by celebrities and politicians. Megan had assumed the studio pulled strings—until she learned Claire was the one who arranged it.
By the time she worked up the courage to thank him, he'd been transferred to Wellington Hospital at the London government's request.
Guilt gnawed at her. That night, her emotions had spiraled from terror to shame—but by the time she processed it, the moment was gone.
And now? ICM's ironclad control made reaching out impossible.
What surprised her most, though, was Claire's influence. Not just his friendship with Ronaldo, but the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson himself had visited him.
Pushing open the door, she found Brian and Shia LaBeouf deep in conversation.
Megan blinked. "Wait—isn't the Tennessee promo today?"
Shia grinned. "You haven't checked the updates? We skipped it. It's your hometown—we're saving it for the final leg, with you."
His enthusiasm stung. Megan knew the studio was minimizing her exposure, but she forced a smile. "Honestly, I'm shocked Claire's a musician too."
Brian's face darkened instantly.
They'd fought about that night repeatedly. Brian refused to admit any fault, and every time Megan mentioned Claire Lee, it was like pouring gasoline on his ego.
Shia, sensing the tension, deftly pivoted: "Hey, Brian—you're almost discharged, right? November 26th is Claire's Premier League debut. I've got tickets. You two should come!"
He waved two slips triumphantly. "Had to pull strings for these. And Megan—fun fact: Claire's from Rockwood, Tennessee. Lived there 13 years. You guys are practically neighbors!"
"Plus, he's mixed-race too—Asian and Irish. Warner's going all out: two new singles dropping that day, and Jason Statham, Kate Winslet, even Emma Watson are confirmed to attend."
Brian muttered, "Just paid celebs for a PR stunt. Big deal."
Shia ignored him. Brian was a has-been, but Megan? Transformers' dailies proved she'd be a star.
Yet Megan had gone silent, her brow furrowed—as if piecing together a puzzle.