Tycoon Actor C485

The birthday celebration continued after the documentary shoot, with Lucas and Jennifer inviting the director, crew, and close friends to dinner at their home. A private chef had been brought in, preparing a full course meal that filled the house with rich, inviting aromas.

Liza, James, Nicole, Jonas, Marian, and the others had all returned for the occasion. None of them would miss Lucas’s birthday—not after everything.

Melvin was there too, smiling quietly in the corner.

At the center of the dining table stood a grand, multi-tiered cake. It was far bigger than the one Jennifer had given him earlier at Netflix. This one was clearly planned in advance—frosted, detailed, and topped with a bright “28” in golden candles.

Jennifer lit the candles and looked at Lucas with a soft smile. “Alright, birthday boy. Make a wish.”

Lucas glanced around at everyone gathered. So many people. So much warmth. He smiled, then closed his eyes and thought: ‘I just want me and Jennifer to be safe. Healthy. Together… for years to come.’

Simple. But real.

He leaned in and blew out the candles. Applause filled the room, followed by laughter and the clinking of glasses.

As the celebration picked up, Jack leaned in close to Lucas. “Boss—Kobe’s here. He’s outside with his family. Wants to say happy birthday.”

Lucas blinked. “Kobe Bryant?”

Jack nodded.

Lucas stood, visibly surprised. “Wow. Let him in.”

Jennifer followed as he made his way to the door. And sure enough, stepping into the villa was none other than Kobe Bryant, dressed casually, his family with him.

Kobe looked around with a smile. “First time here. Nice place.”

Lucas grinned. “You really came?”

“Of course I did!” Kobe said, pulling him in for a quick hug. “Why wouldn’t I?”

The guards tensed but eased quickly. Kobe’s visit wasn’t a secret—he and Lucas were longtime friends.

Guests gasped and murmured. A small crowd quickly gathered, some asking for selfies, others simply stunned by his presence.

“I love basketball,” Jonas said, eyes wide. “Can you sign my ball later?”

“Absolutely,” Kobe said with a nod.

Just when the excitement seemed to peak, the front door opened again—another surprise.

“Happy birthday, Lucas!” came a familiar voice.

It was Taylor Swift, smiling as she walked in with a small wrapped gift in hand. “Sorry I missed the candle moment!”

Lucas chuckled. “You’re right on time.”

The room brightened even more. Nicole and Liza made a beeline for Taylor, grinning like starstruck teens.

“I love your music,” Nicole said, nearly breathless. “Especially your song with Lucas—Let Her Go. It’s my favorite. You two need to make more music together.”

Taylor looked over at Lucas with a playful gleam in her eye. “Well… maybe if a certain someone’s in the mood to write again.”

Lucas gave her a mock shrug. “Guess I’ll need some inspiration.”

Jennifer laughed from the side. “I’ll make sure he gets plenty.”

The whole room erupted into cheers and laughter as the party truly came alive.

Meanwhile, social media was buzzing:
"Happy Birthday, Lucas Knight!"

The hashtag #HBD2Lucas soared to No. 3 on the trending list worldwide.

Naturally, the media wasn’t about to miss the opportunity to cash in. Paparazzi stationed outside Lucas’s gated villa were snapping photos from a distance, their long lenses trained on the high-profile guests coming and going.

First, they caught Kobe Bryant’s arrival—capturing the warm greeting at the entrance. Then came Taylor Swift, waving politely as she entered with a gift.

But it didn’t stop there.

The former Warner Bros. CEO Barry Meyer pulled up next. A few minutes later, it was Luis Fonsi. Then Leonardo DiCaprio.

And after that? Christopher Nolan.
Then Danny Boyle.

Two of the most respected directors in the industry—both with ties to Lucas’s past projects.

The paparazzi whispered among themselves, stunned by the unexpected celebrity parade.

“Is this a birthday party or a secret awards show?”

“Are they all here for clout… or do they really care about him?”

Regardless of the reason, the sight was unprecedented. No birthday of Lucas’s had ever drawn this much star power.

Then, just when things seemed to settle down—flashing red-and-blue lights rolled in.

Several police cars pulled up quietly but firmly outside the villa.

The paparazzi immediately tensed. Shutters clicked faster than ever.

Because while celebrities drew interest... police meant headlines.

And if the police were showing up on Lucas Knight’s birthday—
Something big was brewing in the shooting case.

---

Inside the house, Lucas was laughing with Kobe over an old joke, while Jennifer and Taylor chatted nearby, surrounded by a small group of guests.

Then Jack approached quietly, leaning in to whisper something into Lucas’s ear.

Kobe caught the subtle shift in Lucas’s expression—his relaxed smile faltering, his eyes widening for just a second.

“Everything alright?” Kobe asked, brows raised.

Lucas straightened and forced a smile. “Yeah, yeah. All good. Go ahead and enjoy the party. I just need to handle something real quick.”

Without further explanation, he stepped away, following Jack toward the front of the house.

Kobe watched him go but said nothing, choosing not to pry.

At the entrance door, two uniformed officers stood guard. Lucas nodded to them as he passed, making his way into the private room where the LAPD chief was already waiting.

Lucas didn’t waste time. “Chief... is it true? They finally caught the three shooters?”

The chief gave a calm nod. “Yes. They were found hiding out in a remote cabin deep in the Appalachian Mountains. It wasn’t an easy trace, but thanks to a sharp cyber specialist and the coordination with NYPD SWAT, the arrests were made early this morning.”

“A cyber specialist?” Lucas echoed, surprised.

“Right,” the chief said, pulling out his phone. “The guy didn’t want any press attention, but he insisted on speaking with you directly. I’ve got him on video call—he’s in Virginia.”

The screen lit up as the call connected. A few seconds passed, and then a face appeared—hooded sweatshirt, wire-framed glasses, slightly messy black hair. He looked Asian, maybe in his mid-20s, but Lucas couldn’t quite place his ethnicity.

Lucas leaned in and greeted him first. “Hey there.”

The man just stared at the screen, unmoving.

Lucas frowned. “Is the signal bad? I think the video’s lagging…”

The chief peered over, confused.

But the man suddenly blinked and snapped out of it. “H-hi!” he stammered, clearly flustered. “Sorry. It’s just... I didn’t expect to actually see you face to face.”

Lucas smiled gently. “You’re the one who helped track the shooters?”

“Yes, sir!” The man straightened up a bit. “My name’s Darren Fox. And yeah—I found them. Been monitoring unusual data logs near a rural access point. That, combined with a device signature traced from Richmond? It all lined up. I flagged it and passed it to the authorities.”

Lucas blinked. “That’s... incredible. I’m genuinely grateful. You probably saved more lives than just mine.”

“I’m just glad I could help,” Darren said, his voice firmer now. “You don’t need to worry about those three anymore. They won’t hurt anyone else.”

Lucas nodded, eyes softening. “I want to make sure you’re compensated. There’s a monetary reward—”

But Darren cut in, waving his hands. “No, no, man. I don’t want money. Seriously.” Then he grinned. “Consider it a birthday present.”

Lucas was stunned into silence.

Even the chief looked at Darren in disbelief. “You don’t want the reward?”

Darren shrugged. “Nah. You’ve inspired a lot of us. This is just my way of giving back.”

Lucas was taken aback by Darren’s response. It wasn’t what he expected.

“Sure, I get that it’s your way of giving back,” Lucas said, trying to smile. “But are you sure there isn’t anything else you want? Anything at all?”

Darren hesitated. His eyes shifted slightly, as if weighing something unspoken.

“Well…” he paused. “If possible… I’d like to meet you. In person. Just to talk, face-to-face. Nothing crazy.”

Lucas and the LAPD chief exchanged a quick glance. That wasn’t the kind of request they were expecting.

Lucas nodded after a beat. “Yeah… I think we can make that happen.”

Darren grinned, clearly thrilled. “It’s a deal.”

After a bit more back-and-forth, the call ended and Lucas returned to the party. The celebration went on into the night, laughter filling the villa. But in bed later, Lucas lay awake, deep in thought — something Jennifer didn’t miss.

“What’s on your mind?” she asked gently.

Lucas turned toward her and shared the news — the shooters had been caught. Jennifer sat up instantly, eyes wide.

“Wait—really? All three of them?”

He nodded.

“Oh my god,” she whispered, the tension in her body easing all at once. “That’s incredible…”

---

Two days later — New York City

The arrests were still under wraps. No media outlet had gotten wind of it. The three suspects were being held in a secure New York facility.

Lucas and Jennifer had flown in quietly and were escorted to the detention center. Cameras flashed the moment their convoy was spotted, but no one could get close. Security was tight.

Inside, Lucas sat in a private interview room — glass on one side where Jennifer now stood behind a one-way mirror, watching. Her jaw was tense, fists clenched. She wanted to scream at them. She wanted to punch them. But she stayed quiet.

Across from Lucas sat the three shooters.

Their heads were lowered.

For a long beat, no one spoke.

Lucas finally broke the silence.

“I’m not gonna pretend I’m not angry,” he said evenly, eyes sharp. “You nearly killed two of my closest friends—my driver and one of my oldest security men. For what? A paycheck?”

The stocky man, John Ray, scoffed. “We were just doing our job.”

Shelly, the woman beside him, elbowed him sharply. “Shut up, John.”

The pale man, Kenny, looked up briefly before dropping his eyes again. “I… I’m sorry,” he said, voice cracking. “I shouldn’t have taken the job. I didn’t know it would go that far. I didn’t think you’d—”

“What?” Lucas cut in coldly. “Didn’t think I’d survive?”

Kenny winced. “No—I mean, I didn’t think I’d care. But when I saw your speech… saw what people said about you... I realized I’d made a mistake. A big one.”

Lucas snorted. “So your guilt kicked in after the public backlash. Not when you pulled the trigger.”

“No,” Kenny said quietly. “It kicked in when I realized… if we’d succeeded, we’d have signed our own death warrants too.”

John Ray and Shelly didn’t speak, but the way their eyes shifted said enough. They knew it was true.

They had underestimated who Lucas Knight was.

Now, they were paying the price.

They had never imagined that an actor could wield this much influence — not just in the U.S., but across the world. The weight of that realization hung over them like a heavy fog.

Lucas sat in front of them, arms crossed, eyes cold and unblinking.

“Who ordered you to kill me?”

Silence.

The three shooters didn’t even breathe loud. They sat still, as if frozen.

BAM!

Lucas slammed his fist on the table.

“I said — who!?”

They all flinched, but still, no one answered.

Lucas’s chest heaved. His patience snapped. He slammed the table again, louder this time, then suddenly grabbed John Rey by the collar and yanked him forward.

“Say it! Who sent you!?”

John clenched his jaw, eyes darting to the side, refusing to speak.

“Talk!” Lucas roared. His voice echoed through the room, raw with emotion.

He had promised himself he’d stay calm — that he wouldn’t lose it. But now that he was here, face-to-face with the people who nearly ended his life, his anger boiled over.

“You want to keep quiet!?” Lucas growled, standing and lifting John halfway off the ground by his collar.

“Lucas—!” one of the detectives barked, stepping in.

Two officers rushed in and pulled Lucas back before it escalated further.

“Let us handle it,” one detective said firmly. “They’re not going to talk like this.”

Lucas exhaled sharply, lips pressed tight. He backed away and left the room in frustration.

Outside, Jennifer stood behind the one-way mirror. She had seen Lucas angry before… but never like that.

It was rarer than watching him break on camera — and that was saying something.

---

A few minutes later, Lucas stood beside Jennifer, watching the detectives continue the interrogation. The shooters still kept quiet.

“They’re a tough nut to crack,” Jennifer said, arms crossed.

Lucas nodded, eyes fixed on the glass. “They’re using their rights. Waiting for their lawyer.”

Jennifer sighed. “Yeah. And if the lawyer's smart, they’ll try to bury everything under legal red tape.”

That made Lucas pause. His eyes narrowed as an idea struck him.

“What if the lawyer’s not just smart… but connected? What if they’re part of the same group? Someone the mastermind trusts?”

Jennifer glanced at him, considering. “That’s possible. But proving it will be like chasing smoke.”

Lucas nodded slowly, already turning the thought over in his mind.

Just then, a voice spoke from behind.

“They might not talk… but the phones we recovered might.”

Lucas and Jennifer turned.

“Darren?” Lucas said, surprised.

Standing by the doorway was Darren Fox — hoodie, glasses, same messy hair from the video call. But now he was here, in the flesh.

“It’s finally good to meet you,” Darren said, stepping forward and shaking Lucas’s hand enthusiastically.

“Glad you’re here,” Lucas said sincerely. “So—what did you find?”

Darren lit up. “Right now, no one outside this room knows these three have been caught. That means the people who hired them are still unaware. If we move fast… we might catch them off guard.”

Jennifer nodded. “Then let’s use that. Before the trail goes cold.”

Darren nodded. “That’s the plan. I managed to crack into the encrypted apps those three were using. I’ve even been messaging their contact—the supposed mastermind. The tricky part is, the aliases are random strings of letters, and they’re using rotating burner protocols. But... it’s not impossible.”

Lucas nodded slowly, watching him with rising respect. “Then maybe you can use that—bluff them. Push them to talk.”

Jennifer chimed in, “Yeah. Make them believe their boss already sold them out.”

Darren smirked. “That’s exactly what I had in mind.”

He stood, gave a subtle nod to the detectives by the door, and stepped into the interrogation room.

The moment Kenny spotted him, his eyes widened. “You…”

Darren gave him a casual wave. “Hey there. Still hoping your lawyer’s gonna Jedi-mind-trick his way out of all this?”

He leaned on the table, glancing at all three. “Let me break the suspense. Your phones are a goldmine. Even deleted messages leave traces. The messages, the logins, the location pings—we’ve got enough to hang a billboard over your heads.”

The trio didn’t respond, but their silence wasn’t as confident as before. Kenny glanced at the others. His fingers twitched.

Darren leaned closer, voice dropping. “And you know what’s really fun? The encrypted app you used? Yeah… your ‘boss’ just texted back. Sounds like someone’s trying to disappear before we find them. Now imagine what happens when we trace those texts. Guess whose names will be the first to pop up?”

Kenny flinched. Even John and Shelly looked uneasy now.

But even with the pressure mounting, the three stayed quiet.

Darren waited. Nothing.

He tapped the table, once, twice. Then exhaled sharply. “Still holding the line, huh? Alright.”

He stood up, folding his arms, staring down at them with clear irritation. “You know, I thought maybe fear would crack you. But you’re betting everything on some scumbag with a burner phone and a nickname.”

Kenny kept his head down, John clenched his jaw, and Shelly looked away.

Darren shook his head and muttered under his breath, “Unbelievable.”

Lucas stood quietly, watching the three suspects—silent, stubborn, unreadable. And yet, instead of boiling with frustration again, he felt... calm.

‘Life is a story,’ he thought, his mind beginning to drift. ‘And fate is the director. We, the humans, are just actors… Each of us playing the roles we’ve been handed... or chosen.’

A strange sense of detachment washed over him, almost like a breeze blowing through a stage before the curtain rises. The murmurs of the room faded. In his head, the world slowed down. ‘So... if I’m just an actor, what role must I play to make these three speak?’

And just like that, his Mind Workshop activated.

Lucas blinked—and found himself elsewhere.

Inside his head, the private room had reformed, down to the last detail. The three shooters sat across from him again—John, Shelly, Kenny. Their posture, their silence... identical to real life.

He glanced around, startled by how vivid the simulation was. ‘This isn’t normal,’ he thought. Mind Workshop usually only activated to run through official scripts, preparing him for roles, not real-life situations like this.

Yet here it was—alive, responsive. A rehearsal room not for fiction, but for truth.

‘Alright then,’ Lucas murmured inside his own thoughts. ‘If this is my stage… let’s find the scene that breaks them.’