Tycoon Actor C476

Lucas and Jennifer continued to enjoy their time in Hawaii, fully immersed in their private retreat. Although a few close people knew about their vacation, some couldn’t help but grow uneasy with the prolonged silence.

Especially William Cavendish—Lucas’s grandfather.

He was no stranger to the enemies his grandson had made. And not just rivals from petty fame or jealousy—but men with real power. Dangerous men.

From Harvey… to his own father, Vince Knight. To the darker corners of Hollywood's elite.

But none weighed on William’s mind more than Sean or P. Daddy.

Lucas had played a significant role in pushing victims to speak up. He’d stood behind them when no one else would—and that led to the unraveling of Diddy’s empire. The allegations had surfaced because of Lucas’s quiet encouragement behind the scenes.

“That boy makes me proud… but damn if he doesn’t make me nervous,” William thought grimly.

Though Combs had been arrested, he wasn’t convicted. Not yet. Money and influence were still on his side, and William knew how justice could bend when pressed hard enough. There were even whispers in the past—never proven—that Combs had paid off judges to pin his crimes on rapper Shyne (Moses Michael Levi Barrow). Now, ironically, even Shyne had publicly distanced himself from Combs.

But facts were murky. Power had a way of cloaking the truth.

---

In Hawaii, meanwhile, Lucas and Jennifer continued to live their quiet paradise—just the two of them.

Weeks passed. There were small arguments here and there—over dishes, sunburns, or who picked the wrong wine—but nothing serious. Compared to their shared laughter, affection, and long nights under the stars, the disagreements barely mattered.

Their relationship only grew stronger. Lucas remained patient and present, always listening. And Jennifer—more in love than ever—felt more at peace than she had in years.

One night, they sat together at a private outdoor table, the sea breeze brushing gently over their skin. A warm meal sat between them, and the world felt infinitely far away.

Jennifer rested her chin on her hand, looking at Lucas with soft, thoughtful eyes. “I wish we could stay like this forever. No headlines. No deadlines. Just… this. You and me. It’s so peaceful. It actually feels like we’re taking care of ourselves for once.”

Lucas reached out, gently brushing her cheek with his fingers. “And maybe our kids, someday. Right here. Imagine them running around this place.”

Jennifer blinked, then smiled, eyes glinting with warmth. “Yeah… I can see it.”

She let out a little laugh. “Honestly, with how much we’ve been at it the past few weeks, I wouldn’t be shocked if I was already pregnant.”

Lucas grinned. “There’s a 90% chance. Better be ready.”

Jennifer swatted his arm playfully. “Hey, I’m on effective pills, thank you very much. I still want to work—and keep building something for our future.”

Lucas laughed. “Come on. I’m a billionaire. What more could you possibly need?”

Jennifer raised an eyebrow. “Billionaire on paper. I know how this works. Stocks drop, markets shift, and suddenly you're asset-rich but cash-poor.”

She paused, then added more softly, “Especially with how much you give to your charities...” Her voice trailed off as she realized the weight of what she was saying. “Sorry—I didn’t mean that the wrong way.”

Lucas reached across the table, taking her hand. “It’s okay.”

He held her gaze and added, “Look—don’t worry about the stock market. Even if it crashes, we’ll still be fine. I give back because I can. And even if it cost me everything, I’d still be happy with this—you and me.”

Jennifer’s expression softened. “You really mean that?”

“I do,” he said. “We’re not just rich in numbers. We’re rich in the right way.”

Jennifer smiled, her heart full. “Then let’s never lose that.”

They raised their glasses, clinking them gently together under the stars.

The power couple’s privacy wasn’t going to last much longer.

Andre, a paparazzo who’d been hunting for Lucas for weeks, had finally caught a break. He wasn’t the only one on the trail—others had also caught wind of the couple possibly hiding out in Hawaii. But Andre had been the luckiest.

A few days after arriving on the island, he overheard whispers at a local café about a secluded beachfront estate rented out to someone “very rich, very private.” His instincts kicked in. He followed the clues, and sure enough, he found himself peering through foliage near the edge of a private property—camera ready.

There they were. Lucas and Jennifer. Together. Laughing, holding each other, looking like they hadn’t a care in the world.

Andre’s eyes widened as he raised his camera. Even from a distance, the zoom lens captured them clearly enough. He grinned like he’d just struck gold.

“Hehe... Gotcha, you sneaky lovebirds,” he whispered to himself. “Vanished from the world for weeks, huh? Let’s see how long that silence lasts now.”

He clicked away, each photo another nail in the coffin of their quiet escape.

---

Online, Twitter was ablaze.
Hashtags about the missing couple had surged to the top of the trending tab—first creeping in with whispers, then exploding into a digital frenzy.

By morning, #WhereIsLucasAndJennifer hovered at number three.

#MissingStarCouple climbed to second.

And at the very top, pulsing with urgency: #FindLucasAndJenNow.

What began as quiet concern had turned into a full-blown spectacle.

It was ridiculous, really. Just a few weeks off the radar, and the internet had turned their absence into entertainment—whether people realized it or not. Some were genuinely worried. Others? Not so much.

Naturally, the conspiracy theorists had entered the chat:

“Please find the couple immediately—or they’ll come back cloned!”

“They’re dead. The government’s replacing them with doubles.”

“Lucas had a hand in P. Daddy's arrest. Think someone put a bounty on him?”

“Harvey’s finally getting revenge for being exposed. Wake up, people.”

Worried fans, unhinged theories, and curious spectators all stirred the digital pot.

Then—boom.

A single blurry photo leaked online. Lucas and Jennifer. Together. Relaxed. Laughing. Framed against the backdrop of what looked like a luxurious beachfront estate.

“I knew it. They're just hiding in paradise.”

“That house is easily worth over $40 million.”

“Relieved they're okay. But that view? Damn.”

“Is that some private island?”

Within hours, timelines calmed—but not for Lucas and Jennifer.

From the balcony, Jennifer squinted at the distant figures beyond the treeline. Flashes. Lenses. Movement.

“Ugh. It’s that creature again. The elusive paparazzi. They sniffed us out all the way from L.A.,” she muttered, shaking her head.

Lucas gave a dry chuckle. “Well, I guess our secret’s out.”

He stretched, unfazed. “We were about to leave anyway. Been here almost a month.”

Jennifer nodded with a wistful smile. “You're right. Time to leave our little paradise behind.”

---

The couple had already packed light, their brief escape over. Temporary bodyguards were hired for their return, and before sunrise, they boarded a sleek private jet headed back to the United States.

What they didn’t know was that something waited for them—something far worse than flashing cameras or gossip headlines.

The moment their jet touched down, Lucas and Jennifer stepped onto the tarmac with tired but relaxed expressions. Waiting by the airport entrance stood their usual security detail—Simon and Jack, both alert as ever, alongside Shawn, their trusted driver.

“Welcome back, sir,” Simon greeted with a subtle nod. “Car’s ready.”

Lucas returned a quick nod, and Jennifer gave them both a tired smile. The couple climbed into the back of the SUV, and the car smoothly pulled out of the terminal and onto the road.

Not five minutes later, Shawn glanced into the rearview mirror and frowned.

“We’ve got a tail,” he muttered.

Simon leaned forward. “What kind of car?”

“Gray sedan. Been behind us since the exit.”

Jack glanced over his shoulder, expression tightening. “Probably another paparazzi.”

Lucas and Jennifer turned to look through the back window. At first glance, it seemed harmless—just another vehicle.

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Jennifer said quietly, leaning closer to Lucas. “They always find a way.”

But then, the gray sedan suddenly closed the distance—too fast, too close.

Simon narrowed his eyes. “That’s not casual tailing.”

Jack’s voice dropped. “Heads up.”

The passenger-side window of the gray sedan began to roll down—slowly, deliberately.

And then it appeared.

A matte black handgun slid out of the narrow gap, steady in a gloved hand.

“Gun!” Jack yelled. “Get down! Now!”

“Down!” Simon echoed, already reaching for his weapon.

Shawn’s hands tightened on the wheel. He yanked it hard, trying to swerve away, but it was too late.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Gunfire tore through the air. Glass shattered. The back window exploded in a rain of shards.

Lucas reacted instantly, grabbing Jennifer and pushing her down into the floor space between the seats. She gasped, stunned, but followed his movement.

Shawn let out a cry as a bullet slammed into his shoulder and another grazed his hand. “Agh— damn!”

Jack and Simon moved with military precision. In one motion, they unholstered their weapons, rolled down the windows, and fired back.

BANG! BANG!

Return shots cracked through the night. Jack was clipped across the upper arm by a retaliating bullet, blood soaking his sleeve.

Simon returned fire, aiming low. The gray sedan veered, but the shooter stayed locked in—until one of Simon’s bullets cracked the edge of their hood.

The sedan suddenly swerved hard and began to fall back.

“They’re pulling off!” Simon shouted, breath tight, still aiming in case they circled again.

Inside the SUV, Jennifer’s chest heaved. “What the hell is going on!?” she cried, her voice shaking.

Lucas held her tightly. “We’re okay. We’re okay.”

Shawn gritted his teeth through the pain, one hand pressed to his shoulder as blood stained his seat.

Jack winced but kept his eyes forward, still scanning for movement. “That wasn’t paparazzi,” he muttered. “That was a hit.”

The gray sedan disappeared into traffic, vanishing into the night like a shadow.

And just like that, the silence of their tropical escape was shattered—replaced by a world where danger waited even before the car door closed.

For a moment, Lucas felt a cold, primal fear grip his chest.

Death... again.

He had already died once in his first life. He thought facing it a second time wouldn’t shake him as much.

But now, he realized—he was more afraid than ever.

Because this time, he had something to lose.

Jennifer. His dream. His future.

He couldn’t afford to die now.

A groan broke through his thoughts. “Ugh...” Shawn was clutching his shoulder.

“You’re injured,” Lucas said quickly, shifting toward the front.

Shawn gave a tight shake of his head. “I’ll be fine, boss. Just a scratch,” he said through gritted teeth.

“You’re bleeding through your jacket. Move over—I'll drive. We need to get to a hospital.”

But just as Lucas reached for the door, Jennifer grabbed his wrist.

Her eyes were wide with fear, glistening with tears. “Don’t,” she whispered. “Please… don’t go.”

Lucas paused, meeting her eyes. He gave her a small, reassuring smile. “I’m okay,” he said softly. “I’ve got you.”

Simon, watching from the passenger seat, quickly stepped in. “I’ll drive. I’m not hit.”

“Please do,” Lucas nodded.

Jennifer was trembling, and Lucas wrapped an arm around her, steadying her as sirens echoed faintly in the distance.

Outside, chaos had spilled onto the streets. Civilians who had heard the gunshots either fled in panic or stood frozen, filming with shaking hands.

---

Within minutes, the SUV arrived at a private hospital in New York.

Shawn and Jack were rushed in for emergency treatment, but due to the high-profile nature of their passengers, the hospital provided immediate VIP care.

Even in the emergency wing, murmurs spread like wildfire.

“Is that Lucas Knight?”

“Why is he with injured men?”

“What the hell happened?”

Staff kept their distance, but the tension was palpable.

Lucas remained close to Jennifer, keeping her calm as she wiped her eyes.

He pulled out his phone and texted Neil.

The reply came almost instantly—followed by a video call.

Neil’s face appeared onscreen, his expression tense. “Are you serious? You got shot at?”

Lucas nodded. “Yeah. We’re safe now. But someone tried to kill me.”

Neil fell silent for a few seconds, clearly processing.

“I’m flying out. Stay put. Don’t move without a detail.”

Lucas nodded again. “Simon’s already contacting the police.”

Meanwhile, footage from the shooting had begun making its way online.

A few shaky phone recordings posted on Facebook showed a gray sedan pulling up beside a black SUV and opening fire. No news channels had picked it up yet, but one clip had started gaining traction.

Only a few hundred views... a dozen concerned comments.

“What the hell is going on in New York?”

“Drive safe, y’all. This city’s wild.”

“Looks like something straight out of a movie…”

No one watching those clips yet knew just who was in the SUV. But soon, the world would.

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Author's Note: I was hesitant to post this chapter, especially since it breaks from the usual tone and pacing. But I believe it's necessary. One way or another, Lucas has to face the consequences of his actions—and this moment had to come.