The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 595

After stepping off the plane and leaving Los Angeles International Airport, Phyllis saw a familiar face—Bella, whom she had met several times in New York. Bella was the personal assistant to her idol, Matthew Horner, who had invited her to Los Angeles after learning of her situation, wanting to meet and talk with her in person.

Her New York home had been foreclosed on by the bank, leaving her with nowhere to live, so she had decided to move to Los Angeles. When Bella had asked her about it earlier, she had confessed that she no longer wanted to live in a city that held so many bitter memories. If possible, she wanted to be closer to Matthew.

At Bella’s invitation, Phyllis settled into a Mercedes sedan. As they drove away from the airport, she watched the bustling traffic on either side of the road.

When the car entered the North Hollywood area, it suddenly turned onto a quiet road lined with tall trees. One by one, detached houses, partially hidden by the foliage, came into view.

The homes were modest but neat. The sight brought a lump to Phyllis's throat and tears to her eyes as she remembered the house the bank had taken from her in New York.

"We're..." she began, sensing something was off. What was the car doing in this middle-class neighborhood? "What are we doing here?" she asked.

Bella gently took her hand. "Don't worry, Matthew is waiting for you up ahead."

Phyllis gave a slight nod and asked no more questions.

It was a typical middle-class neighborhood, a small development of detached houses with little yards and an orderly layout.

An unassuming van was parked on the side of the road near a house with white walls and a red roof. In the driver's seat, the tall figure of Ilana sat calmly observing her surroundings when the phone in her hand buzzed.She picked it up, glanced at the screen, then turned her head to look behind her.

Ilana spoke to the two reporters in the back, one older and one younger. "Don't be too obvious when you're filming."

The older reporter adjusted his camera and replied, "Don't worry, I know the drill."

The younger reporter beside him finished checking his own camera and added, "You can count on us!"

Ilana pointed a finger toward the car window. "They're almost here. Go."

The two paparazzi exited the van and headed toward the house. They each found a strategic spot and settled in to wait patiently.

Sitting in the car, Ilana watched them intently and muttered to herself, "When this video gets out, Matthew's fans are going to lose their minds."

***

Inside the detached house, Matthew glanced at a text message from Bella and said to Helen, who was beside him, "They're almost here."

He stepped out of the house, crossed the small, modest yard to the simple wrought-iron gate, and caught sight of Ilana's van.

Helen followed close behind.

"By the way, how are the preparations at Warner Bros. coming along?" Matthew asked as he waited for the car carrying Phyllis.

"Everything's ready." Helen's communications with Warner Bros. had gone smoothly. "Once the video is released, Warner Bros. will make their move."

At that moment, the Mercedes pulled up and slowly came to a stop at the curb.

Phyllis got out of the car after Bella and saw Matthew standing by the gate.

"I'm so sorry," Matthew said immediately, taking two steps forward, his expression full of sorrow. "Forgive me. I didn't know you were going through so much, and I wasn't there to help you in time."

His words made tears stream down Phyllis's face.

Matthew slowly approached and gently embraced her, saying, "It's all over now. It's in the past. Everything will be okay."

Releasing Phyllis, he guided her forward with a warm smile. "Come on, let's go see your new home."

Phyllis followed Matthew automatically, only then taking in the house before her. "What...?"

Matthew waited for her to approach him uncertainly before he answered.

"I feel terrible about what happened to your parents and your home in New York. I originally wanted to help you buy a house there, but Bella told me you didn't want to live in New York anymore and wanted to move to Los Angeles, so I took matters into my own hands."

He gestured to the newly renovated house in front of them.

"So I bought this house, and I want to give it to you. Phyllis, don't refuse. I'm just trying to help, nothing more."

Hearing this, Phyllis was utterly stunned. Her heart trembled with an indescribable emotion, and fresh tears began to fall. For a moment, she was unable to speak.

When she finally found her voice, she stammered, "No, I... I can't... accept..."

Matthew spoke with heartfelt sincerity. "You've been a part of my life for a long time, but you've never once asked me to do anything for you."

He emphasized, "PhyllIS, this is from the heart."

***

Outside the yard, the older reporter raised his camera over the metal fence to capture every moment.

Not far away, the younger reporter leaned against a tree, holding a video camera and filming the scene unfolding in the yard.

These two were professionals, using typical hidden-camera techniques.

Soon, the group went inside the house. The reporters didn't leave but waited patiently. About half an hour later, Matthew and his companions emerged from the house. The girl saw them off, and after they got in the car and drove away, she remained standing there, gazing at the distant Mercedes, seemingly in a daze.

The older reporter gestured to the younger one. They approached almost simultaneously, the younger man with his camera, the older one holding a small microphone bearing the TMZ logo.

"Hello!" the older reporter called out, wary that the girl might turn and run. "We're reporters from TMZ. What was Matthew doing here?"

Phyllis wasn't nervous about facing reporters. Instead of leaving, she felt a compelling need to say something to them, thinking of everything Matthew had done for her.

As the girl was being interviewed, the young reporter with the camera took a moment to give a thumbs-up toward the van where Ilana was sitting. Everything was clearly going according to plan.

***

Twenty minutes later, the girl returned to the house, and the two reporters went back to the van.

The older reporter told Ilana, "It's a wrap."

Ilana took the camera, turned it on, and reviewed the footage. She nodded, started the engine, and said, "Let's head back to the office."

***

Later that evening, TMZ posted a major story on its homepage, consisting of very little text and two videos.

"Matthew Horner Buys House for Fan in Desperate Straits."

Beneath the headline were the two videos, followed by a short text written by Ilana herself.

"Every fan wants their idol to see them, but celebrities often try to keep their distance from their admirers. Matthew, however, is different. Not only did he notice his fan, he bought a house for her!"

The video became an internet sensation that evening, and by the next day, it was the most talked-about story on Facebook and Twitter.

Warner Bros. also leveraged its media resources to the fullest, re-sharing and continuously covering the news. This wasn't false information; the case of Phyllis Bereta was real, and it would withstand any scrutiny from the media.

In just a few days, Matthew had captured the vast majority of entertainment media headlines and was at the top of the most popular search queries.

Although there were some critical voices, most people approved of Matthew's actions.

A comment from an ordinary user on Facebook was also widely shared.

"I remember five years ago, Matthew said in an interview that he hoped to become a top Hollywood star in five years, and today he has fully accomplished that goal. Why was he able to do it? Because he has fans who love him. He is deeply aware of their support and is grateful for it. Matthew has always loved his fans, who are numerous all over the world. While he can't respond to each of them personally, he has never stopped giving that love back."

It wasn't just Matthew's fans; some casual internet users also expressed positive views.

"I think this is the best kind of mutual love between a celebrity and his fans. Hooray for Matthew's positive energy!"

"There are many wealthy stars, but not all of them would give a house to their fans."

"Matthew is so kind-hearted, I'm becoming a fan!"

Fueled by this widespread event, "I Am Legend" had just begun its pre-sales, and tickets for the opening weekend were already selling at an explosive rate. In just one week, pre-sales in North America reached a staggering $35 million, which included the opening weekend's preview screenings.

Before the film's premiere in New York, everyone was expecting a massive box office haul over the weekend. The possibility of hitting a hundred million dollars in its first week even seemed within reach.