Nora quietly gazed at Anson, her eyes filled with both pride and relief.
The Wood family was naturally aware of Anson's movements in Hollywood. Even if they hadn't been, Darren Star would keep them updated regularly.
However, those numbers, headlines, and stories always felt a little distant. To them, Anson was still Lucas' younger brother, their youngest son. It was hard to truly imagine people being captivated by him.
What exactly made someone a superstar was hard to define.
When Anson had been planning to buy property in Malibu, Nora and Charles had discussed helping him with the down payment. It was only then that they realized their youngest son probably had more assets than they did.
For Nora, the only thing that mattered was that Anson loved what he was doing, and that he didn't need to worry about money for now. Whatever happened in Hollywood, they would support him unconditionally.
That was the key.
Today, the crowd outside the gallery and the presence of a chef like Thomas Keller were just more reminders to Nora that—
Her youngest son was more than just "making a name for himself."
She wasn't just relieved; she was proud.
After patiently waiting for Anson to finish signing, Thomas exchanged a few more words and finally left.
Standing at the door of the private room, Thomas finally had a chance to look at the album.
It wasn't just a signature—Anson had written a personal message.
"Dear Charlotte Keller,
The most beautiful part of the journey lies in the adventure and the unknown. You don't even need to start walking for the trip to begin. From the moment you decide to take the first step, the excitement and joy have already started.
You're the same.
Although we haven't met yet, I'm already looking forward to this adventure. I hope that somewhere along this long journey, we'll meet, and when we do, we'll sing and party together.
—Anson."
Thomas was taken aback.
He had expected a signature, maybe a few polite words at most. After all, he had asked for it on behalf of his daughter, and Anson didn't know Charlotte, nor did he have any idea what she looked like or what kind of person she was.
But Anson hadn't just left it at that.
Thomas couldn't help but recall Charlotte's words.
"Dad, you don't understand, he's not just a pretty face or some fleeting encounter."
Looking at Anson's smooth, flowing handwriting on the album, Thomas felt a sense of satisfaction. Maybe breaking his usual rule tonight had been the right decision after all.
Inside the private room, Lucas was under immense pressure—
From both Anson and Nora.
Lucas' usually stoic face remained impassive, his gaze calm and lowered.
"There are only a limited number of private rooms here, and they require reservations in advance. You might have to book six months ahead, if you're lucky. How do you think I got a reservation?"
Anson shrugged lightly. "I don't know, the charm of Lucas Wood?"
Lucas: "Thanks for the compliment."
Anson rolled his eyes at Lucas.
Lucas glanced back at Anson with a calm expression and then flashed a toothy grin, or what seemed like an attempt at one.
Nora, however, was curious about something else. "How exactly did you do it? Did you just mention Anson's name?"
Lucas: "Yes."
Anson then noticed Nora's curious gaze lingering on Lucas.
Anson sighed, half-amused, half-exasperated. "Mom?"
Nora waved him off. "Hey, sweetie, nobody's going to stop me from being proud of my youngest son. He's no longer Mommy's little boy; he's Anson Wood. Let me enjoy this moment, okay?"
Anson: … Uh, can he leave now?
Lucas glanced at Anson's resigned expression, a flicker of amusement in his normally calm eyes.
Then he noticed the same expression in Nora's eyes—
They were in sync.
"Obviously, I was rejected the first time I tried to book. I wasn't surprised."
"In fact, I didn't expect much. I just wanted to see if there had been any cancellations or if we could jump the line. Otherwise, we'd have to celebrate Anson's success at The Cheesecake Factory."
"But before I hung up, I threw out a Hail Mary, mentioning Anson's name and that this was a private party celebrating his Cannes Palme d'Or win. I asked if there were any private rooms available."
"And voilà."
Lucas finished the story with his usual stoic demeanor.
"I know, people are often amazed by magic. But once you reveal the trick, it all feels a bit dull, doesn't it?"
"Anson, I'm sorry. I know you don't like using your name for special treatment. You're not the type to casually toss your name around."
Nora joined in, teasing their youngest. "Anson, don't be shy. You should be proud. Your name carries weight now, just like your grandfather knew it would when he gave it to you."
She paused, choking up slightly, blinking quickly to hide her emotions.
Finally, Anson spoke up. "That's great."
Lucas: ???
Nora: ???
That wasn't how it was supposed to go!
Anson, looking perfectly composed, said, "If using my name gets me perks, why not take advantage of it?"
"Thanks, Lucas, for reminding me. Looks like I won't have to wait in line anymore."
Lucas blinked. "Anson…"
From his European street performances to film festivals, and finally to his quiet return to New York, it was clear that Anson was trying to stay grounded.
The success of "Spider-Man" and "Catch Me If You Can" had been so fast and overwhelming that it had thrown Anson into the whirlpool of fame. He needed to regain his focus and balance before he lost himself in the bright lights and the traps of fame—alcohol, drugs, or worse.
That's why Anson had been cutting back.
Of course, Lucas understood.
But Lucas hoped Anson wouldn't carry so much weight, that he could relax and enjoy his youth and his career more freely, even be a little reckless. If he wasn't happy, he could always walk away—there was no need to push himself.
Just moments ago, Lucas had noticed Nora's playful mischief, so he'd gone along with it, hoping to tease Anson a bit.
Now, Anson's unexpected response had left both Lucas and Nora at a loss.
Lucas tensed up.
Seeing Lucas stammer, Anson had planned to keep up the act but couldn't hold it any longer and burst out laughing.
"Haha, Lucas, you should see your face right now."
"Mom, you too."
"Ha, haha."
Anson's carefree laughter filled the room.
Lucas and Nora exchanged glances and started laughing as well. Yes, this was the Anson they knew—
The trickster always one step ahead, pulling the rug out from under his mother and brother in this playful battle of wits.
Nora shook her head and quickly passed the blame. "Lucas, you're no good. You gave yourself away too easily."
Lucas: ???
He was about to protest, but looking at Nora and then at Anson, he decided to stay silent.