The Golden Globe celebration had not been significantly affected by the "incident." People seemed almost accustomed to various conflicts erupting at parties. Only Hugo's closer friends approached to inquire about what had happened. The appearances of Al Pacino and Jack Nicholson were expected, but seeing Meryl Streep there came as a bit of a surprise.
"Oh my God, Hugo, are you okay?" Meryl looked at him with genuine concern. She glanced toward Anthony, who was still groaning on the stretcher as he was loaded into the ambulance, and furrowed her brow.
"I'm fine, really," Hugo said, though his mind felt like a storm. He knew something major had occurred, but with no experience handling such situations, he felt flustered. Thinking was difficult; all he could do was take deep breaths, trying to calm himself. But at this critical moment, calmness did not come easily.
Meryl cast a meaningful glance at Anthony as the ambulance disappeared, then patted Hugo on the shoulder. "You know, provocations like this never truly disappear. If you don't handle it properly, the consequences will keep coming." Though she had just met Hugo today, her first impression of him was very positive.
Hugo struck her as kind and warm-hearted. That genuine smile of his was impossible to fake. People often say the eyes are the windows to the soul, but Meryl preferred to believe that a smile could reflect the true warmth within a person. She could feel Hugo's inner warmth. So, even seeing Anthony's battered state, she trusted that something had happened to justify Hugo's reaction. Moreover, Anthony was a paparazzo — she had heard he worked for a major news outlet, which only made the situation more complex. Yet she chose to trust Hugo.
Feeling Meryl's trust, Hugo wanted to speak, but his thoughts were scattered. Frustrated, he clenched his teeth and let out a low growl, saying nothing.
Jack Nicholson, standing nearby, looked at the young Hugo and barked irritably, "That damn reporter probably did something to deserve it! Serves him right! These journalists need a lesson. They should know we're not monkeys in a zoo!"
Jack's fiery temper was legendary in the entertainment industry. A devoted Los Angeles Lakers fan, he attended every home game and had even publicly berated referees for controversial calls, once earning a fine. He never restrained his anger with reporters either, so most journalists instinctively feared crossing him.
"Jack!" Meryl, though trusting Hugo, did not condone violence. She frowned and scolded him.
Jack and Meryl were considered among the greatest actors in American film history, and they shared a good rapport. Taken aback by her outburst, Jack muttered in protest, "I'm just stating facts, facts!" But he did not raise his voice further.
Al Pacino, also present, spoke up, "Well, it was deserved. That beating was thorough — I don't mind that." Known for his hard edge, Al's words made Meryl blink in surprise. Since she didn't know Al as well, she chose to say nothing more. Al, unfazed, continued, "But you should seriously consider how to handle the aftermath."
Al was never intimidated by reporters. Once, a journalist tried to provoke him with disrespectful comments. Al did nothing physical; he just stared at the reporter, eyes wide, unblinking, for three full minutes. The journalist panicked and fled. That incident became widely known among journalists, and few dared to confront Al directly afterward.
Hearing Al's warning, Meryl nodded in agreement. "Whether or not the incident was justified, the fact is that the reporter was hit. That puts you at a disadvantage. And these journalists won't let it slide. Hugo, you have to handle this properly, or things will only get worse."
Hugo had initially been annoyed and stressed, but the presence of these three industry veterans calmed him. The act of hitting had released some of his anger, but this wasn't a lawless society — assault was illegal, especially against a journalist armed only with a pen. He could already imagine the potential fallout.
"I know. I'll figure something out," Hugo said, striving to keep his voice steady. He took a deep breath. "Thank you, Meryl. Really, thank you."
Meryl hugged him, patted his back, and then left alongside Jack and Al. Hugo turned to see Joseph still breathing heavily and Uma with an unreadable expression, signaling for them to head home.
The drive from the Hilton Hotel was short, but the car's atmosphere was icy, tense enough to feel like it could freeze water. Uma and Hugo sat by the windows, each lost in their own thoughts, while Joseph drove in a gloomy silence.
At home, Alex, Kal, and Charlize were in the living room. When Hugo returned, they all rose to greet him. Cheerful Alex spoke first, "Hugo, you did great tonight! Don't worry about not winning — there'll be plenty of opportunities." But his voice trailed off as he took in Joseph's disheveled state.
"Joe, what happened?" Kal asked, frowning. Joseph was filthy, with stains of blood on his chest. Kal earched for any visible wounds but found none, which only made him more uneasy.
Charlize stood quietly, observing. Though normally brash and tomboyish, she was still a woman, and her attentiveness revealed it. She noted that despite the grim expressions on the others' faces, Joseph seemed unharmed.
Uma, meanwhile, appeared completely distracted, her eyes darting around. Charlize could immediately sense that something was off with Uma today. Joseph's expression was rigid, a frozen mask of caution, indicating a serious situation. Hugo's brow was tightly furrowed, his clear eyes shadowed by lashes, betraying his complex worry.
"You guys fought?" Charlize finally spoke as she sat down on the sofa, breaking the silence. She speculated aloud, causing Alex and Kal to turn their attention toward her. "Or… did you fight someone else?" she added hesitantly.
Hugo took a deep breath, knowing that the issue needed to be addressed. "Joseph and I… we hit a reporter."
"What happened?" Alex's earlier excitement vanished, replaced by concern. Kal, unable to restrain his worry, sank onto the sofa and turned to Joseph. "Joe, what happened? Did something happen at the celebration?" Charlize and Alex also took seats.
Joseph said nothing, his fists clenching tightly again. His taut jaw and clenched teeth revealed a burning anger, which even the three who didn't yet understand the situation could sense.
Hugo glanced at Joseph, then closed his eyes to calm the storm of thoughts in his mind. Just thinking of Anthony's ruthless cruelty made him feel as though his heart were on fire, but he forced himself to remain composed. This was a grueling task. "After the ceremony ended, I went to the celebration…"
Hugo briefly summarized what had happened. Though he didn't go into all the details, the general picture became clear. Impulsive Alex leapt to his feet, shouting, "I'm going to kill that damn guy!" As Hugo's friend, he could barely contain himself at the thought of some lowlife insulting Hugo.
"He's already in the hospital!" Kal interjected, stopping Alex mid-shout. Alex froze in place.
Charlize shot Uma a deep look, but Uma seemed completely lost in her own world. Ever since everyone had separated Joseph and Anthony at the scene, Uma had been distant, almost as if she had disappeared, lost in her own thoughts. She didn't respond to Charlize's gaze, her lowered eyes darting anxiously around in the shadows.
Charlize turned her attention to Hugo and took a deep breath. "Alex, you're not helping," she said sharply. At this moment, her anger rivaled that of anyone present. She understood better than Joseph, Alex, or the others how much Hugo had sacrificed for his music. She had witnessed Hugo's passion and dedication firsthand. To insult Hugo's creative talent was intolerable — yet she knew that anger alone wouldn't help. "Hugo… you said Anthony did this on purpose?"
Hugo nodded. "After everything was over, Anthony looked at me and smiled." He closed his eyes, recalling Anthony's eerie expression. "He grinned, bloodied as he was, as if the injuries didn't exist. Then he smirked proudly and said to me, 'You lost.'"
Hugo's words made everyone draw a sharp breath, including Uma, who had been lost in thought. Joseph looked at Hugo in disbelief, as if doused with a bucket of ice water, whispering, "It was a trap."
.....
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