Chapter 467 Revealing the Bottom Line
When Anne landed, she received a message from Madison telling her that someone had been arranged to pick her up, along with contact information. She was instructed to contact them after leaving the airport and go directly to the shooting location.
Anne: [Okay]
After replying, she called the contact number and followed the person's directions to find him.
"Ms. Waverly."
The man opened the car door and introduced himself, "I'm Mr. Efren Britton's assistant. Just call me Isaiah."
Thora immediately grabbed her arm, excitedly saying, "It's Mr. Britton! I'm such a huge fan of his. He's one of the male characters in my game - they modeled the face after him. He's so handsome."
Anne had heard of Efren's name before because of some gossip between him and Elissa. But work was work, and that didn't matter. The only concern was that this shoot would eventually be shown on the big screen. She wasn't sure if it would be released in Maple Valley, but if Francis saw it, Elissa would probably catch some heat.
"Ms. Waverly, how does my makeup look?"
Anne had flown over immediately after receiving the shooting notification. Both she and Thora had been catching up on sleep during the flight and had only freshened up briefly in the airport restroom after landing.
"Didn't you know we were meeting Efren?"
The email had clearly been read by Thora, yet she was acting as if she'd just learned about shooting with Efren.
Thora looked in the mirror, feeling her makeup wasn't perfect enough, and continued touching it up while saying, "The shooting details we received didn't mention Mr. Britton."
"Didn't mention him?" Anne was surprised.
"That's right." Thora nodded. "We're supposed to be shooting for Cecilia Thorne."
"What?"
Anne was confused. "We're shooting for Cecilia, so why are we in Efren's car?"
Thora finished her makeup, closed her compact mirror, and looked innocent. "I thought Ms. Ortiz had privately messaged you about it, while I only received the work arrangement email. So I have no idea why this happened."
Anne was speechless. Madison hadn't told her who they were shooting for either - just that there was a shoot, and the recent message was only about the pickup arrangement. Efren was never mentioned throughout. She had assumed it was in the work email she hadn't read yet. Turns out all the information had gotten mixed up.
Isaiah explained, "Ms. Waverly, Ms. Thorne and Mr. Britton are filming together. You're here to support their promotional campaign. That's why I'm picking you up too."
At least they hadn't made a mistake. Anne breathed a sigh of relief and said to Thora, "From now on, let's coordinate work details together."
"Okay." Thora asked again, "Does my makeup look good?"
Anne nodded, "It looks great."
But she didn't understand why Thora was making such a big deal about meeting an idol - it wasn't like she was meeting her boyfriend. Just like she didn't understand Thora's games - virtual things you couldn't see or touch. If it were her, she'd probably be like Elissa, finding a real man to date or something. Her own unrequited crush had come to nothing, and she'd never really been in love. Maybe it was time to put that on her agenda.
Simon saw Rufus emerge from the therapy room looking dejected.
"I think my career is over."
Just hearing that, Simon knew things hadn't gone well. But he didn't understand - Francis had told him to keep watch here, so that's what he did.
"The hypnosis still can't reach his deepest levels. He's still guarded when I mention Mrs. Larson."
"In that case, we should get out and take a walk, connect with nature. I think yesterday's outdoor time was actually effective."
Regardless of whether Simon would respond, Rufus began making arrangements on his own.
Simon followed them to a church, but unfortunately, it was being used for filming and was cordoned off. Not only that, but there were many fans there too. Among their screams, he heard a familiar name - Efren.
Looking closer, he saw that the photos on the fans' signs were indeed of Efren. Talk about a small world...
"I really didn't expect there to be filming here," Rufus said in frustration. "But this is our most famous church."
Simon didn't understand how visiting a church would help with treatment. All he could do was find a way to get Rufus to bring Willard inside.
"Mr. Larson, let me handle this."
Willard nodded slightly.
Simon went to negotiate and soon returned, bringing Willard and Rufus inside. He couldn't help asking, "Mr. Chapman, why did we have to come to this particular church?"
Rufus said, "Not a single couple who exchanged vows in this church has ever divorced. It's known as a sanctuary of love. Since Mr. Larson is suffering from heartbreak, coming here might bring him healing."
Might? Simon felt Rufus was unreliable, but he'd been Willard's therapist all along. Francis hadn't mentioned changing doctors or any problems. Whatever. He'd just do his job and keep watch.
But as they walked past a pillar, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. On the lawn in the distance, there was a familiar figure. He glanced at Willard. The man's handsome face showed no obvious emotional reaction, but having been trained by Francis for so many years, Simon could always see beneath the surface. So he didn't miss the brief flash of light in Willard's eyes.
Clearly, Willard knew Anne was here.
Francis had said that Willard couldn't see Anne for at least three months. It had only been a few days, and here they were face to face.
"Mr. Larson." Simon's teeth were practically grinding. "You haven't kept your promise."
Willard said, "Are you blaming me for a chance encounter?"
Simon was exasperated. "Whether it's a chance encounter or not, you know the truth."
Willard nodded seriously, "Very clear - it's a chance encounter."
Simon became stern. "If you're going to be like this, I'll have to cut off all your contact with the outside world."
Willard seemed indifferent to this threat.
Rufus jumped in to stop him. "You can't do that! Mr. Larson just has emotional issues, he's not mentally ill. Why would you cut off his contact with the outside world? He needs to get out more, connect with nature, and interact with the outside world - that's what will help treat his condition."
"Keeping him locked up indoors with no outside contact is no different from prison. How could that possibly heal him!"
Right now, Simon had only one thought: to sew Rufus's mouth shut. Then he heard Rufus say something even more shocking.
"Mr. Larson, are you interested in that young woman? Actually, if you and Mrs. Larson truly can't maintain your relationship anymore, I suggest you could start something new. That would be better for both of you."
Simon couldn't take it anymore. "Shut up!"
Rufus looked innocent. "What did I say wrong?"
"You've said enough wrong things." Simon resisted the urge to strike him mute and said through gritted teeth, "That IS Mrs. Larson."
"What?" Rufus exclaimed. "What an incredible coincidence!"
Simon was speechless.
Just then, Anne changed shooting positions and looked over.
Anne's glance was merely indifferent, lasting no more than five seconds before she continued with the shoot.
Thora also saw Willard, but her impression of him was lukewarm now. While she might enjoy possessive love in games or novels, in reality, it was genuinely frightening. Anne still had marks on her wrist that hadn't completely faded. Yesterday, she'd heard from Elissa about what Willard had done, which made her even angrier.
Did being handsome, rich, and powerful make him think he could do anything? Well, apparently it did.
Anne had no idea what Thora was thinking - she just saw her standing there, kicking at the ground and muttering something under her breath. She looked pretty angry about something, which Anne found rather amusing. She wasn't even angry herself.
"Thora, come help with the lighting."
Thora immediately snapped back to attention and hurried over.
In the distance, Rufus kept observing Willard's expression, trying to sense what he was feeling, even taking out paper and pen to record notes.
Simon spoke up, "Mr. Larson, will you leave on your own, or shall I help you leave?"
Willard leaned against the wall, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on Anne as she worked. She was dressed simply today - a soft yellow blouse with a Peter Pan collar, tucked into a black pleated skirt, her hair casually pulled into a bun, looking sweet and adorable. Her long, slender legs weren't as smooth in the sunlight as usual - she must be wearing tights under her skirt.
As she moved, her skirt hem fluttered with the vitality of her age. It was beautiful, but he didn't want this beauty to be seen by everyone else. It would be better if only he could see it.
The violence he'd been suppressing began to spread through his body. He remembered the night he'd locked her up - he regretted doing it, yet wanted to do it again. He even felt a little excited.
Simon sensed something was wrong and forcibly led Willard away.
"Simon!" Rufus was just getting to the important part of his observations. "Please wait, just a little longer!"
A little longer? Simon had never been in love, but he was a man, and men understood men. He'd seen the predatory look that flashed in Willard's eyes. If they waited any longer, something like what happened before would inevitably occur again. And then he'd be feeding the sharks.
"Simon!"
Simon also shoved Rufus into the car and told the driver to go. He quickly called Francis to report the situation.
Francis was up making food for Elissa . After the night they'd just had, she deserved a treat.
Just then, his phone kept buzzing, showing how urgent the caller was. He answered and put it on speaker while continuing to chop vegetables.
Simon quickly and clearly reported everything that had happened.
Before Francis could respond, he sensed something was wrong. But it was too late to stop Simon.
"Mr. Peterson, what should we do now? Mr. Larson isn't someone I can contain, and Ms. Anne Waverly's shoot apparently lasts three days..."
Francis immediately hung up. When he turned around, sure enough, Elissa was leaning against the kitchen doorframe, watching him with an expression that was half-smile, half-something else.
"I had no idea," Francis quickly explained. "We were busy last night, and I just found out too. Besides, I can't control where Anne works, can I? Simon just said this job was arranged by Ms. Ortiz."
Simon hadn't dared report about Efren, so Francis had no reason to make an issue of it.
Elissa said nothing but went to find her phone and called Anne. Anne didn't answer but called back after a while.
"Elissa."
"You're in Emberlyn?"
Anne confirmed, "I have a shooting job here."
Elissa asked directly, "Did you see him?"
"I did. I didn't know his overseas treatment was in Emberlyn."
Emberlyn was huge - how could they run into each other so coincidentally?
Elissa asked again, "How many days will you be there?"
She'd only received a text from Anne saying she was going abroad for a shoot and had landed safely. Anne hadn't mentioned anything else, and Elissa hadn't asked too many questions. After all, it was Anne's work, and she didn't need to interfere that much. Now she wished she'd asked more.
Anne replied, "Three days. Today's almost finished, so two more days."
"Alright, let me know when you're coming back and I'll pick you up."
"Don't trouble yourself. I won't get lost. Elissa, you should rest more and watch your mood. Don't worry about me - I can take care of myself."
Elissa trusted Anne's ability to manage on her own. Even before they'd acknowledged each other as sisters, she'd looked into Anne's background and knew how the young woman had made her way in the world. But Willard was unknown and uncontrollable - a very dangerous variable.
"You're in an unfamiliar place, so be careful."
"I will."
Elissa hung up and suddenly felt a warm, dry hand cover her forehead, with an index finger smoothing the furrow between her brows.
She was at a loss. She could only ask Francis if he had any solutions, but considering his relationship with Willard...
"Tell me, how is it so coincidental? So many countries, so many places - even if they happened to be in the same country, there are so many regions in one country. How do they end up running into each other?"
Elissa didn't say it directly but hinted around the issue.
Francis helped her sit at the dining table. "Let's talk while you eat."
Elissa had no appetite. "Willard is getting treatment but can still contact the outside world?"
Francis placed the food in front of her and first served her a bowl of soup. "The way you're talking, he's only getting treatment for psychological issues, not mental illness, and he's not a dangerous criminal. How could he be completely cut off from the outside world? Besides, the Larson family business is being managed by Uma, and he can't possibly ignore everything or hand over everything he knows to Uma."
Elissa seemed to understand. "So he still has his power?"
Francis sensed a trap and didn't answer directly. "Drink your soup first, while it's hot."
Elissa didn't drink. Francis picked up the bowl, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it a few times, and brought it to her lips. "Just one sip first."
Elissa gently pushed it away. "So he's having Anne watched?"
Francis finally decided to tell the truth. After all, one lie required many more lies to cover it up. He didn't want to deceive her, and he didn't want their relationship to become unpleasant because of other people's issues.
"No one can strip him of his rights. He's not incapacitated."
Elissa took a breath. "I don't have as many schemes as you do. I can't think of ways to stop him."
Francis sighed and said, "Honey, Anne is your sister, that's true, but you can't completely interfere in everything. Matters of the heart need to be handled by the two people involved. Even if I could prevent them from meeting, could I stop Willard for the rest of his life? "
Elissa sighed. "That leaves me with no other choice—I'll have to keep an eye on him all the time. Otherwise, if there's even the slightest chance, he'll find a way to meet Anne"
Willard was cunning and several years older than them, making it very difficult to control his actions. Before, when she didn't know Anne was her sister, she couldn't interfere too much as an outsider. But now that Anne was her sister, how could she just stand by and watch?
Elissa asked, "Give me the bottom line - how can we make Willard give up on Anne?"
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