Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: The Girl from the Adams Family

Haley's friend was a young woman with large, bright eyes, a high, straight nose, and well-defined lips. Her smile subtly curved upwards at the corners, revealing shallow dimples. She had fair skin, a distinct facial structure, and thick, smooth, platinum blonde hair, cut short. She resembled Audrey Hepburn, but with sharper features."Peggy Audrey Adams. She's still studying at Harvard, eighteen years old. We've known each other since childhood, we're very close friends. She's my godfather's daughter, so she's like a sister to me," Haley introduced her to Milo with a smile."Hello, Peggy. It's a pleasure to meet you," Milo said with a polite smile, offering a kiss on the hand rather than a cheek kiss, as they had just met and Peggy was unmarried."I'm Milo Herbert Blackburn. It's a pleasure to meet you too.""Hello, Mr. Blackburn. The pleasure is mine," Peggy responded with a smile that seemed warm yet distant.Haley frowned slightly beside her.Milo withdrew his hand and smiled at them both. "You'd like to see the filming? Perfect. I still have a little work left. I can give you a behind-the-scenes look.""Work is the most important thing when you're working," Haley said with a smile. "We'll just watch from the sidelines and definitely won't disturb you."Milo gave her an "okay" sign and turned back to his crew, resuming work with a smile.As soon as he turned away, Haley's expression turned cold.She said to the platinum blonde girl beside her, "Peggy, I know what you're thinking. But it's pointless.""You can say that, my dear Haley. But then again, your husband was Paladin!" the short-haired girl retorted softly."Then why did you even come? You could have chosen not to come to Los Angeles."Haley looked at the young man in the distance, easily directing a large group of people for the filming. "You didn't dare not come, did you?"Peggy was speechless."Honestly, if you weren't my godfather's daughter, I wouldn't have even brought you. Heaven knows how busy I am!"Seeing Peggy's silence, Haley continued, "Put aside your pointless fantasies. We can never rebel."Peggy listened to her words, her eyes also fixed on the handsome, tall young man in the distance. "But, Haley… you don't understand. I only did a little research, and his 'glorious deeds' almost filled my entire mind…""And then?" Haley sneered. "Like I said, why did you still come?"Peggy was once again at a loss for words.A spoiled, brainless child, Haley thought.The filming wrapped up, and the crew began packing up.Milo walked over, smiling. "It's not as glamorous as it looks on TV or in the movies. Sometimes it's actually quite tedious.""But I found you to be very skilled. As if it comes naturally to you," Haley said, making an exaggerated expression and smiling charmingly. "I originally thought you were just lending your name to the project.""If I told you someone taught me in my dreams, I wonder if you'd believe me," Milo said.Haley's charming smile faltered slightly. She remembered their conversation from a few days prior.Her brother-in-law had told her that he could write novels and direct films because Paladin, now an angel in his dreams, was teaching him…"Is that the gospel you heard?" Peggy suddenly asked.Milo turned to her and smiled again. "I don't know if it was the voice of God. But after I wrote them down, I found that people really enjoyed them. Oh, my manager told me this morning that my novel has already sold over two million copies.""Yes, it's truly excellent," Haley recovered and said with a smile. "I've already finished it, and I've read it twice. I have a colleague who's even read it four times and is now on her fifth reading. She's a devout Christian, and she told me you must have truly heard God's voice to write such a novel.""I'm glad you both enjoyed it so much.""After she found out about our connection, she begged me to ask you for an autograph, preferably directly on her copy of the book.""I'd be happy to."Wendy arrived with the business car from Milo's villa.Milo had driven his sports car to the set that morning.Haley and Peggy got into the back seat.Milo sat in the passenger seat. Jones had originally intended to drive, but Milo told him to stay with Wendy and instructed David to take the wheel.The convoy set off, heading towards the InterContinental Hotel at the foot of Beverly Hills.Peggy and Haley had already booked an executive suite there.Looking in the rearview mirror from the passenger seat, Milo watched Haley let her hair down, letting it cascade around her like a cloud, then gather it and tie it back, revealing her stunning face."Staying in Beverly Hills is much better. You can overlook all of Hollywood and a good portion of downtown Los Angeles at night," Milo said. "I have a villa up there, Haley, you know, the one Paladin gave me. You don't need to stay in a hotel…""No, I'm leaving tomorrow," Haley replied with a smile. "Staying at a hotel is more convenient for catching our flight in the morning.""Oh, I see. You're right."Peggy listened to the conversation between the two and couldn't help but look at Haley beside her.Haley was dressed simply, her face sweet and composed, with minimal makeup, yet she exuded an elegant air.Haley seems to have a good relationship with him, Peggy thought. But according to rumors, he's disliked by everyone in his family, except for Paladin… Perhaps Haley is simply fond of him because of her love for her late husband?"When will the movie be finished?" Haley asked."Early December, I think. Three months in total, it's a pretty fast pace.""You must come home for Christmas. You didn't come home last year.""I know. I've sworn I'll always be home for Christmas from now on."Peggy noticed that after Milo said this, the previously cheerful atmosphere between the two suddenly turned silent.She didn't know that the oath Milo had made was to Paladin, on his deathbed.Last Christmas, Milo had been having too much fun in Los Angeles and hadn't returned home.It was the first time in many years that he had spent Christmas away from his family.On Christmas night, Paladin had called and scolded his younger brother.That same night, Paladin woke up in the middle of the night with a severe headache.He was rushed to the hospital, where he was initially diagnosed with a stroke, and later with brain cancer.The Hollywood Park racetrack wasn't far from the InterContinental Hotel in Beverly Hills.The convoy quickly arrived at the hotel entrance.As the car came to a stop and Milo was about to get out and open the doors for the two women in the back, Haley suddenly spoke."I'm a bit tired. I'll go up and rest first. Milo, this is Peggy's first time in Los Angeles. Why don't you take her out and show her around? Just be careful not to go downtown. It can be quite chaotic there.""Haley, I…" Peggy started to protest.But Haley silenced her with a look.Milo shrugged and said, "Alright, no downtown. The night view from Beverly Hills is quite nice."Haley nodded at him with a smile, and as soon as the car door opened, she got out.