WebNovels

Chapter 1008 - Chapter 1008: Removing the Cancer

Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the press room, the massive projection screen flickered back to life. Unlike before, this time, bold text appeared on the screen first: Cherish Life, Stay Away From Drugs!

The video resumed, showing what initially appeared to be the same "hidden camera" footage. However, instead of the chaotic scenes seen earlier, the clip opened with Matthew Horner exhaling a puff of smoke, a strange, satisfied expression on his face. Amber Heard appeared moments later, angrily confronting him, accusing him of drug use.

The two began arguing, with Matthew becoming visibly agitated. The effects of "drugs" seemed to take hold, and he suddenly became "deranged," lashing out at Amber Heard.

The scene shifted to the same footage that had been shown earlier—Matthew violently attacking Amber. But now, with the additional context of the video's introduction and the "public service announcement" text, it became increasingly clear to the audience: this wasn't a hidden camera video. It was a dramatization—a performance.

Suddenly, the room's perception shifted.

"Wow," Julia Roberts muttered under her breath as she watched the screen. "Matthew Horner's acting is really on another level."

Seated nearby, Meryl Streep's expression remained blank, but her eyes darted across the screen. She had noticed the logos in the bottom-right corner of the video: UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime), the National Women's Association, and even the FBI.

These were reputable organizations—entities whose involvement could not be questioned.

If this video is a lie, then the United Nations itself would become a laughingstock, she thought.

Suddenly, the realization hit her like a brick wall. I might have said the wrong thing earlier.

How do I walk this back?

As the video continued, Bob Weinstein made a subtle gesture with his hand. Several tall, burly men in black suits quietly approached the stage, positioning themselves behind Harvey Weinstein.

Bob had made up his mind. If today was the day to act, there would be no turning back. He wouldn't give Harvey any chance to recover or escape.

On the screen, the video continued. Amber Heard was shown dialing 911 after being assaulted. Police arrived moments later, engaging in a chaotic struggle with the "drug-fueled" Matthew Horner. Even in his deranged state, Matthew "fought like a wild animal," taking down two officers before being subdued.

The video concluded with Matthew being arrested and escorted out of his luxurious mansion, only to be thrown into a drab prison cell.

The final shot returned to bold text: Staying Away From Drugs Means Staying Away From Harm and Tragedy!

As the screen faded to black, the credits began to roll, revealing the organizations involved in creating the PSA.

Director:James Wan

Cast:Matthew Horner, Amber Heard

At this point, no explanation was needed. Everyone in the room—reporters and celebrities alike—understood exactly what had just happened.

The accusing glares directed at Matthew quickly morphed into looks of astonishment and, in some cases, admiration.

No wonder Matthew had remained so composed throughout the entire ordeal. Everything had been under his control from the very beginning.

Richardson, the journalist from The Los Angeles Times, exhaled deeply and shook his head. He had misjudged the situation. Matthew Horner's private life might be messy, but his involvement in charitable and public service efforts was beyond reproach.

"Turns out I was overthinking it," Richardson murmured to himself.

No, he corrected himself. I wasn't overthinking it. It was that bastard Harvey Weinstein who deliberately misled the media, trying to frame Matthew!

"Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting," he heard someone mutter behind him.

"Yeah," another voice agreed. "Matthew Horner goes out of his way to film a PSA about the dangers of drug abuse, and Harvey Weinstein twists it into a smear campaign. What kind of scum does something like that?"

As the credits finished rolling, the press room erupted into a cacophony of shocked whispers and indignant chatter.

Richardson was the first to rise from his seat, his booming voice cutting through the noise. "Mr. Harvey Weinstein, care to explain what just happened?"

Though the room was chaotic, Richardson's question reached Harvey's ears loud and clear.

"Everyone, please quiet down!" Elena Boyar shouted into her microphone.

Remarkably, the journalists complied, eager to see how Harvey would respond.

Harvey sat motionless, his face expressionless, but his mind was racing. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Amber Heard smirking at him—a smirk dripping with mockery.

The screen had betrayed him, displaying official logos from the United Nations, the National Women's Association, and the FBI. These were institutions that no amount of money or influence could manipulate.

What's going on? Harvey asked himself. How did this happen?

He turned to Amber Heard, who continued to smile at him with a mix of amusement and disdain.

On the screen, the PSA came to an end. The room burst into laughter when Amber's line about handing over "dog-licked underwear" to Harvey was replayed.

Harvey's face turned beet red. Nothing made sense anymore. The video was fake, Amber had clearly defected to Matthew's side, and even Bob Weinstein seemed uncooperative.

The older Weinstein brother tried to regain control. "I apologize for what just happened!" Harvey declared, standing and bowing slightly toward Matthew. "I sincerely apologize to Mr. Horner!"

It was a rare sight—Harvey Weinstein publicly admitting fault. His anger simmered beneath the surface, but he forced himself to continue.

"I, too, was misled in this matter," Harvey said, shifting blame as quickly as he could. He turned to Amber. "She provided me with the video and withheld the truth. To frame Matthew Horner, she even presented me with... a certain piece of fabric covered in bodily fluids!"

His plan was clear: paint Amber Heard as the sole villain, throw her under the bus, and salvage whatever he could.

Harvey glanced at Bob, signaling him to have security escort Amber out. But Bob made no move.

"Bob," Harvey hissed, turning to his brother. "Get the security team to remove her!"

Still, Bob did nothing.

"Harvey Weinstein is lying!" Amber Heard suddenly shouted. "He threatened me multiple times, saying if I didn't help him frame Matthew, I'd never work in Hollywood again. I gave him the least damaging thing I could—a pair of underwear licked by my dog!"

The room exploded into uproarious laughter. The ridicule in their voices was unmistakable.

Harvey's face flushed with anger and confusion. Everything was unraveling: the video, Amber's betrayal, even Bob's unexpected defiance.

What's happening? Where did it all go wrong?

The laughter in the room grew louder, cutting through Harvey's attempts to think clearly.

Sitting nearby, Julia Roberts remained silent, while Meryl Streep prayed the room would forget the supportive comments she had made earlier. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, clueless about the situation, looked at each other in bewilderment. Quentin Tarantino, on the other hand, watched the chaos unfold with gleeful amusement.

From the front row, Uma Thurman openly laughed, relishing the moment she had long waited for—the public humiliation of Harvey Weinstein.

George Clooney, however, remained thoughtful. His sharp instincts told him there was more to this—a deeper scheme at play.

Harvey attempted to address the room again, but his microphone mysteriously cut out.

Confused, he looked around, only to hear Bob's voice cutting through the air.

"Everyone," Bob Weinstein began, his voice calm yet firm, "I regret what has transpired here today. I want to make it clear that these actions were entirely Harvey Weinstein's doing and have nothing to do with The Weinstein Company."

Harvey's jaw dropped. Of all the surprises today, Bob's statement hit him the hardest.

"Bob!" Harvey roared.

But his brother ignored him.

"Today," Bob declared, "this press conference marks the beginning of The Weinstein Company purging itself of internal rot."

As his words settled, the doors to the press room opened. One by one, over a dozen women walked in—some of them highly recognizable.

The journalists turned, their eyes widening as they realized who these women were.

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