The richest actor in Hollywood.

Chapter 619: Chapter 619: Winning Over Fans



After getting off the plane and leaving Los Angeles International Airport, Phyllis Beretta spotted a familiar face—Bella Anderson, Matthew Horner's personal assistant. Bella had invited her to Los Angeles because Matthew, having learned about her situation, wanted to meet her personally. Phyllis had lost her New York home to the bank and had no place to stay, so she decided to move to Los Angeles, as she had previously expressed a desire to live closer to Matthew, away from the painful memories in New York.

However, Phyllis didn't have a place to stay in Los Angeles either.

Accepting Bella Anderson's invitation, Phyllis got into a Mercedes and left the airport. Watching the traffic flow on the road, she bit her lower lip gently, contemplating making Los Angeles her new home, finding a job, and continuing to support Matthew from here.

The car entered North Hollywood and suddenly turned onto a quiet street lined with tall trees, with several detached houses nestled among them.

These houses weren't large but were well-kept. Seeing them reminded Phyllis of her bank-seized home in New York, bringing tears to her eyes.

"We're..." She sensed something was off. Why were they in this middle-class residential area? She couldn't help but ask, "Bella, why are we here?"

Bella Anderson gently patted her hand. "Don't worry, Matthew is waiting for you just ahead."

Hearing that Matthew was nearby, Phyllis nodded and didn't ask further.

This was a typical middle-class neighborhood, with small, neatly arranged detached houses, each with its own yard.

Nearby one of these white-walled, red-roofed houses, an unremarkable MPV was parked by the roadside. Elena Boyar, a tall and burly woman, sat in the driver's seat, quietly observing the house. Her phone suddenly chimed.

She glanced at it, then turned to the two journalists in the back seat.

"Remember," Elena Boyar told the older and younger journalists behind her, "this is a covert operation. Don't be too obvious."

The older journalist, adjusting his camera lens, replied, "Don't worry, boss. I know what to do."

The younger journalist, checking his video camera, also chimed in, "Boss, you can count on us!"

Elena Boyar pointed outside. "They're almost here. Go ahead."

The two paparazzi got out of the car and walked toward the house, each choosing a spot to wait patiently.

"That guy Matthew..."

In the car, Elena Boyar watched the scene unfold. "This video will make fans go wild for him. How many casual fans will turn into die-hard fans?"

Inside the house, Matthew read the text message from Bella Anderson and said to Helen Herman, "Let's go out; they're almost here."

He exited the house, crossed the small yard, and approached the open iron gate, where he saw Elena Boyar's MPV.

Helen Herman followed closely behind.

"By the way, how's Warner Bros. preparing?" Matthew asked.

"Everything's set," Helen Herman said, indicating smooth communication with Warner Bros. "Once the video goes public, Warner Bros. will push it heavily."

A Mercedes pulled up and parked by the roadside.

Phyllis Beretta, stepping out with Bella Anderson, immediately saw Matthew standing by the gate. Feeling a mix of relief and emotion, she walked towards him, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," Matthew stepped forward and said, "I'm so sorry. I didn't know what was happening on your end, and I couldn't help you in time."

Phyllis couldn't hold back her tears any longer.

Matthew reached out and hugged her briefly, comforting her, "It's all in the past now. Things will get better."

Letting go of Phyllis, he led the way, saying, "Come, let's take a look at your new home."

Phyllis instinctively followed, still processing what she had just heard. "My... new home?"

Matthew nodded as she caught up to him, explaining, "I'm truly sorry about your parents and your house in New York. I wanted to help you buy back the New York house, but Bella said you didn't want to stay there and preferred to move to Los Angeles. So I took the liberty..."

He pointed to the newly renovated house ahead. "I bought this house for you as your new home. Phyllis, please don't refuse. I just want to help you, nothing more."

Overwhelmed, Phyllis was speechless, tears streaming down her face. She had never heard of a celebrity buying a house for a fan...

But she quickly regained her composure, shaking her head. "No, I... I can't... I can't accept this..."

Matthew gently patted her arm, speaking earnestly, "You've been a part of my life for a long time. You've never asked me for anything. You could have, and I would have helped you, but you didn't."

He emphasized, "Phyllis, this is my heartfelt gift to you."

Outside the yard, the older journalist raised his camera and captured the scene through the iron fence.

Nearby, the younger journalist leaned against a tree, filming everything with a video camera.

They were professionals, using classic paparazzi techniques.

Soon, the group entered the house. The two journalists stayed put, waiting patiently. About half an hour later, Matthew and his group exited, with Phyllis seeing them off at the gate, watching the Mercedes drive away with a somewhat dazed expression.

The older journalist signaled the younger one, and they both approached. The younger journalist carried the camera, while the older one produced a work ID and a microphone with the TMZ logo.

"Excuse me," the older journalist called out, worried she might run away. "We're from TMZ. Was that Matthew Horner just now? What was he doing here?"

Phyllis, not facing reporters for the first time, wasn't nervous. Remembering what Matthew had done for her, she felt she should say something to these journalists.

From the car, Elena Boyar watched the situation unfold. The young journalist gave her a thumbs-up, indicating everything was going smoothly.

This was good; they wouldn't need to use other plans, saving future trouble.

Twenty minutes later, Phyllis returned to the house, and the journalists went back to their car.

The older journalist reported, "Boss, we got it."

Elena Boyar reviewed the footage, nodded, started the car, and said, "Back to the office."

That evening, TMZ featured a headline on its website: "Shocking! Matthew Horner Buys a House for a Fan in Distress!"

Below the title were two video clips, followed by a commentary from Elena Boyar.

"Every fan dreams of being noticed by their idol. However, stars are too busy to pay attention to everyone. But Matthew Horner is different. He not only noticed his fan but also bought a house for this fan who was on the brink of despair. Having an idol like this is a dream come true."

The video went viral online, becoming the most shared story on Facebook and Twitter the next day. It wasn't just Matthew's fans who were thrilled; even casual observers were converted into fans.

Warner Bros. leveraged its media resources to widely disseminate and report on the story. It wasn't a fabricated story; Phyllis Beretta's situation was real and verifiable.

Within days, Matthew dominated entertainment headlines and topped numerous trending lists on the internet.

While there were some naysayers, the overwhelming majority praised Matthew's kindness.

A comment from an ordinary fan on Facebook was widely shared:

"Five years ago, Matthew said in an interview that he hoped to become a top star within five years. Today, he has fully achieved that. How did he do it? Because he has fans who love him. He understands this and is grateful for it. He has always loved his fans, and his fans are everywhere, worldwide. He can't respond to every fan personally."

"But he always tries his best. He has never stopped trying to give back this love because he is a good person with a kind heart. He deserves all he has, and he knows that giving back the love he receives will bring even more love."

"Everyone should be treated kindly by the world, just as he is, and use that kindness to treat the world in return."

It wasn't just Matthew's fans; even casual viewers expressed admiration.

"How cool is this? Who wouldn't want to be his fan?"

"I think this is the ultimate form of mutual love between a star and their fans. Cheers to Matthew's positive energy!"

"There are many wealthy stars, but not everyone would buy a house for a fan. Matthew is so kind."

"Matthew is handsome and kind-hearted. I'm officially a fan."

Due to this widespread publicity, *I Am Legend* pre-sales skyrocketed, with opening weekend tickets selling out fast. In just a week, the film had pre-sold $35 million worth of tickets for its North American opening weekend alone.

As the film's New York premiere approached, everyone anticipated a blockbuster opening weekend, with potential box office earnings approaching $100 million.

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