Including Hawking and Spielberg, after the group who received the Presidential dal of Freedom left the stage, Guanhai stepped up to the podium again.
His expression solemn, his gaze far-reaching, his tone lingering, "For over 200 years, nurous people have defended our nation, protected our citizens, and our hearts are forever filled with pride and gratitude for them!"
A live broadcast cara zood in on Martin, giving him a close-up shot.
Guanhai's speech continued, "The heroes among us represent the spirit, courage, and love of Arica. He believes in Arica, he loves this land, and he will never cease to defend our freedom!"
Warm applause sounded at the scene.
Lily raised her cara and kept taking photos.
"That's why we honor our heroes," Guanhai gestured invitingly, "Please welco Arica's hero, distinguished dal of Freedom recipient, Martin Davis!"
Ram Emanuel, the Chief of Staff seated in the front row, led the standing ovation, followed by other White House officials.
Everyone on the South Lawn stood up and applauded.
The distinguished dal of Freedom is not awarded every year, and today it was only for Martin.
Elizabeth also stood up to clap for Martin, particularly moved by the scene, feeling it was also her honor.
Lily raised her cara, continuously pressing the shutter, docunting Martin's shining mont.
Martin walked up to the stage amidst applause, standing at the center and said, "Mr. President..."
Guanhai shook his hand, smiling, "Martin, you have shown us Arica's courage and determination."
Martin stood upright, allowing Guanhai to bestow the grand dal upon him and pin the star dal.
The applause on the South Lawn grew even louder.
Martin stepped forward, approached the podium, and said, "The strength of Arica cos from the belief and spirit of all of us. I'm not as brave as you say; all I've done was to survive, and yet you bestowed upon this great honor. Thank you all, God bless you, God bless Arica!"
Amidst the applause, Martin walked down from the stage.
Lily put down her cara and said, "Who would've thought that jerk from the neighborhood could receive the highest civilian honor in the country."
Elizabeth's hands clapped red, her excited face flush with joy, "Don't you think Martin is super charming? He's Arica's hero, and my hero too!"
Lily looked down at her cara, enjoying each photo she had just taken through the playback.
Martin returned to the spectator stands where Spielberg embraced him, and others shook hands with him.
Hawking's electronic voice sounded again, "The hero's Sect Hierarch!"
Martin nodded in that direction, "Thank you."
The ceremony continued, with staff already approaching Martin to remind him to head to the banquet hall for the reception luncheon after the ceremony.
......
Los Angeles, Burbank.
Pregnant Tony, with her belly thrust forward, sat on the couch, intently watching the live broadcast of the Independence Day celebrations on TV. She was captivated as she saw Martin adorned with the grand dal.
"So cool, my hero." She gently caressed her belly, whispering, "Co out soon and see, your father is a hero, a real hero!"
In a full-screen close-up on the TV, Martin draped in the grand dal and adorned with the star dal, exuding peak masculine charm.
In contrast, Guanhai looked dark and short beside him, serving as the perfect backdrop.
Tony, who was advised not to drink alcohol, poured herself a large glass of juice, raised it to the TV, and said, "Congrats to you, my hero, the father of my son!"
Just then, the cara captured Martin's smiling face, and Tony felt as if she had received a response. She drank the entire glass of juice in one gulp, feeling refreshed as if she had enjoyed ice cream.
She contemplated the fact that her son would be able to see his father later this year.
How wonderful that was.
Looking around the expensive rented apartnt which she initially found spacious, Tony now felt it increasingly cramped—too low ceilings, too little space, the furniture and appliances mismatched, clothes and daily necessities not from top brands...
Everywhere she looked, dissatisfaction lood.
Once her son was born, all this could change. Tony thought of the Cody Community in Sherman Oaks; Martin had a detached villa there, worth at most three million US dollars. She wasn't greedy; it would be enough for her son to live there.
A father should provide what's due.
The live broadcast continued, but without Martin, Tony stood up, preparing to move around as her doctor had advised maintaining a certain level of activity.
Two floors above, in another room, Ben Affleck picked up the remote control and turned off the TV.
Martin Davis had received the highest national honor a civilian could get, basking in unlimited glory in front of the White House and all Aricans. This greatly depressed Ben, even more suffocating than not being able to breathe.
Ben unconsciously went to the liquor cabinet, pulled open the stained glass door, and found it empty—no bottles inside.
Those with an alcohol addiction need alcohol both during monts of misery and joy.
Ben's long face drooped, his temper rising, ready to burst.
But then he saw the handwritten lines on the inside of the cabinet door.
"Have you forgotten the humiliation Martin Davis caused you?"
"Martin Davis is in glory, while you've fallen off a cliff!"
"Ben Affleck, do you still want revenge?"
And the pivotal sentence, "Do you want Jennifer Garner to end up like Pitt's ex-wife?"
These words of ruthless rebuke, written by his own hand at monts of intense calm and hatred, instantly dispersed Ben's craving for alcohol. He felt invigorated, returning to sobriety.
Ben closed the liquor cabinet door and said, "I will never forget, and I must take revenge!"
But as easy as it is to think about, it's difficult to accomplish.
Over the past month, he had people quietly approach Eliza Cuthbert and Annie-Hathaway. The forr had neither good nor bad feelings towards Martin and had beco just another passerby.
She didn't want to offend her ex-boyfriend, a man with considerable influence, because of this down-and-out guy.
The latter was foolish enough to believe she owed Martin sothing…
Originally, Ben had planned to send soone to Atlanta, but then he rembered he had no foundation there, and Atlanta was where Martin Davis had risen to prominence, so he dismissed the idea.
What to do?
Ben followed suit, much like he and Pitt had fallen, planning to start with the won around Martin Davis; assistants and dostic staff, for example.
What he saw was an anomaly in Hollywood.
A scoundrel carrying the title of a playboy, who also acted like one, had never forced himself on any woman!
This was simply incredible!
This was too un-Hollywood!
After all, which big-na star, director, or producer in the circle could dare claim they had never forced themselves on soone in a sexual manner?
Are they even Hollywood stars?
Clearly, they are eccentrics and lunatics like Johnny Depp!
Ben also considered probing into the espionage incident, in case there was sothing fishy…
Before he got close, he stumbled upon the presence of the LAPD and FBI.
One is the largest local ard violence group in Los Angeles, and the other is a mber of the largest ard violence organization in Arica.
Ben could not afford to provoke them.
Checking the ti, he prepared to head to the supermarket.
Taking the elevator down and stepping out of the apartnt, Ben noticed a pregnant blonde woman sitting by the door, appearing to be in great pain.
He recognized the woman; he had encountered her more than once when coming and going, a resident of the building who sotis looked at him as if he were a criminal.
If it had been any other ti, Ben wouldn't have paid any attention. But seeing the woman in pain with her pregnancy reminded him of his own daughter's birth.
Even a hot-tempered person has a soft side, and Ben stepped forward to ask, "Are you alright?"
Tony looked up at Ben and said, "I got too excited and had so dessert, I might have induced contractions. Please, take to the hospital!"
Ben said, "I'll call 911 for you."
"They take too long to get here and back." Tears stread down Tony's face, "Please, take to the hospital. I can't lose this baby."
Ben hesitated for a mont and then decisively helped her up, "Hang in there."
Tony leaned on Ben's shoulder with one hand, protecting her belly with the other, "I can hold on!"
This woman was exceptionally strong at that mont: "I must hold on!"
Ben helped her into his car, started it, and drove quickly to the nearest hospital.
Less than ten minutes later, the car stopped in front of the ergency room, with Ben shouting, "Doctor, help! Help!"
Soone imdiately ca running out.
Soon, Tony was lying in the ergency ward, receiving dication to prevent preterm labor.
Ben breathed a sigh of relief.
The doctor ca over and said, "The problem isn't too serious, but caution is necessary. Pregnant won should avoid significant emotional disturbances—it can lead to complications."
Tony's heart returned to her stomach, "Doctor, my baby is alright, isn't it?"
The doctor replied, "There's no problem. Rest well, keep your emotions in check, and call if anything cos up."
Tony nodded, "Okay."
The doctor gave so instructions to the nurse and quickly left.
Tony's gaze shifted to Ben, recalling their past misunderstandings, she said, "Ben, thank you."
Having done a good deed, Ben was in a rather good mood, "We're neighbors; no need for thanks."
He wasn't about to spend a long ti there with Tony and asked, "Where's your husband or boyfriend? Call him to co over quickly. He should know about this."
Husband or boyfriend—Tony had neither at the mont, but rembering the recent TV broadcast, she said, "He's on a business trip to Washington; he's not in Los Angeles."
Ben asked, "A business trip? Leaving you alone at ho?"
Tony replied, "It's not his fault; he's attending the Independence Day celebration at the White House…"
Ben, recalling the TV broadcast he had seen, said, "That's impressive."
Flooded with all sorts of whimsical thoughts due to the baby in her belly, Tony said without thinking, "He even appeared on the live television broadcast."
Ben thought Tony's man might be soone important and couldn't help saying, "When he's back, maybe you can introduce us?"
Tony unconsciously nodded, "If there's a chance, I'll introduce you."
Ben glanced at his watch, "If you're okay here, then I'll be leaving."
Tony grabbed her bag and took out her phone, "Should we exchange contact information?"
This ti she realized one could face unknown problems alone; having the contacts of soone from the sa building could be crucial in an ergency.
"Sure," Ben said, thinking of her husband or boyfriend who could attend the White House Independence Day celebration.
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