The Calamity of the Californians

Chapter 81 The Calamity of the Californians (Bonus Chapter 1 for Alliance Leader)

Thanksgiving is an important holiday in the United States. The Carter siblings sent out formal invitations well in advance, and Martin specially ordered a roast turkey.

In the afternoon, Elena started preparing dinner ahead of time.

Martin called Harris, and together they went to the restaurant to pick up the roast turkey.

In the car, Harris talked about the star business: "I hired a partner who helped create an official website for the Atlantic Astronomical Society. All customers who buy stars can find their records on the website."

Martin agreed: "You've thought this through very well; this will increase customer trust."

Harris said, "This month's sales are up 100%, the Astronomical Society sold 24 stars. Martin, I've converted your share of the revenue into shares, you'll have to sign the agreement later."

He had mentioned it several times, and seeing his insistence, Martin replied, "I'll sign it as soon as I get back."

The two took the roast turkey and desserts such as pumpkin pie and chocolate pie, and returned to the Carter's house.

Upon entering the living room, Martin sensed something was off. Lily and Hall seemed to have been crying, and Elena kept a straight face and remained silent.

He put down the lunchbox and asked, "What happened?"

Lily said with her head down, "Emma just called."

"Which Emma?" Martin didn't react at first; Emma had been gone from his life for the past six months.

Elena said, "Emma Carter, Scott's wife, my mother, your father's lover."

Martin's mind went through a lot of twists and turns; the relationship was a complete mess.

He asked, "Emma's back? Where's Jack?"

Lily shouted, "That bastard Jack abandoned Emma!"

Martin looked at Elena.

"Emma called from Hawaii; Jack took all her money." Elena's feelings were very complicated. "Then he disappeared."

Martin remembered an important question: "She didn't take out any loan shark loans, did she?"

"No." Elena gestured for Martin to come outside with her. The two went to the yard, and she said, "I'll go to the bank tomorrow to transfer $200 to her and book her a flight from Hawaii to Atlanta."

She lowered her voice: "I don't trust her, but Lily and Hall would be better off with a mother."

Martin grabbed her arm and suggested again, "Now that Emma's back, why don't you come to Los Angeles with me?"

Outside the wooden fence, Scott swaggered over, carrying a bottle of tequila without a cap.

Elena glanced at Scott and said, "I might go to Los Angeles in a few years, but I can't go now. Emma and Scott together will ruin them."

This is a very contradictory feeling; you need your parents, but you also have to be wary of them.

Scott entered the yard and said, "What are you two good-for-nothings doing here? Is Thanksgiving dinner ready?"

Elena glared at him: "It's Thanksgiving today, don't make me kick you out."

She went back to prepare dinner.

Martin specifically reminded Scott, "It's a holiday tonight, so keep it to yourself."

Scott, who wasn't drunk or high, replied, "I'll try my best."

Once inside, Martin went to help Elena.

Scott found a place to sit down, but no one wanted to talk to him, so he had to drink alone.

Dinner was very lavish. In addition to the turkey and desserts that Martin had bought, Elena also made macaroni, mashed potatoes, vegetable salad and honey-glazed ham.

Everyone sat around the dining table, and Scott reached for a knife and fork to cut the roast turkey.

Elena took the knife and fork first.

Martin roughly understood that this seemed to represent the head of the household.

Dinner was eaten in silence, not as lively as usual, and even Lily didn't want to talk.

After dinner, the Elena sisters cleared the table, while Martin, carrying a bottle of beer, went outside and sat on the steps, contemplating his upcoming trip to Los Angeles.

During his six months in Atlanta, Martin gained not only crucial connections and experience, but also, more importantly, money.

Without enough money, I had to work part-time even after arriving in Los Angeles.

Martin currently has $13 from his kettle earnings and $15 from his zombie dancer gig.

The social investigator's salary is sufficient to cover daily expenses.

The door suddenly opened, and Lily came out carrying a bottle of beer and sat down next to Martin.

She tapped Martin's bottle against hers, took a sip, and said, "It's not as good as your 'Foam Beauty,' even though that stuff tastes weird..."

Martin stared at her.

Lily, quite self-aware, leaned over and said, "Go ahead and hit me."

Martin shoved her head back and said, "If you don't act up, Elena will be fifty percent more relaxed."

Lily seemed not to understand: "You talk just like Harris."

Martin slowly sipped his beer.

Lily rummaged through her pocket, pulled out a crystal star, and handed it to Martin: "You're going to Los Angeles, and you probably won't be coming back. I hope you'll remember there was a girl named Lily Carter in Atlanta."

Martin examined the blue stars closely by the light of the yard lamp: "Did you make this?"

"It's all handmade." Lily gestured. "You forgot, I made the kettle too."

Martin accepted it: "Thank you for your lucky charm."

But Lily's real message was hidden behind this: "It will make you lucky enough not to break your arm like Harris did!"

Martin was so angry he wanted to smash a beer bottle over someone's head.

Lily stood up: "I need to go back and study."

"You're reviewing your lessons?" Martin asked, quite surprised.

"Don't look down on me." Lily walked back, her words still tumbling out: "If I work hard, I can skip a grade and get into a school in Los Angeles sooner."

The girl talks nonsense all day long, and Martin can't be bothered to tell if it's true or false.

After finishing a bottle of beer, Martin felt someone staring at him from behind. He turned around and saw Scott leaning against the wall by the door.

"You bastard, this is your last warning." Scott, heading back to the grocery store, approached Martin and said, "Your old man Jack ran off with my wife, and you dare run off with my eldest daughter? I'll never let you get away with this..."

He raised the tequila bottle in his hand: "I'll smash your head in with this!"

Martin pointed outside: "Go back to sleep quickly, or you might get robbed by some black guy on the way."

Scott's heart pounded, and he proceeded with extreme caution, especially before opening the door, when he took out a specially purchased high-powered flashlight to illuminate the dark areas.

Martin went inside and told Elena that he was going back to pack his luggage. He didn't have any large items; he just put his clothes and some daily necessities in his suitcase, and he could leave first thing tomorrow morning.

Just as they were about to rest, Elena came over. The old, dilapidated wooden bed, after being violently tossed around by the two of them, finally gave way and collapsed with a crash.

Martin had no choice but to drag the mattress out and throw it on the floor.

The two of them continued their frantic activity, making so much noise that James in the backyard almost crawled out from under the floorboards.

Martin picked up the car keys from the wooden floor and tossed them to Elena: "They're yours now."

"I'll drive for now." Elena was always straightforward: "I won't see you off tomorrow; you'll have to figure out how to get to the airport yourself."

Martin took out his phone and called Bruce: "Bruce, get up early tomorrow and take me to the airport."

A strange sound came from the receiver. Bruce roared, "You piece of shit, can't you make a phone call during the day?"

"You can continue." Martin hung up the phone.

Elena, who had been eavesdropping on the phone, couldn't help but laugh: "Old Brooks is such a pervert."

Martin said, "Old Brooks has the potential to become a psychopathic killer."

The next morning, Bruce picked up Martin in his new car.

Harris helped carry the suitcase out and put it in Bruce's car.

Elena ran home, took out the new phone she had forgotten about last night, and gave it to Martin.

There wasn't much sadness or longing among the people, as traveling between Los Angeles and Atlanta was not difficult thanks to modern transportation and budget airlines.

Bruce drove out of the Clayton neighborhood and asked, "Think carefully, is there anything else you forgot?"

Martin smiled. "As long as you bring money, what can't you buy?"

Bruce sped up: "Atlanta will be a little more peaceful without you, you piece of shit."

Martin retorted, "It would be so much more peaceful without a civilized person like you."

Bruce shrugged it off: "Dude, go ahead and wreak havoc on the Californians, take down all the gays, lesbians, drug addicts, and perverts. Believe in yourself, you have plenty of bad ideas and lousy methods!"

Martin replied, "If I can't solve it, I'll definitely call you, a civilized person."

The two arrived at Atlanta International Airport, and Bruce escorted Martin all the way to the security checkpoint.

Martin was about to go to the queue.

Bruce slapped him hard on the shoulder: "You're going to wallow in that stinking quagmire of Hollywood, buddy. Don't come back looking like a coward."

Martin reiterated his previous statement: "Civilized man, don't die, I won't answer your funeral call."

Bruce waved his hand: "Let's go."

Martin went through security and arrived near the boarding gate. He sat down and waited for a while before Benjamin and Catherine arrived together.

Catherine was dressed very beautifully; in terms of looks alone, Julia Roberts couldn't compare to her.

The three knew each other well, and Catherine, without any reservations, said, "I don't want to come back this time."

Martin made no attempt to hide it: "I also want to stay in Hollywood, and maybe this is a good opportunity."

Martin hasn't really told anyone about Louise Mayer and Robert Patrick except Kelly Gray.

A person like him wouldn't share his network of connections with others.

Catherine continued to dream about the glamour of Hollywood.

In contrast, Benjamin was more conservative: "I'll finalize the contract with Gray before deciding where to expand."

The good news of the wide release of "Zombie Dancer" kept stimulating Katharine's nerves: "If the film becomes a small hit, will I have a chance to get a big role? Julia Roberts boarded the plane to stardom from here."

Benjamin cautioned, "You're getting a little too excited and having too many fantasies."

An announcement came over the loudspeaker reminding them to board, and Martin called out to the two men, "It's time to board."

I boarded the plane through the gate and entered economy class. Martin's seat was right next to the window, the engine was roaring, and the runway was rushing past.

The passenger plane soared into the sky, offering a panoramic view of Atlanta from above.

Whether you're going to heaven or hell, you'll have to transfer in Atlanta.

(End of this chapter)