Chapter 632: Proving Innocence

London's winter weather was terrible. As night fell, light rain and snow began to fall. Despite the weather, people's enthusiasm remained undiminished. When Matthew and David Ellison arrived at Somerset House, it was already bustling with life. Countless people stood in long lines in the rain and snow, waiting to enter the temporary venue for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Matthew and David Ellison had top-tier tickets. They followed a special VIP passage to a large temporary runway tent in the Somerset House courtyard. After a security guard checked their invitations, another staff member led them into the venue.

Like last year, their seats were in the front row.

"Did you see Emma Watson yesterday?" David Ellison asked.

Matthew nodded. "Had dinner with her."

David Ellison lowered his voice. "I remember she's not even eighteen yet, right? Be careful. This is the UK, not our turf."

"You're overthinking it," Matthew said irritably. "Emma Watson and I are just friends."

David Ellison laughed, mockingly. "Who'd believe that? Can you really just be friends with a beautiful actress?"

Matthew shrugged. "Believe what you want."

The two walked down a passage to the front row and found their adjacent seats. Matthew suddenly noticed a blonde woman sitting seven or eight seats away, who looked to be about his age.

The figure was too familiar; he recognized her immediately.

"David, you sit first," Matthew said, gesturing with his eyes. "I need to say hello to someone."

David Ellison also looked in that direction. The blonde woman was too famous to not be recognized, being a super queen of contemporary North American pop music. He had heard stories about Matthew and this woman, so he looked a little more curiously.

Ignoring David Ellison, Matthew walked over. Hearing footsteps, the blonde woman turned her head.

"Good evening, Britney," Matthew greeted her.

Britney smiled. "Good evening, Matthew. I didn't expect to see you here."

Matthew sat in the chair next to her. "Just accompanying a friend to watch the show."

Britney didn't believe a word of it. She knew the man next to her was no longer the Matthew she once knew but one of Hollywood's most notorious playboys, even more so than Leonardo DiCaprio.

"Just here to watch the show?" Britney asked deliberately.

"Isn't that what we're here for? Ah... I also came to London to see some friends, like David Heyman from the Harry Potter production team."

Britney asked again, "I heard you got engaged recently. What happened? Not planning to get married?"

"Some unexpected changes," Matthew quickly shifted the topic. "I saw in the news that you bought a house in Beverly Hills recently. I'd love to visit sometime."

"Sure," Britney nodded politely. "You're always welcome."

A long-haired girl, decked out in florals, approached. Britney saw her and stood up. "Matthew, let me introduce you to a friend."

Matthew stood up and looked at the girl. She was taller than Britney, wearing a dress adorned with patterns of bananas, watermelons, and strawberries. She had a sweet, regular appearance with potential to be a bubblegum pop idol.

"Matthew, this is Katheryn Hudson, a friend of mine who used to be my backup dancer. She's releasing her first album next year."

She then introduced Matthew to Katheryn Hudson. "Katy, this is Matthew Horner, whom you know."

Matthew extended his hand and said politely, "Hello, Miss Hudson."

"Hello, Matthew." Katheryn Hudson's voice had a raspy, broken quality. "Call me Katy."

After a few polite exchanges, more people came over. This area seemed to have become a gathering spot for female celebrities. Matthew noticed Cheryl, who had been popular in the UK recently, and famous British actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, though her Oscar-winning husband was nowhere in sight.

Returning to his seat, Matthew found David Ellison asking, "You two seem to be getting along well."

"We parted on good terms," Matthew replied with a smile. "Britney flies all over the world, and I have to shoot movies everywhere. We barely see each other twice a year."

He added, "There were no conflicts between us."

David Ellison, as if he were a love expert, remarked, "Time and distance are the most effective killers of love."

Matthew deeply agreed. "Love that's detached from reality is just a fairy tale. Maybe if we both had different jobs, we could have stayed together."

"Stay together? Are you kidding?" David Ellison clearly disagreed. "Even if you were still swinging a hammer on a construction site, you'd still be a playboy. The only difference would be the quality of the women you'd attract."

Matthew couldn't argue with that and chose not to respond to David Ellison's words.

However, thinking back, if Britney hadn't been a busy superstar back then, would they have lasted until now? What if they got back together?

He glanced at Britney and shook his head. It's better to let the beautiful first love remain in memory. Britney had worked hard to stay off the chaotic path she once walked, so he shouldn't disrupt her life.

Let the first love stay beautiful.

Probably reminiscing about his past with Britney, Matthew barely watched the Victoria's Secret show. He only noticed two people: Karolina Kurkova with her towering wings and Heidi Klum showing off with her black husband on stage.

He missed an opportunity with the former last year.

The latter seemed to forget the Hollywood truth that public displays of affection often end in breakups...

Matthew only knew Heidi Klum recently through his attention to Victoria's Secret angels. Though he had no related memories, the way the couple showed off on stage, he guessed they'd be done in a few years.

In Hollywood, couples who show off their love in the media, public, and announcements usually break up halfway, often due to PR reasons.

In contrast, low-key celebrity couples tend to have longer-lasting relationships.

Matthew speculated wildly for a while, then dropped the thought. After all, he had no interest in Heidi Klum. His focus was on Karolina Kurkova, whom he had missed last year.

After the show ended, on their way to a nearby hotel for the after-party, Matthew asked David Ellison, "Have you set your target?"

"Of course!" David Ellison flexed his wrists as if warming up. "Last year's Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wasn't satisfying. I set my target early this year."

"Who? Alessandra Ambrosio? Candice Swanepoel? Or Lily Aldridge?"

David Ellison shook his finger. "None of them! It's Heidi Klum!"

"Uh..." Matthew was stunned. "Heidi Klum just showed off her love on the runway."

David Ellison was indifferent. "I want to see how solid that love really is."

Matthew couldn't help but shake his head. "You're so boring."

David Ellison retorted, "I learned it from you."

"Don't drag me into this," Matthew said righteously. "I've never broken up anyone's marriage."

Arriving at the hotel, they first booked luxury suites, then went to their rooms for a bit. When the time was right, they headed to the second-floor banquet hall for the after-party.

Entering the Victoria's Secret after-party, Heidi Klum's husband was nowhere in sight. David Ellison seemed prepared, bringing along a Victoria's Secret executive to introduce him to Heidi Klum. Maybe money and the status of a super-rich second generation were more appealing. His actions were as swift as ever. Just as Matthew started chatting with Karolina Kurkova, David Ellison and Heidi Klum left the banquet hall.

"Remember, we met at the party last year," Matthew said to Karolina Kurkova. "You had to leave in a hurry that night."

Karolina Kurkova smiled. "Yes, I remember you called me the 'Light of the Czech Republic.'"

Matthew laughed too. "I could never get through to the phone number you left me."

Karolina Kurkova wasn't embarrassed. "My phone was stolen at the airport that night. I got a new phone and number afterward."

"Can I have the honor of getting your new number?" Matthew asked.

"Of course." Karolina Kurkova took Matthew's hand and drew a string of numbers on his palm. "Did you remember it?"

Matthew nodded, jokingly, "Will this number be unreachable too?"

"You can try it right now." Karolina Kurkova could see that Matthew was joking.

"Alright, I'll try it now." Matthew reached for his pocket, then shook his head. "I left my phone in the hotel room."

Karolina Kurkova spread her hands. "Then I can't prove my innocence."

Matthew said seriously, "I must prove your innocence tonight." He invited at the right moment, "How about this, let's go get my phone together and call the number you gave me."

Knowing what this implied, Karolina Kurkova hesitated for a moment, then said, "For my innocence, I'll go with you."

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