The Greatest Showman #745 - Rush to the Crown 1 Anger

Cornell smiled smugly—he had done it, finally! He had exposed Renly, tearing off the mask that had always been graceful, calm, aloof, and light-hearted. Behind it, he revealed the true face: ugly, vulgar, vile, mean, arrogant, cunning, and treacherous.

Renly's pupils constricted. He saw the smugness in Cornell's eyes. He knew exactly what Cornell was hoping for, but he didn't care. "Didn't you see that? Someone was hurt over there! There was a terrible accident on set, and all you care about is the premiere?" Renly's voice was steady, yet taut with suppressed rage, each word carrying a sharp, burning intensity.

"But only a few people were injured. It wasn't that serious. Just a small mess. There are so many people waiting for the premiere!" Cornell persisted, undeterred. "Your attitude is unfair to the other fans. They came to support you. Shouldn't you at least give them an explanation?"

Nobody wants to offend fans. Nobody.

"I don't care!" Renly's response was firm, unyielding, every word an emphatic declaration. "These people who were injured—anyone here could have been hurt. Including you. If you were lying on that stretcher, trust me, you wouldn't want someone asking such a stupid and selfish question. So, yeah, I don't care!"

The surrounding noise gradually subsided, but an unsettling tension lingered in the air. Two ambulances remained on-site, tending to abrasions and sprains. The situation was finally under control, but all eyes were on Renly and Cornell.

Not just Cornell, but the other reporters were equally excited. They could feel the raw energy of the confrontation between Renly and Cornell. Renly, usually so calm, was angry—outraged even. He hadn't hesitated for a second, and his outburst made Neil freeze in place, speechless.

Renly, shrouded in the shadows, looked almost unrecognizable. Dressed in a simple white shirt and light blue jeans, he appeared like a college student, youthful and carefree. Yet his face, etched with fatigue and determination, radiated an unexpected intensity. His deep eyes locked onto Cornell, filled with a dangerous energy—sharp, unyielding, and iron-willed.

This was not the Renly people knew—the gentlemanly Renly they had grown accustomed to. But this version of Renly felt raw and powerful. The shift was palpable, undeniable.

"Master! I support you!" A voice suddenly shouted, breaking through the stillness. It was loud, like thunder, reverberating through the tense atmosphere.

Renly didn't turn his head. Instead, he raised his voice, his tone firm, almost suffocating, causing the audience to freeze. "No! Calm down, okay?" His words cut through the air, forcing everyone into stunned silence.

Nobody dared to challenge their fans—nobody. But had Renly crossed the line?

Renly closed his eyes, trying to quell the storm of emotions brewing inside him. The accident, the chaos at JFK airport, the disarray at the premiere—it was all avoidable.

Renly understood the value of his fans' support, and how crucial it was to his drive. But his greatest hope was to inspire them, to offer them hope, not to cause harm through that very support.

Paul raised his hand, concern etched across his face.

He placed a comforting hand on Renly's shoulder, but Renly's muscles tensed, and he gently removed Paul's hand. Turning toward the fans, Renly spoke in a clear, strong voice, "I'm not the Lord of the Rings written by Tolkien, nor the Deathly Hallows hidden by Voldemort. So… calm down, okay?" There was a hint of self-mockery in his words, and the tension in the air lifted, replaced by laughter.

"Master, I love you!" someone shouted, breaking the tension.

Renly smiled and responded, "Thanks. But love yourself more, or your mom will be disappointed."

The laughter rippled through the crowd, even Jennifer and Ryan couldn't help but laugh. The heaviness from earlier slowly dissipated, replaced by lightness and calm.

Renly surveyed the situation, his sigh audible. "Take care of yourselves first. As for the premiere… it's not the most important thing right now." Whether the premiere happened or not, the film would be released. That was not a concern.

Renly quickly located Hope-Baze, walking briskly toward him. He nodded to Tessa, William, and the others standing nearby, but didn't have time for pleasantries. "Guys, can you handle the situation here? Ensure everyone's safety and well-being. Roy will stay here. If there are any issues, contact him directly. Okay?"

Hope raised his chest, standing confidently. "Leave it to us, young master."

Renly gave a tired but sincere smile. "I know. But someone needs to take responsibility." His eyes swept over the faces around him. Without another word, he nodded. "Thank you. Hard work!" He turned, walking swiftly toward the premiere venue.

Turning to Roy, Renly explained the situation and quickly joined his friends as they moved toward the premiere. He knew it was no longer up to him or Seth Logan to determine how the premiere would proceed; they needed approval from the producers and the head of Lionsgate. There was still much to address.

"Cornell?" Renly's name echoed, but Cornell had no response. Renly simply left, the interview cut short. Cornell was left standing there, seething, his frustration rising.

Shouting Renly's name, Cornell was met with no answer. Renly had walked away without so much as a glance. Cornell's anger flared again, but before he could act, he noticed Gavin Hunter walking over.

Gavin was a longtime friend, but now he looked at Cornell with disdain. "What's your problem?" Cornell snapped, frustration spilling over.

Gavin shook his head, speaking calmly. "Cornell, this isn't right. We can chase breaking stories, but we shouldn't cross ethical lines. You've gone too far."

Cornell's face reddened, and he shot back, "Don't act high and mighty. We're all the same. That look of yours just makes you seem more hypocritical."

Ignoring Gavin's response, Cornell stormed off.

The premiere, once in chaos, was far from over.

After nearly 40 minutes of sorting, order was restored, and the majority of the audience remained. The premiere, though delayed, was not canceled. Lionsgate decided to push the show from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. No tickets were charged, and over 1,000 people could enter the screening hall, with a second round of free screenings at 11:00 PM. The creators would stay for both.

Renly and Seth arranged for five food trucks to provide dinner for the audience, an act of goodwill that helped restore some of the balance.

Later, standing in the courtyard of the Juilliard School, Renly gazed up at the clear New York sky. Nathan's voice echoed from the other end of the phone, updating him, "Lauren's fine. It was just a trauma, but she's been treated. She's good now…" Renly smiled faintly, taking in the calm after the storm.